Frills Versus No-Frills Airlines

So, besides a little bit of leg room, maybe a ‘free’ soft drink or two and the prices, what are the differences between a European budget airline and the big dawgs of international travel like British Airways, Luftansa and the like? We’ve noticed a few major differences:

Room: Cattle class takes on a whole new meaning on budget airlines. Expect as little room as possible – even less that you’re used to on the old players.
Restrictions: No-frills means no changes. Miss your flight? Too bad, buy another seat. Can’t make it through security 30 minutes in advance? Shame, new seat for you too. Bag two kilos overweight? That will be 20 euros. No-frills means all that.
Extras: Food and drinks? Gotta pay on a budget airline. They try to keep all costs as low as possible – how else would you get that great deal on your ticket?
Boarding Procedures: Many budget airlines require all passengers to be on board a chunk of time in advance. It doesn’t matter if you’re two minutes later – you might not get on. Also, often times you’ll be assigned a section instead of a direct seat – get there extra early if you need to have that window view of the Alps.
Location of Airports: Most budget airlines fly into smaller, more out-of-the way airports. They may say they fly into, for example, Barcelona, but it’s really Girona, 45 minutes away. Make sure you know the real destination – and your travel options for getting there.
Price: Here’s the main selling points – with all these ‘disadvantages’ of no-frills airlines, why does anyone use them at all? The different is in the cost. If you want to save some money, chances are, those without all the extras will be the way to do it.

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