Low Cost Airlines
You may want to read through the comparison charts of different low cost airlines before you finalize your flight tickets. Perhaps you might want to add a little extra in the air ticket, for example, having to sit with your knees wedged inside the front seat or if the full amount you save in the first place is in fact eaten up by some or the other fees in the form of overweight charges. The figures in the above table below must be taken with a small pinch of salt, but give a good indication of what to expect from the various airlines as for their baggage charges.
Air Berlin stands out positively in comparison with many other low-cost carriers. Air Berlin offers its passengers free sandwiches and coffee onboard, and you can even order hot food. You also get to see films on the screen in front of you even on short trips. You can also check in baggage up to 20 kg without paying any sort of extra fees. Leg space is however not as good as that of, among others, Norwegian and Ryanair, and you must pay a service charge of 15 € for each order, which eats up a lot of the benefits that are included in the price of Air Berlin. Be aware that the maximum hand baggage limit with Air berlin is 6 kg. Other airlines in the same category usually allow 10 kg.
Features
• Legroom: 68 cm.
• Food: Free sandwiches and coffee. Hot meals are also offered to 60-80 AU. Beer, sandwiches and coffee costs just £ 20 since the sandwich and coffee are included.
• Case Fee: up to 20 kg. Included.
• Tax on credit card: No
• Other fees: Service charge of 15 € is added to rates
• Entertainment: Film offers even on short trips. Children get a little entertainment package before they go on board.
• Flying to centrally located airports.
• Hand luggage: 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. (Max. 6 kg.)
• Overweight: 5 € / kg domestic, 8 € / kg for medium flights, 20 € / kg on long flights. • Special baggage: 25 €
Norwegian offers more legroom than other budget airlines in its category. The new aircrafts which form the fleet of Norwegian Airlines also have a rail on the seat in front, which provides utmost comfort to the legs. Norwegian's prices for food and drink on board are quite high, but not higher than most other low cost airlines. You must also look with fees for luggage checked in and the use of credit cards. Norwegian has however; no form of additional service fees. The fee in total is neither higher, nor lower than other low cost airlines as a whole. It's fairly cheap to carry special baggage of Norwegian compared with the other low cost companies.
Features
• Legroom: 72 cm.
• Food: No free food. $ 16 for one sandwich, one beer and one coffee.
• Check Fee: You pay $ 9 for up to 20 kg. If you want to check in baggage.
• Tax on credit card: $ 6,5 reservation. (If you pay with debit cards are free.)
• Other fees: No service charge or other fees.
• Entertainment: Does not provide entertainment on short trips.
• Discounts: You get a discount on air ticket if you pay by Bank Norwegian's credit card.
• Flying to centrally located airports.
• Hand luggage: 55 x 40 x 23 cm. (Max. 10 kg.)
• Overweight: $10 pr. kg. Internationally.
• Special Baggage: $ 17-50 on the basis of what to bring.
Ryanair has undoubtedly the best price for the ticket, but compensates for this with a large number of taxes. You must pay fees which in some cases amounts to double the price of the ticket alone. If you travel with Ryanair, make sure to travel light. Check in baggage is just as an expensive bottle of wine, and you will be unfortunate to shell out over 20 € per Kg. Ryanair allows only 15 kg check in luggage before you are charged for any excess baggage. It is on the similar pattern of Wizz air compared with the normal 20 kg you can have with almost every other airline. Special baggage costs 40 €. The food on board is expensive and mobile use is even more expensive. You must, of course, with fees for use of credit cards and you must accept that employees will try to sell you everything from smoke to lottery tickets during the flight. If you choose to travel light and restrict yourself to indulge in any fancy on board, Ryanair is definitely a great choice to travel. Ryanair is one of those airlines which do not follow normal rules when your flight gets delayed or cancelled. Also remember to calculate the excess transportation costs from the airport into the city since Ryanair does not fly to many major airports but smaller cities.
Features
• Legroom: 72 cm.
