It doesn’t matter why you fly: a pleasure trip, weddings, a business conference or a study trip. Choosing your airline doesn’t always come down to the cheapest one: there are many other factors involved. Price is an important determinant, but there are other things you should know before buying a ticket with any airline.
First, check the age and type of planes. Some airlines have mostly older planes that break more often than newer ones; in these cases there might be more delays and problems than you hoped for. There is nothing worse than a cancelled or heavily delayed flight because of a mechanical problem; trust me, I’ve been stuck in a plane for three hours and it is not fun.
Second, you should check if the airline has some kind of frequent traveller rewards. Sometimes, having rewards for buying tickets can be a good thing, especially if you travel often. This way you can accumulate points or miles to help with further trips. Makes sure that the rewards are not too hard to get; sometimes companies offer not very interesting terms just to attract new customers. Stick to the well known reward programs, and don’t get taken in for a new credit card, unless you really need one.
Frequency of flights and the availability (or not) of non-stop flights between your destinations is also something to check. Sometimes buying a cheaper ticket but having to do three stops on the way is not advantageous; paying a little more in that case might be worth it. Some companies offer direct flights where others won’t; make sure to check thoroughly between the different companies in your region.
Baggage and other policies should be checked before you buy, unless you already know the company’s policies. Some companies charge for check-on luggage; you should know this for short-term trips. However, others don’t charge for one or two checked baggage, which is desirable if you have to bring more things with you. Sometimes knowing whether you’ll have to pay extra for your belongings or not can change your choice of airline.
Some airlines have now moved to credit-card-only in-flight purchases. This could be a problem if you don’t own a credit card or if you prefer to pay cash. On long flights, you will probably have to eat if a meal is not offered, so make sure you check the purchasing conditions aboard the flight.
And of course, before going anywhere abroad, you should know the entry conditions for the country you are visiting. Visas, passports and other documents are often required in countries all around the world, unless there has been some agreement between your citizenship country and your visiting country. Make sure you have all the necessary documents before boarding your flight, or you could have to come back on the next plane home.
As long as you stay informed and are prepared, flying can be an agreeable experience. Make sure you get all the information you need before buying plane tickets, and make your wedding, business or personal trip start the right way!
First, check the age and type of planes. Some airlines have mostly older planes that break more often than newer ones; in these cases there might be more delays and problems than you hoped for. There is nothing worse than a cancelled or heavily delayed flight because of a mechanical problem; trust me, I’ve been stuck in a plane for three hours and it is not fun.
Second, you should check if the airline has some kind of frequent traveller rewards. Sometimes, having rewards for buying tickets can be a good thing, especially if you travel often. This way you can accumulate points or miles to help with further trips. Makes sure that the rewards are not too hard to get; sometimes companies offer not very interesting terms just to attract new customers. Stick to the well known reward programs, and don’t get taken in for a new credit card, unless you really need one.
Frequency of flights and the availability (or not) of non-stop flights between your destinations is also something to check. Sometimes buying a cheaper ticket but having to do three stops on the way is not advantageous; paying a little more in that case might be worth it. Some companies offer direct flights where others won’t; make sure to check thoroughly between the different companies in your region.
Baggage and other policies should be checked before you buy, unless you already know the company’s policies. Some companies charge for check-on luggage; you should know this for short-term trips. However, others don’t charge for one or two checked baggage, which is desirable if you have to bring more things with you. Sometimes knowing whether you’ll have to pay extra for your belongings or not can change your choice of airline.
Some airlines have now moved to credit-card-only in-flight purchases. This could be a problem if you don’t own a credit card or if you prefer to pay cash. On long flights, you will probably have to eat if a meal is not offered, so make sure you check the purchasing conditions aboard the flight.
And of course, before going anywhere abroad, you should know the entry conditions for the country you are visiting. Visas, passports and other documents are often required in countries all around the world, unless there has been some agreement between your citizenship country and your visiting country. Make sure you have all the necessary documents before boarding your flight, or you could have to come back on the next plane home.
As long as you stay informed and are prepared, flying can be an agreeable experience. Make sure you get all the information you need before buying plane tickets, and make your wedding, business or personal trip start the right way!