• Introduction
• Central Europe Airlines
• Eastern Europe Airlines
• Scandinavia Airlines
• Southern Europe Airlines
• UK & Ireland Airlines
• Booking & Ticketing
• At the Airport

Booking & Ticketing

BOOKING
Most discount airlines sell tickets via their websites or by telephone.

If you’re interested in cross-referencing multiple discount airlines simultaneously, there are several sites which can help you find the best rate quotes and schedules. Here are a few of the best and most popular:

www.openjet.com

www.skyscanner.net

www.dohop.com

TICKETING
• The lowest-priced fares are often limited in supply or available only on certain dates. Book early for the widest selection of fare deals, which are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and which usually increase in price as the travel date nears.

• The jaw-droppingly low fares quoted in attention-grabbing ads will have hidden costs, like taxes and fees. Prepare to see the original low fare doubled or even tripled in price by the time taxes and fees are applied.

• Many of these airlines offer low fares on one-way ticket purchase, allowing for flexibility in your travel plans. However, don't expect to receive any special discount for purchasing round-trip tickets, contrary to what legacy carriers offer.

• Most airlines will not refund tickets if travel plans need to be cancelled, except in certain extreme cases, such as a death of a family member. However, some carriers offer insurance at an additional cost, which allows for cancellations under specific conditions. Be prepared – once you buy it, you own it. Nearly all of the companies, though, will allow you to change the dates of your reservation for a fee.

• Be wary of booking too far in advance with discount airlines, except with the more established ones, such as easyJet, Ryanair, or BMI Baby. There's a lot of turnover in the volatile air industry, and if the company you've booked with happens to go belly up, you might not only be stranded, but you might also have a headache on your hands trying to get your fare refunded.

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