Today’s Flying 101 post will run you through the realities of flying low-cost airlines. Low-cost travel has significantly changed the aviation & travel industry over the years. Low-cost airlines have popped out in almost every country in the world & have provided a very affordable flying experience to humankind.
There is really no issue flying a low-cost airline. However, one must get ready for the following ‘realities’ when flying one.
It’s cheap but you get what you pay for.
Yes – it’s that cheap. You can get a ticket as low as free, ₱1, $1, €1 or 1 of whatever currency base fare plus taxes & fees. This ticket only includes a guaranteed seat on the flight in an almost all-economy class configured airplane. It also includes basic carry-on luggage of 7 to 10 kilograms, depending on how much the airline allows.
Nothing else is free.
Every extra inflight service or amenity comes with a fee. Passengers pay for check-in baggage allowance, inflight meals, a bottle of water & seat selection. Some airlines in other countries also offer priority check-in & boarding plus fast-track lane access for additional fees.
Most low-cost airlines offer fare bundles with combined add-ons for discounted rates. It’s always cheaper to avail these fare bundles than paying for every single add-on after selecting the basic fare.
Flight schedules aren’t the most convenient.
Low-cost airlines don’t have the most convenient flight schedules. The low-cost airlines here in the Philippines, have convenient schedules across the domestic network. Their international network has a different story. Most international flights leave either early morning, mid to late afternoon or late at night. Only a few international short-haul destinations (the likes of Hong Kong & Singapore) have regular schedules throughout the day.
Change fees are expensive.
Low-cost airlines impose very high change or rebooking fees. This change fee is on top of the fare difference you have to pay when changing your ticket. Change fees here in the Philippines can cost as high as ₱2,000 per sector. At most times, it’s cheaper to buy a new ticket. Make sure to check the price of the new ticket before rebooking your ticket.
Some low-cost airlines now offer flexible ticket options by charging a flexible ticket add-on which waives change fees & only charges the fare difference. This is a good add-on for this with unpredictable schedules.
Expect for an ‘OK’ overall service.
Don’t expect for a 5-star service when flying these low-cost carriers. You will usually experience bus boarding / disembarkation, a walk in the tarmac, paper boarding passes, crowded passenger waiting areas & frequent flight delays. You might even encounter not-so-clean airplane seats, tray tables & (sometimes) filthy cabin & toilets in general.
One thing you’ll notice, most of the ground attendants & on-board crew are friendly & accommodating – which is good!
Don’t get me wrong – I am not a low-cost carrier hater. In fact, I love flying low-cost airlines because of their super cheap fares. Flying these airlines come with certain realities we have to face. I’ve had a few bad experiences with some low-cost airlines but here I am flying with them again & again. At the end of the day, I am fine with these ‘realities’ as long as they take me to my desired destination safe & sound.
How are your experiences with low-cost airlines? Have you experienced some of those mentioned above? Share your experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Also, please follow me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram.
Thank you for joining me in today’s Flying 101 topic. See you in the next one! Stay safe & healthy.
7 months into the lockdown, we’re still stuck at our own homes. While some provinces have restarted tourism, leisure travel to most countries remain prohibited. I don’t know if restrictions will be eased soon but I hope you are coping well with the pandemic. Our health & well-being is far more important than anything today.
First in my list is the land of the rising sun, Japan. Well, Japan is Japan. I’ve visited this country more than any other country I’ve been to & I keep on coming back. Japan has a perfect mix of cultural preservation & societal development. The country is advanced in all aspects & at the same time has the most preserved culture & tradition. I can’t wait to go back to the bustling shopping street of Shinsaibashi-suji & Dōtonbori in Osaka, the peaceful town of Fujikawaguchiko & the busy Shibuya crossing in Tokyo. I also plan to visit for the first time the cities of Himeji, Kanazawa & Toyama.
Aside from Japan’s culture & advancements, the other reasons why I want to go back to Japan are because of their food, groceries & public transportation. I’ve always loved Japanese food; I am a big fan of it. I love eating out in authentic ramen restaurants, in popular wagyu places & even in small food stalls.
