Airline Post » Cheap tickets

How to get a cheap Ryanair ticket

Dave — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:40:20 +0000

Ryanair is notorious for their cheap tickets, some of them practically free. If you’re on a low budget and want to travel around Europe, Ryanair and it’s dirt cheap fares are the answer. But the company never misses a moneymaking opportunity. So we thought we’d share some of our experience on getting cheap Ryanair tickets.

Finding the cheap tickets - Ryanair sometime offers tickets as low as 1£/€ but you might not always find them easily. Subscribe to their mailing list to make sure you’ll be notified when these deals are launched. Also, make sure to check the website daily, preferably after midnight, when these tickets are usually posted.
Connecting two Ryanair flights – The issue most of us come across when dealing with budget airlines is that they are often late so making a connection with another flight can sometimes be difficult. If you’re connecting two Ryanair flights, make sure you buy two discounted tickets. For example, if you’re flying from Dublin to Paris, then Madrid, buy two tickets on the trip to Madrid – one leaving in 2 hours after you land, one later than that. It’s cheaper to buy two tickets than it is to change an existing one.
Not finding discounted return fares - You’re flying with a budget airline so don’t expect to find cheap tickets both when leaving and returning from your trip. Be flexible on your dates, check for less popular flights (early in the morning) or just settle for one discounted ticket. It’s still worth it!
Checking-in your luggage – You’ll find that carrying your bags is often more expensive than an actual ticket. Try only taking one hang bag (which is free) or book a baggage online. Each passenger is allowed to check in up to two bags; the first bag should have a maximum weight of 15kg and will be charged €/£15 online or €/£35 booked through their call center or at the airport. The second bag is charged €/£35 booked online or €/£70 via the call center or airport.
Avoiding extra hand luggage fee – You might often find that your luggage is too heavy to fit with Ryanair’s standards (55cm x 40cm x 20cm weighing up to 10kg). Check this before boarding; if it doesn’t fit, be prepared to pay €/£30 at the gate.
Getting your boarding pass – Ryanair has recently decided to eliminate check-in desks at the airport. This means that you either need to print your boarding card online (€/£5) or ask for it to be reissued at the airport, which costs you a whooping €/£40. Make sure you avoid this fee and check-in online, this option being available from 15 days up to 4 hours prior to your flight.
Getting priority boarding – At some airport, you’ll be picked up by a bus and taken to the aircraft. Speedy boarding means you’re the first to get on the bus, but the last to get off it. If this isn’t the case, priority boarding means you have the chance to sit on the more comfortable chairs, besides the airplane’s wings.
Getting travel insurance – This fee is usually added by default when buying a Ryanair ticket. Make sure to uncheck it and get a cheaper insurance at a travel agency if you really need one.
Avoiding Ryanair’s credit/debit card fee – Paying online might cost you an extra €/£5 per person per flight. In order to avoid this fee, get a Visa Electron Card, a basic type of debit card linked to a bank account & no overdraft.
Avoiding the name change fee – This is the highest fee you could pay at Ryanair – €/£100 online or €/£150 to be paid at the airport if you spelled your name wrong. Before making a booking, double and even triple check your names to make sure they’re spelled correctly.

Remember, if in the end, your trip is more expensive than €/£50, you could check ticket fares at another budget airline or even see what regular airlines have to offer.

AirBerlin introducing new routes

Dave — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:45:53 +0000

AirBerlin, Germany’s second largest airline, after Lufthansa, is operating some changing in its winter schedule, by introducing new routes, reintroducing old ones and cancelling summer flights. Of course, with new routes come new promotional offers so make sure you grab a cheap ticket if it favors you. Here is the list of the new or canceled destinations:

New AirBerlin routes:

Bangkok, International (BKK) to Klagenfurt, Alpe Adria (KLU)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Malaga (AGP)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Rome, Leonardo Da Vinci (Fiumicino) (FCO)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Krakow, J. Paul II Balice Intl (KRK)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Nice, Cote d’Azur International (NCE)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Palma Mallorca, Palma Mallorca (PMI)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to London, Stansted (STN)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Salzburg, W.A. Mozart (SZG)
London, Stansted (STN) to Lanzarote (ACE)
London, Stansted (STN) to Madeira (FNC)
London, Stansted (STN) to Santa Cruz De La Palma, La Palma (SPC)

