In North America and Europe, long gone is the golden era of airline travel. Gone even are the jubilant flying times of the 1980s and 90s when passengers collectively and sincerely applauded at the landing of every flight. We are in the democratized era of flying – the greyhoundization of travelling above the clouds.

The development is both welcome and fraught. Airline travel is accessible and very much a norm for the vast majority of folks in developed countries, and has entered a new phase of competition for butts in ever shrinking seats. Enter the modern low cost carrier! The godsend of cost-conscious travellers everywhere who troll the internet for flights that come to less than a family night out at the movie theatre.

I’m writing this post from a Ryan Air flight between Brussels and Athens. The flight cost less than $150 for two people. Read that again if you need to. The reason I’m going to Greece is almost entirely because the flight was so cheap. Same goes for the flight to Europe on WowAir – an Icelandic outfit that has stormed into travelling community folklore in recent years – on a return ticket from Montreal to Brussels for just over $500.

Whether easyjet, Southwest or aggressively market entering TAP airlines of Portugal, cheap flight tickets are hard to ignore. What a weary traveller needs to always remember is that the low sticker price is usually counterbalanced by a myriad of fine-print conditions that might leave your head spinning and pocket book decimated if you’re not careful.

Here are some tips for avoiding unpleasant surprises when travelling low-cost:

• Sketch out your travel needs in advance and purchase as many services and upgrades as possible when buying your initial ticket. Luggage, seat arrangements and boarding order are all things to consider and come for a fee. If you don’t book in advance, you might be flabbergasted at what they cost to arrange on the day of your flight.
• Re-read the conditions of travel before you head to the airport. Things you may have previously taken for granted like getting a boarding pass printed may cost you both time and money before you make it to the security line.
• You will not be fed on cheap flights! You may need €5 to get a bottle of water to combat the stale cabin air. Don’t be shy, bring your own snacks. Fellow passengers may guffaw at first but will end up bartering with you for a piece of licorice by the time you’re wheels down. Otherwise, budget accordingly and prepare to be underwhelmed by a packet of ramen noodles for $10.
• Load up on entertainment options before you board. No frills flying means that your in-flight entertainment may be limited to searching for shapes in the clouds (if you’re lucky enough to be by the window). Whether it’s books, newspapers, sudoku, podcasts, flying playlists or downloaded movies (like with Netflix’s new feature), bringing your own time-killers spares you from boredom and relying on sneaking a peak over your neighbours shoulder as they binge watch Suits.
• Engage your airline on social media for quick response. Low-cost carriers need to fight the online PR war actively as horror stories that go viral can paint the company’s reputation for years. Tweet, post and tag your concerns, complaints and even commendation and watch the results roll in.
• Finally, assess your comfort needs and prepare accordingly. On a flight that might feel like a floating cattle-car, a travel pillow, cozy blanket or warm jumper may be the difference between a decent experience and a slipped disc in your neck. Be realistic about your bottom line for personal needs on a flight and see if you can score a good deal with a larger airline rather than plumming the low-cost option first.

We travel low-cost often and will probably continue doing so. Even though we’ve had some rough experiences (here’s looking at you Icelandic Air and not providing a drop of sustenance on trans-Atlantic flights), our experience in the air has never been so bad that it has negatively impacted the trip we’ve eventually been able to have back at sea-level. In fact, people fly so often nowadays that in a few weeks, it becomes hard to differentiate one flight from another, except for the money you may have saved for that extra souvlaki or gelato or Belgian beer.

Happy Travels!Peter xx

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