The Hidden Costs Of Budget European Travel

The Hidden Costs Of Budget European Travel

Article by Graham McKenzie

Budget and discount airlines have sprung up across Europe in the last few years, all of them fighting furiously to offer the best deal on cheap airfare. This may be a good thing, but it begs the question, whether or not there’s any benefit to these discounts or do the drawbacks of trying to travel Europe on a shoestring outweigh the advantages? Might the low price airfare mask additional hassle? An examination of the pros and cons of cheap European travel deals may prove illuminating.Nearly every European country now has at least one no frills budget airline. Easy Jet and Ryan Air are becoming quite popular in England and Ireland, Germany boasts four or five, while Sweden’s SAS has just launched its own budget offshoot, Snowflake.

At first glance the fares these airlines offer seem ridiculously low. While you still have to pay airport tax, around twenty pounds, Ryan Air seems to have all but given away flights in the past. But what’s the catch?

Here’s the real deal for traveling Europe on a budget:

First: budget airlines almost always use out of town provincial airports which lie often forty to fifty miles away from their city centers. This can mean an additional two hours of travel time to your destination coming and going. Then there’s the charge for the bus or train to get you from the airport to your destination so you have to factor this cost into the price of your ticket when comparison shopping between budget and mainstream airlines. Most often the main airlines fly you directly into the city center which saves you time travel time and the extra cost.

Should you miss your flight then you might end up literally stuck in the middle of nowhere overnight with none of the food outlets open and no way to get to the city.

Second: you get what you pay for. Budget airlines may not offer in-flight food and beverages or if these services are on offer, then you’ll be charged at the premium rate. Of course, on flights that last only an hour or two, forgoing a sandwich and coffee may not be a problem.

Third (and kind of a reiteration of number one) you have to factor in total travel time and compare that to the cost. Say it takes five hours to get from the center of Glasgow Scotland to the center of London by train and it costs about twenty five pounds each way.

Say instead you choose to book a cheap flight. The problem: both airports are forty miles from the city center. That automatically adds three hours to your travel time not including waiting at baggage claim. Then you must pay for the bus or train from the airport to the city center each way. Without a substantially cheap airfare, you could end up spending more than had you simply taken the train. It’s important to check this out in advance.

Fourth, the cheap price you’re quoted is only for APEX travelers. If you need to change your flight time you may be penalized heavily. Also, cheap airfares are only available if you buy well in advance. Buying the day of or even the day before adds a hefty premium to the price. Often the baggage allowance is extremely limited, often no more than between 15 and 20 kg or 33 and 44 lbs. You will also be charged a sizable premium to carry more.

To sum up, it is possible to travel Europe on a budget, but you must choose your discount airline package carefully. Remember when comparing ticket prices that there are lots of extra hidden costs while the price in terms of extra travel time involved can really add up.

About the Author

Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for the leading UK Flight Comparison website, which offers detailed information on Booking a Flight.