Knock-out deals are everywhere, and one kind of deal has become more popular than ever: bargain flights. Many airlines are selling both domestic and international flights at record-low prices with Tigerair recently offering domestic flights within Australia for just $9. It almost sounds too good to be true, so the question is, what’s the catch?
There are few important things to take into account when booking these flights. While conditions may vary across airlines, these bargain flights generally have a few things in common:
One-way Flights
While usually obvious, it is useful to note that airlines will commonly advertise one-way flight prices as they appear cheaper. Return flights will still be cheaper than normal during these sales but will be double the amount advertised, so don’t be fooled!
No Check-in Baggage
A common ‘catch’ with bargain flights is the exclusion of checked baggage. For a short domestic trip, this may not be an issue as most flights still allow the 7kg carry-on luggage. However, for longer international trips, 7kg carry-on and liquid restrictions may significantly hinder your holiday plans. All airlines allow you to purchase checked baggage but this may set you back anywhere between $10-$50 depending on the baggage weight, making that $9 flight a lot more expensive. Pre-purchasing checked baggage is better than purchasing at the airport as airlines tend to charge exorbitant amounts for excess baggage at the check-in counter.
No Name Changes
Bargain flight deals usually don’t last long and this could mean you purchase a few tickets just to have them before deciding later who you will actually be travelling with. The ‘catch’ here is that airlines will charge you for any changes you make to passenger details. When you are booking flights, you will need to enter all passenger details on the spot. Any future changes can incur costs of about $70.
No Seat Selections
When you choose to purchase a bargain flight, you will rarely be given a choice in seating. This means that a group booking may have split seating on the flight. If you insist on sitting together, airlines allow seat selections, but at a fee ranging from $5-$50.
No Full Refunds/Cancellations
Finally, bargain flights rarely offer full discounts. Most will charge an admin fee of around $50 to process the refund. For a $9 flight, this would be counterintuitive and it may be better off just to not catch the flight.
For a short fuss-free trip, bargain flights are a great deal and can save you lots of money that could be spent elsewhere on your trip. Any extra requests and changes however, can incur significant costs that mean your bargain flight is a bargain no longer. The bottom line is to always read the terms and conditions for each airline before booking, and be flexible about your in-flight experience!
Don't get caught mid-air. Contact Freedman & Gopalan Solicitors on 02 8917 8700 if your travel plans haven't worked out the way you expected because of a bargain flight.