• Food: No free food. € 12.5 for one sandwich, one beer and one coffee.
• Check Fee: You must pay the full € 15 for max. 15 kg. Storage if you want to carry more than hand luggage. Ryanair is also quite strict on that hand luggage should be no bigger or heavier than legal. You should pay baggage charges on the internet in advance. To pay this at the airport costs $ 41 for a bag and $ 137 for two bags!
• Tax on credit card: $8 per person. Stretch.
• Other fees: 5 € for online check if you have not purchased promotional tickets. With the campaign ticket, online check in is free.
• Entertainment: No entertainment on board.
• Ryan air allows mobile use on board. € 0.5 to send SMS, 2-3 € to call. This is expensive and you should avoid mobile use.
• Flies to small and centrally located airports.
• Hand luggage: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. (Max. 10 kg.)
• Overweight: 20 € pr. kg!
• Special baggage: 50 €
The strongest competitor by far to Ryanair for European Skies is the budget flyer Easy Jet. Where at one end Ryanair does not fly to centrally located airports, Easy Jet provides you that convenience if you are looking forward to board another plane or simply get down at central locations in Europe. Ticket prices though vary from one location to other but Easy Jet is categorically placed in the budget flying market. You will have to shell out about $ 100 for up to 20 kg of checked in luggage with an extra cost of $ 15 per kg for any excess baggage. There is no complimentary food on board for the flyers and the prices for meals are at par with those of Norwegian and Ryanair. Though seats are quite comfortable but there is lesser legroom in comparison with other carriers. However one of the biggest advantages of flying with Easy Jet is that you are allowed to carry any limit of heavy baggage as long as you comply with the size regulations. (56 x 45 x 25 cm). It is also effectively very affordable to carry special baggage with Easy Jet. A perfect carrier for those of you who love to have lots of baggage when they travel!
Features
• Legroom: 68 cm.
• Food: No free food. $ 16 for one sandwich, one beer and one coffee.
• Case Fee: $ 16 for up to 20 kg. Checked baggage.
• Tax on credit card: $ 12 kr per order for credit cards. $ 25 per order for debit cards.
• Other fees: None.
• Entertainment: None
• Flying to centrally located airports.
• Hand luggage: 56 x 45 x 25 cm. No weight limit.
• Excess baggage Charges: 12 € per kg.
• Special baggage: 25 €
Cimber Sterling is again a strong competitor for Norwegian and other low cost companies in Europe. Cimber Sterling is trying to oust other carriers with its new low cost profile. The sunny sides with Cimber Sterling is that the check in is included in the base ticket fare and the credit card fee is quite low in comparison to other carriers (1.25 of the cost.
• Other fees: No.
• Entertainment: does not offer entertainment on board.
• Flying to centrally located airports.
• Hand luggage: 50 x 40 x 25 cm. (Max. 10 kg.)
• Excess baggage charges: 10 € / kg.
• Special baggage: 40 €
Wizz Air has a different pricing model as compared to others in the same category. Wizz Air charges higher fees for check-in luggage and excess baggage if you have not paid this in advance. Leg place is the worst of all budget airlines, seven cm smaller than Norwegian and Ryan air. The food costs about the same as that of Ryanair, Norwegian and Easy Jet. It is expensive to carry special baggage at Wizz Air.
Features
• Legroom: 65 cm.
• Food: $ 15 one sandwich, one beer and coffee.
• Check in Fee: 10 € for up to 15 kg.
• Tax on credit card: 45 kr. per person. Stretch.
• Other fees: No.
• Entertainment: Does not offer entertainment on board.
• Flying both small and centrally located airports.
• Hand luggage: 55 x 40 x 20 cm. (Max. 10 kg.)
• Excess Baggage charges: Payment at the airport: 15 € / kg. Payment online: 5 € for 0-5 kg, 30 € for 6-10 kg, 80 € for 11-20 kg.
• Special baggage: 30 € when paying online. € 40 when paying at the airport.
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