How to Identify No Frills & Low Cost Airlines

Spot the no-frills carrier by service and price.

If you've found a flight for a fraction of the prices advertised on major travel-booking websites or offered by travel agents, you are probably on your way to identifying a low-cost, no-frills carrier. These airlines share a commitment to budget travel for passengers who want to travel a relatively short, point-to-point distance without connections and don't mind giving up some of the traditional service niceties they might be used to on a more traditional carrier.

Instructions

1. Check the price of the assumed low-cost carrier against the prices of traditional carriers. Low-cost carriers should be at least 50 percent cheaper than a regular airline.

2. Examine the policy for checked baggage. Most airlines in the "no-frills" category charge for each piece of checked luggage and enforce strict rules regarding the size and number of carry-on baggage.

3. Research the location of the airport. Low-cost carriers, especially in Europe, are known for flying into remote airports that are sometimes over 30 miles from city center and require a bus ride or other form of transportation to get to and from, often at an additional cost.

4. Check your boarding card at the airport. If you are not assigned a specific seat on the plane, your airline is probably low-cost. These airlines reduce the number of cabin crew by not offering specific services to each passenger and seating passengers on a first-come, first-served basis when boarding begins instead of assigning seats.

References

• Quantify: Low Cost Airlines in Europe
• Asia Travel Tips: No Frills Airlines
• CNN World: Low Cost Airlines Buck Trend
• CNN World: Boom Times for Budget Airlines
• CNN World: Taking on the Travel Giants