Flying on a budget
Photo: Bic, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Since the 1970s, air travel has become more and more affordable in many parts of the world thanks to the liberalization of air travel regulations, growing competition, increasing efficiency of airline operation, and government subsidies (both open and hidden). It can however still be a large part of your travel budget. This article offers some advice on how to reduce the cost of air travel.
It can also be worthwhile to consider whether other modes of transport make sense, especially if the flight (or a leg of it) is short. In East Asia and Europe, high-speed rail may be a better option. In countries with many islands, such as the Philippines, Indonesia or Greece, consider taking a ferry.
UnderstandFlying in the 1950s and 1960s, what is now called "the golden age of air travel", was a privilege of the wealthy, or a rare treat for the upper-middle class.
Plan well in advanceStarting your planning well in advance will give you enough time to do your research, and allow you more options.
Check your optionsOn routes between major airports, there are two main types of airlines.
Booking methodsIntermediaries (such as travel agents) and many airlines will charge extra fees for bookings made over the phone or in person at their desks. Booking online is usually the cheapest or at least not more expensive.
Advanced tacticsMost flights booked from the airlines' websites are sold in the currency of the departure port.
Expert strategiesMany of the following strategies are highly advanced and yield substantial savings (50 to 70% off regular fares are not unheard of). However, they are not available from your city all the time.
Legacy airlinesA legacy airline, major airline or full-service airline usually has a heritage from the time when flying was a luxury.
Budget airlinesThe cheapest tickets are often offered by budget airlines, also known as low-cost carriers (LCCs), which tend to have restricted service compared to full-service or legacy carriers.e. the distance between seats).
Other airlines and planesA regional airline usually operates less busy routes with smaller aircraft. Many of them are subsidiaries of or contracted to a legacy airline., Canada, India and Australia.
Alternatives to flyingWhile there are hardly any practicable alternatives to a trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific flight (unless you seriously consider traveling on a yacht or freight ship – and even that is usually more expensive than a…
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Flying on a budget" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Bic, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons