5 facts about budget airlines you need to know
PUBLISHED ONJanuary 31, 2017 7:20 AMByDenise Bay
This article was originally on GET.com at: 5 Facts About Budget Airlines You Need To Know
If you have ever travelled to countries close to Singapore for a short getaway, you must have hopped onto budget airlines at some point in your life.
Budget holidaymakers not only have more and more incredible yet affordable holiday destinations to explore, they can also increasingly travel to exotic far-flung places on budget airlines, as well.
Do you tend to book budget flights whenever possible?
If so, here are 5 facts about budget airlines we at GET.com reckon you really need to know.
5 Facts About Budget Airlines You Ought To Know
1. Different Budget Carriers Charge Different Fees For Baggage
If you are paying to check in your baggage when you are booking your flight, keep in mind that different budget airlines are charging different fees.
For instance, 20kg of checked baggage with Jetstar will set you back at $38, although this add-on bundle comes with a meal or snack, standard seat selection, no change fees, Qantas points.
Scoot, on the other hand, charges $41 for only 20kg of checked baggage, a meal, drink and snack.
So, before you settle for the budget flight that shows you the cheapest price on your search results, remember to compare the full amount after all your add-on selections to determine which carrier offers a better deal.
2. There Are Sneaky Fees And Charges You Need To Take Note Of
From credit card processing fees to seat selection fees, there are sneaky budget airline fees that you as a savvy budget traveller should avoid if your aim is to shave your travel costs to a figure as low as you possibly can.
Just to put it out there, credit card processing fees are usually 'hidden' away from your eyes until you are at the last step of the booking page.
Most people tend to miss that out and just pay, only to realise that a phantom fee had been included because they'd used a card to pay just like anyone who's shopping online would.
3. There Is No Reason For You To Be Ripped Off Onboard Just For A Bottle Of Water
Don't you think it's ridiculous to shell out $5 for a tiny bottle of mineral water on budget flights?
Although you are prohibited from bringing filled bottles of water when you are going through security lines, you can bring your own water onboard.
All you have to do is fill up your empty bottle(s) after security clearance while you are waiting in the boarding area.
4. You Can Fly Budget On Long-Haul Flights More So Than Ever
Budget flights are no longer restricted to holiday destinations close to home.
If you have been wanting to explore countries and cities that are further away from Singapore, you can get yourself on a budget flight to places like Osaka, Sapporo, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Seoul, Maldives, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Iran, Oman and even Athens!
5. Budget Flights Do Not Always Mean They Are Your Cheapest Options
Timing is of essence when you are trying to book cheap flights and cheap hotels.
Sometimes, it pays to check whether full-service flights on non-budget airlines have tickets that go for less money (or more value) compared to what your searches for budget flights are showing you.
Want a real-life example?
My best friend was supposed to visit Bangkok on a budget flight with her family during the Christmas season, but she settled for a Thai Airways flight instead of one from any of the other budget carriers out there - the reason was simply because both Thai Airways and all the budget airlines were charging about $400.
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