Flying on a Budget?

The rising number of low cost carriers over the past few years has made traveling more accessible.  Thanks to these budget airlines, like Cebu Pacific, it is now possible even for big families to travel together without having to shell out a considerable amount.  However, shaving off a bulk of the ticket price also mean that some services that you would otherwise enjoy in a traditional airline are taken out.  These services can be availed as options in several carriers at an extra cost.

I have to admit that I was one of the skeptics before since there had also been several reports about the not-so-good service of some of these airlines.  Then I came to learn that we cannot really generalize.  It is still very possible enjoy a pleasant flight without paying much.  

Here are some tips of our own on low cost flying. 

1.  Cheaper seats are most often sold several months before the flight so it is better to plan early and buy the tickets in advance.  Be on guard for promo fares advertised in print and social media.

2.  Check the optional services offered by your airline of choice.  If possible, just purchase the seats (no baggage, no meals, etc.) and just buy these optional services later.  

3.  If you have seat preference (especially important to families and autism families), purchase the seat selector right away or as early as possible.  Several months before the flight, most seats are not taken yet so you will have more chance to choose the best seats.

What does it say?

Preferred seats!

4.  In some airlines, you can purchase baggage allowance 48, 24, or even 4 hours before the flight (for Cebu Pacific, it's 4 hours).  This will give you ample time to pack up for your trip.  So just buy your seats in advance first, pack up your luggage 1 or 2 days before the flight, weigh your check in baggage and then purchase the appropriate baggage allowance. 

5.  I recommend that you do not maximize your baggage allowance.  For example, if you have a 30kg allowance, just fill up your luggage until it's about 28kg or less because there might be some difference between your weighing scale and the one at the airport.  There is no point in arguing at the airport either and it will just be more of a hassle so just leave the "2 kg." alone, it isn't much anyway.  Also, some carriers do not have facility for excess baggage payment and if your check in baggage exceeds your allowance, you will be forced to dispose some of your items even if you are willing to pay for excess baggage.  So just limit your check in to 2-kg. less than your allowance.

6.  Check the allowed hand carry of your airlines.  Follow the dimension limitation and again, leave about 1 or 2 kg. allowance on the weight.  Some carriers will weigh your hand carry so just follow their limitations to avoid hassles.

Two hard case luggage for check in and 1 small hand carry

7.  If the flight will be long and you want to have hot meals, there are more meal choices if you purchase before the flight than ordering during the flight.  So if you don’t want your choice to be limited to chicken or fish only, buy the meals in advance.

8.  If you bought a promo fare seat and you need to move one of your flight to another day, for example the flight going home, it may be cheaper to just buy a new ticket than to rebook the flight.

Waiting to board

9.  If your airline has the facility, do a web check in.  It will save you considerable amount of time falling in line at the counter.

10.  It will be helpful to not expect too much from the services offered by these carriers.  Avoid being too demanding and compare them to standard airlines.  If the ground and cabin crew are friendly enough and courteous, the flight was satisfactory and my rights weren’t violated, I think that I already got what I paid for.  We can put it this way, we can’t expect a fine dining experience from eating at a fast food joint, but we can still find satisfaction.

11.  When there are issues do not switch to beast mode right away. Stay as human as possible and try to resolve them with the crew without resorting to hysteria.

12.  A smile and a greeting can go a long way.  Stay positive.  Smile and greet the ground and cabin crew that you will get to interact.  They may have had a rough day already and your positive aura may help uplift their spirits.  Not only will you avoid ruining your trip but you will have a greater chance of getting a courteous and friendly service from them.

Let the kids enjoy the view by purchasing preferred seats!

Do you have any other tips to share?  Share them and let’s make our trips as enjoyable as possible especially for the kids.