Reintroduced AirBerlin flights:

Malaga (AGP) to Moscow, Domodedovo (DME)
Innsbruck, Kranebitten (INN) to Alicante (ALC)
Innsbruck, Kranebitten (INN) to Faro (FAO)
Innsbruck, Kranebitten (INN) to Asturias (OVD)
Innsbruck, Kranebitten (INN) to Sevilla, San Pablo (SVQ)
Innsbruck, Kranebitten (INN) to Valencia (VLC)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Cologne, Bonn (CGN)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Moscow, Domodedovo (DME)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Dresden, Arpt (DRS)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Muenster/Osnabrueck (FMO)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Hanover (HAJ)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Hamburg (HAM)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Milan, All s (MIL)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Nuremberg (NUE)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Paris, All s (PAR)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Vienna, Schwechat International (VIE)
Reykjavik, Keflavik International (KEF) to Zurich (ZRH)

Cancelled AirBerlin routes:

Budapest, Ferihegy (BUD) to Olbia, Costa Smeralda (OLB)
Hanover (HAJ) to Berlin, All s (BER)
Almeria (LEI) to Ibiza (IBZ)
Almeria (LEI) to Lisbon, Portela (LIS)
Almeria (LEI) to Madrid, Barajas (MAD)
Almeria (LEI) to Porto, Francisco Sa Carneiro (OPO)
Almeria (LEI) to Jerez De La Frontera (XRY)
Porto, Francisco Sa Carneiro (OPO) to Cagliari, Elmas (CAG)
Ponta Delgada, Nordela (PDL) to Vantaa, Helsinki-vantaa (HEL)
Ponta Delgada, Nordela (PDL) to Paris, All s (PAR)
Ponta Delgada, Nordela (PDL) to London, Stansted (STN)
Ponta Delgada, Nordela (PDL) to Stuttgart, Echterdingen (STR)
Ponta Delgada, Nordela (PDL) to Zurich (ZRH)
Jerez De La Frontera (XRY) to Rostock-laage, Laage (RLG)
Zurich (ZRH) to Lamezia-terme, S Eufemia (SUF)

Aer Lingus launches London – Bucharest

Dave — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:38:06 +0000

If you’re looking for a new destination this Autumn or simply have some new business meetings, you’ll be pleased to know to Aer Lingus, Ireland’s national airline, has launched a new route from London to Bucharest (Otopeni), Romania’s capital city. Apart from Bucharest, Aer Lingus will also serve Eindhoven, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Warsaw and Vilnius from Gatwick airport.

Enda Corneille of Aer Lingus said: “Since our launch in April, we have sold more than 400,000 flights.”

With the opening of these routes, Aer Lingus also debuts a sale for the 6 destinations, with tickets starting from 0EUR, taxes not included. The sale also includes destinations such as Faro, Knock (Ireland West), Malaga, Munich, Vienna and Zurich, flights available from November 4 to March 24, 2010.

WizzAir opens route from Paris to Gdansk

Dave — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:18:11 +0000

The Hungarian lowcost airline, WizzAir, has announced a new route starting with December 18, departing from Gdansk, Poland to Paris Beauvais. Wizz Air will fly between Gdansk and Paris Beauvais two times every week, flights which will be operated by a Airbus A320 of Wizz Air.

One way all inclusive fares start from as low as EUR 22.49 if you plan ahead. Flights can be booked on their website, wizzair.com or via the call centre.

Also, from mid-March, WizzAir’s flights to Dortmund, Liverpool, London Luton, Lübeck, and Stockholm Skavsta will increase in frequency, and three new routes will be opened: Gdansk-Bournemouth, Gdansk-Coventry, and Gdansk-Gothenburg.

Wizz Air operates six bases in Central and Eastern Europe, and is the leading low-cost carrier in Eastern Europe. The airline recently announced that their 12th base will be opened in Wroclaw in July 2010.

Last Downturn In The Airline Industry

Abbey — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:36:32 +0000

During next 10 years airline passengers of the whole world will be pleasantly surprised by low ticket prices. It will happen so because of the downturn in the airline industry that leads to the loss of millions of dollars.

According to the International Air Travel Association (IATA) the world airline industry faces high competition and rising oil prices, which will cause the loss of $ 27.8 billion (£ 16,9 billion) in 2008 and 2009.

