Low cost airlines are surely the cheapest way to travel, but if you’re not aware of how low cost airlines actually work, you could be in for a surprise!! So here are the key points you have to know…

1. The advertised price is not the purchase price - Most of the time, the advertised price doesn’t take into account several taxes or fees such as airport taxes or credit card fees.
2. Low cost airlines charge for luggage - If you plan on travelling with a low cost airline, know that you are only allowed to one hand luggage free of charge. All extra luggage will be charged for.
3. Most of the time, the airport is not a primary one - So before booking your flight, be aware that if you book a Ryanair flight to Barcelona, you’ll arrive at Gerona airport, and it’ll take you one hour to reach the Barcelona city center (and you will have to take into account other costs such as public transport or parking.)
4. Pay to have the possibility to choose your seat - In low cost aircrafts, no seat is allocated. If you want it to be so, you’ll have to pay. If you want to travel next to your child, some low costs offer you the possibility (Vueling allows you to choose your seat for a fee), others not. In this case, you’ll have to hurry!
5. Disabled people watch out! - Most of the time, low cost airlines won’t offer the basic services and to top it off, they’ll charge you for it (wheelchair, etc.)
6. Avoid the online booking traps! - When booking online, beware of the ticked boxes that may inadvertedly make your ticket much more expensive (with Ryanair, to forego travel insurance, you have to tick the box between Latvia and Lithuania!)
7. Don’t forget to print your boarding pass! - Ryanair could charge you €40 if you don’t!
8. Leg room is generally inexistent! – If you’re tall, try to catch the best seats, it’ll cost you a few more Euros too.
9. Nothing is included in the price but the flight! – Anything you ask for is at an extra cost (food, drinks…)
10. Low cost airlines are not always the cheapest – Sometimes low cost fares are not as cheap as one would think. Before booking your flight, make sure that no other airline is cheaper. To make sure, don’t forget to count in all the potential extra fees when you’re comparing fares (airport taxes, credit cards fees, seat allocation fees, online check-in fees, luggage charges…)

Guide in jpeg version – here

This post was written by fellow blogger AirObserver