CHOOSING AN AIRLINE
Choosing which airline to fly with on your long haul trip of a life-time or your short hop across Europe doesn't have to be a daunting task. Much will depend on your budget and destination. If you're taking a charter flight on a package holiday the choice of airline will be made for you by the operator, which will take the stress out of selecting which airline to fly with.
On a charter flight you'll get a guaranteed seat and will be supplied with a meal and refreshments (although you're likely to have had to pay for this when booking your trip). A scheduled flight is for the more adventurous who like to do their own thing. Although with so many budget airlines and cheap deals available, more and more people take care of booking their own flights. Depending on the airline, you're likely to have to pay for in-flight food yourself (usually of the snack variety and not often a lot of choice) and if you want a guaranteed seat next to your travelling companions you'll probably have to pay for the privilege).
Budget Airlines
Many of the budget airlines that have sprung up over the last few years offer a service that is comparable to their more expensive competitors. Additions to timetables and flights to new destinations are constantly being released. Some of the prices in the first few days of the release of a new season of flights can be ridiculously cheap. If you can fly mid-week or during school term time you'll be likely to find some fantastic bargains if you shop around.
One hint is to sign up for airline newsletters if you want to be the first to be informed of bargain prices and discounts.
Be aware that most budget airlines have both a summer and a winter schedule, with the winter flights being less frequent.
Just because these airlines are known as 'budget' doesn't mean they compromise on safety. Safety standards should be rigorously maintained no matter who the airline is.
Pricing
Prices can vary enormously depending on when you book, whether you book direct or through a travel agent, if you book on-line and even which country you're in when you book (we've heard of situations where it's cheaper to book on the European version of a particular airline's website, and pay in euros than it is to book exactly the same flight on the English website).
Other Deciding Factors
Convenience plays a part in most people's decision to choose an airline. If the airline flies from the airport nearest to the traveller's home it's a distinct advantage (especially for those flights where you have to get up in the middle of the night!). Depending on where you live if you want to travel on a long haul flight to a distant destination you're likely to have to travel to one of the larger UK airports.
Some flights require connections and you may find it's easier to fly from your local airport to the larger airport, and then catch a connecting flight to your final destination. This often works out to be fairly inexpensive in comparison to additional travelling and the higher parking charges of the larger airports.
Finally, for those of us that travel with children anything that can be done to make the flight easier will be welcome. When booking check if the airline offers any children's play packs, special meals or entertainment, particularly if it's a long haul flight.
Spend some time researching your airline and flights and you're sure to find the deal and that best suits you.