WhichBudget Press Release, 08 May 2006

HOW TO BAG A BARGAIN

Frustrating, isn’t it? Trying to book seats on a low cost airline... First there’s the nightmare of finding who flies where, then there’s the major task of getting a seat at anything like a bargain price.

That’s why you need to know about www.whichbudget.com – the website that brings together all the budget airlines in the world, and lets you figure out exactly who flies where. And when it comes to bagging that bargain seat, well, here’s their definitive guide to getting the best possible fare:

HOW TO GET THE LOWEST FARES

* If you know where you want to go and are not flexible about dates: book 1-3 months in advance on a low-cost airline.

If you are flexible, either wait until low cost airlines do a special offer (e.g. Ryanair's 1p + taxes tickets), or check charter airlines for a last-minute departure.

* Be flexible

Flights midweek are generally cheaper than those at the weekend.

Also bear in mind the time of day that you fly. If you’re willing to get out of bed before dawn; travel midday, or happy to arrive at your destination late at night, the price will be considerably lower, though bear in mind that transportation to/from the airport can be more expensive at this time.

* Don't dither!

If you've found a bargain, take it! Even if you change your mind later, it's only a tenner lost. Of course, you can always change the dates later, but be aware that rebooking can cost £10 - £30 in admin fees, plus the difference in price of your newly chosen flight.

* Book online

Booking online costs less than booking over the phone. Most of the airlines have call centres, however by booking online not only will you avoid the call centre wait times, but will save an average of £5 per return ticket.

* Be aware of extras

Credit-card users face supplementary charges of upto £4 per transaction. It’s best to use Switch.

* Beware of Transfers

The big risk you take with budget airlines arises if you book connecting flights. Most budget airlines operate point-to-point only. This means that they offer no transfer of luggage from one flight to another, so for every flight you must go through the whole check-in process again. There are a few exceptions to this, namely the German budget airlines such as Air Berlin, Condor and DBA, which use German airports as hubs.

Leave 2-3 hours between connecting flights, to cover any delays and re-checking in.

If delays occur and you miss check-in for your connecting flight it‘s seen as entirely your responsibility, even if you’re carrying on with the same airline. For this reason, it’s advisable to get yourself proper travel insurance ( many airlines themselves offer the best cover for this).

So, now you know. Find the airlines using www.whichbudget.com and follow these rules and you can fly round Europe for the price of a round of drinks. Now that’s something worth celebrating!

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