- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
Comments (2)
Print
Save/ShareReader tip on booking European discounters
Ian Chandler responded to our recent post about a new site describing the various European low-cost airlines, and we wanted to make sure you saw his tip:
The best way to find the cheapest fares in Europe is to do a bit of intense Googling and then go direct to the airline websites. Be very careful when you book to study the booking conditions and options - Ryanair, in particular, is devised with the cunning of Satan to part you from more money than you might expect. Beware of paying for "priority boarding" - on some flights, all passengers had paid for this, which made the option meaningless. Also, be aware that these airlines will charge you for every ounce of excess baggage. One other thing: within Continental Europe, it is often quicker and cheaper - and much pleasanter - to take the train than to fly.
We encourage users to analyze, comment on, and even challenge the articles, blogs, reviews, and multimedia features of BudgetTravel.com.
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.
This is very good advice. I recently flew Ryanair and realized, as I read the details on their website just before travelling, that Ryanair's maximum weight limit (15 kilograms/33 pounds) for checked luggage is the total amount of weight allowed for all of a passenger's checked luggage. For example, even if you also pay Ryanair an extra fee so that you can check a second piece of luggage, the maximum weight allowed for BOTH pieces is 15 kg. If both pieces weigh more than that you would have to pay the fee for that 2nd piece of checked luggage and also extra fees for each kg over the total max. amount of 15 kg.
I've flown Easy Jet several times. It's max. weight limit for luggage is more; 20 kg/44 pounds. Especially for Easy Jet paying extra for priority boarding is not wise, very often the way of boarding is that all passengers ride in a bus across the tarmac to the plane (or even in two buses, with one bus first going to the plane while the other passengers wait in the airport terminal before being able to ride in another bus to the plane) and then everyone boards the plane at the same time, so even if you've paid extra for priority boarding unless you're one of the first people out of the bus and into the plane, you will still be boarding after many of the other passengers are already on board.
Once after I booked a round-trip flight with Easy Jet, the airline changed the time of day for both flights I was going to travel on. I was very impressed with Easy Jet's customer service about that situation, in an email where they apologized for the inconvenience I was given the options of either travelling with the new flights schedules or (at no extra cost to me) changing the dates I would fly to any other days within one month of the original travel dates. I could choose to travel on any days (during that one month period) when seats were available for the flights I was scheduled to travel on.
Posted By Ken on April 6, 2008, 11:53 AM
You can often board early with kids. I suggest that you do this even if your kids are teens. A seat is a seat and it is nice to get one. Many people are seasoned cheap air fare travelers and are very nice to new travelers. Other than the employees of the airlines the people are very nice and it is like a comedy in the waiting areas if you choose to make it that way. Don't be a stuffy American traveler and you will have fun. Don't travel on the plane with a cork screw either. Support the local economy and buy one everywhere you go, then put it in checked luggage. You can't beat the price!!!!
Posted By nancy on April 6, 2008, 7:34 PM