I miss going to Japanese supermarkets & buying my favorite 1-liter Lipton milk drink. I also miss going through the interesting food & non-food items I see & buying them because I found them nice. The country’s public transportation system is my favorite in the whole world. Their public transportation system is efficient, on time & clean. I normally don’t take buses outside the Philippines, but I don’t mind taking them all the time in Japan.
The second country in my list is Taiwan. I’ve been to this country thrice & I am still amazed by its beauty. The country has an amazing cities & countryside, an interesting history & a nice bunch of locals. One thing I enjoy about the Taiwan is their long list of street food & restaurants to try.
Once the pandemic is over, I will fly back to the country for a weekend only to eat – to have beef noodles, xiao long bao, pepper buns, bubble tea & a lot more. The country has extended their visa-free scheme to Filipinos until July 2021 so anyone can go. Who’s with me? Let’s go!
I’ve been to South Korea twice (Seoul for 11 days in 2014 & Seoul & Busan for 13 days in 2015) & I feel like it’s time to go back to the country. I already miss walking along & shopping Myeong-dong’s retail street, hopping around Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung & Deoksugung Palaces & having my favorite gyeran-ppang (egg bread), odeng (fish cake), bibimbap, dak-galbi (spicy stir-fried chicken), pajeon (green onion pancake) & chicken & beer. We have nice many nice Korean restaurants here in the Philippines but we can’t beat the authentic experience when in the Land of Kimchi. Anyone fancy a spring or autumn shopping & food-trip weekend in Seoul?
I visited Bangkok, Krabi, Ao Nang, Koh Lipe, Phuket & Ayutthaya in the past & I can say I’ve had great memories in these cities. From cheap but really nice hostels, authentic 40-baht pad thai to crazy party nights around Khao San Road & Ao Nang, Thailand is the best place to have a good time. It also has beautiful sights such as the Grand Palace in Bangkok & the different temples in Ayutthaya. I’m dying to visit Wat Arun (yes, I haven’t been there), Chatuchak Weekend Market & Chao Praya River. I was supposed to visit Bangkok last August but the pandemic happened. I also want to take a side trip up north to Chiang Mai for some quiet time with nature.
Singapore is my second most-visited country Japan. I’ve been to this country many times & I still keep on coming back. I may not have stayed longer than my previous visits, but I make sure to have a quick hop around the city. A visit to Singapore won’t be complete without going to the Merlion statue, Marina Bay Sands complex, Gardens by the Bay, Haji Lane, Bugis & Orchard Road.
A weekend in Singapore is ideal after the pandemic – a time to visit some friends, to have some Hainanese chicken & chili crab & to experience some organized city chaos – if you know what I mean. I also fancy a visit & walk around their beautiful Changi Airport.
I may not have been to Vietnam as many times as the countries above but Vietnamis definitely on to-go list after the pandemic. My first & last visit to the country was a trip to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in May 2014. I fell in love with the people’s simple way of living & the country’s food. Vietnamese food is amazing – it’s tasty, affordable & good for the health! I can’t wait to have a hot bowl of phở and/or bún bò huế partnered with fresh or fried spring rolls & a bottle of Bia Saigon Lager.
My friends & I were supposed to fly to Saigon days before the lockdown last March but we were forced to cancel it last minute. I need to go back to Saigon to watch the water puppet show, to eat more Vietnamese food, to visit some friends & to visit Hoi An. I also plan to fly to the country’s capital city, Hanoi, to see what the northern city has to offer. I’ve heard some good stories about the city; I’m excited to experience them first hand.
Do you also have these countries in your post-covid travel list? If yes, which one do you plan to visit first & why? Share your plans in the comments section below. Who knows, we might see each other in one of those countries above! Do you have questions about anything mentioned above? Don’t hesitate to send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Please please please also follow me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram.
Let’s do our part by going out only when needed & by wearing face masks when going out. I know we’re all stuck here but I believe we can all go back to travelling in the right time. For the meantime, stay indoors, safe & healthy! ❤️
PS. Photos were taken using my HTC One M8, HTC Re & HTC U11.