It is expected that IATA, having 90 percent of the airline industry that includes main airline companies such as British Airways and American Airlines, will not change tickets prices till 2013 as they are considered to be low.

Ryanair, the Europe’s largest budget carrier, forecasted the drop of the cost of airline tickets by 20 percent in spite of the fact that it is going to enlarge its fleet. According to IATA, airfares will go down 12 percent this year.

Giovanni Bisignani, the chief executive of IATA, supposed the $ 80 billion revenue loss was due to a drop of passenger numbers and a weak growth in the cost of tickets. He forecasted that the situation would not change until 2013.

Firstly, IATA estimated $ 9 billion loss but the total airline industry’s loss is $ 11 billion. Despite the fact that passenger numbers will go down 4 percent, a two-year loss will be $27.8 billion

It is expected that the world travel industry will lose $ 3.8 billion in 2010 because of rising fuel costs that account for up to a third of carrier’s overheads.

Croatian Airlines Anniversary Offer

Dave — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:11:29 +0000

Croatian Airlines has a special offer celebrating their 20th anniversary since flying through Europe. You have the chance to grab one or more of the 10,000 seats on their international flights at the price of 99€ .

If you’re in Europe and want to visit Croatia, here’s your chance. Croatian Airlines applies the discounts to the following routes:

Amsterdam – Croatia
Brussels – Croatia
Copenhagen – Croatia
Frankfurt – Croatia
London – Croatia
Munich – Croatia
Paris – Croatia
Podgorica – Croatia
Prishtina – Croatia
Rome – Croatia
Sarajevo – Croatia
Skopje – Croatia
Vienna – Croatia
Zurich – Croatia

The price refers to return flights and includes airport taxes and the Ticket Service Charge for a ticket purchased online. Additional 15 € is charged for tickets purchased in other Croatia Airlines sales offices.

Conditions:
- ticket purchase: until October 15, 2009
- period of travel: from October 25, 2009 to December 15, 2009
- min. stay at destination: a weekend
- changes: not allowed
- refund: not allowed

Air Berlin’s special offers for Autumn

Dave — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:44:22 +0000

Are you in Germany or in another country serviced by Air Berlin? Then you’ll be pleased to hear about their special Autumn offer – cheap tickets from 29€ flying from Germany to Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Turkey and many more, including Asia or the US. The prices starting at 29€ are for a one way fare, including fuel surcharge and not taking into account the 10€ service charge. As with any lowcost company, the sooner you get the ticket, the cheaper it is so book now if you want cheap tickets in October and November.

Here’s a few offers you might find tempting:

Germany – Barcelona: starting with 29€ (November ’09)
Germany – London: starting with 29€ (October ’09)
Germany – Vienna: starting with 29€ (October ’09)
Germany – Paris: starting with 69€ (November ’09)
Germany – Cairo: starting with 134€ (November ’09)
Germany – Phuket: starting with 299€ (Novermber ’09)

Check all of Air Berline’s cheap ticket offers on this page. If you’re in another location serviced by Air Berlin, you have some great deals too.

The service charge for other payments than direct debit is 15€ per person. Tickets are rebookable against a charge, but non-refundable. Inflight meals start from 6€, but you also have the option of opting-out of one.

Autumn sales for KLM flights

Dave — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:10:26 +0000

If you’re thinking summer was too short, KLM is in the same state of mind. So they’re starting the autumn with a Super Discount offer to every continent in the world.

If you’re in London, for example, you can chase the sun to Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town, Cairo, Kilimanjaro, Lagos, Entebbe or Dar es Salaam) for prices starting with 251 pounds. For a more oriental trip, head down to Beijing, Manilla, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Seoul or Guangzhou with prices as low as 399 pounds. Fares inclusive of taxes and surcharges from London. Taxes and charges are subject to changes. Here’s KLM’s world deals available for London.

For US residents, KLM will take you to Europe, the Middle-East and Africa for prices starting with 241$. All fares below are displayed one-way based on a round-trip purchase and include the fuel surcharge. Here’s the link where you can find all their us offers.

So if you’re planning your vacation in September, head down to the KLM website and pick your country of residence, then you destination. The booking needs to be made between 3 September 2009 and 30 September 2009, and traveling on/before 31 March 2010.