[dropcap]M[/dropcap]issing luggage and delayed flights are just some of a traveller’s worst nightmare when it comes to flying abroad.
With so many different airlines to choose from, it can be difficult to pick the right one for your holiday. New budget airlines are taking to Irish soil every year, making the decision between price and quality even harder.
In 2017, Irish holidaymakers spent €4.3 billion travelling overseas, according to the Central Statistics Office. With flights to various locations across Europe starting at €9.99, it’s easy to see why.
Ryanair faced backlash from customers earlier this year with its decision to stop their free bag policy. Before the change, flyers could bring both a handbag and a small suitcase. Now, they must pay to upgrade to bring on a second bag. The Irish budget airline narrowly lost out to Lufthansa as Europe’s biggest airline in 2017, carrying 129 million passengers compared to Lufthansa’s €130 million.
WOW Air began flying from Ireland in June 2015. Since then, the Icelandic airline has become known for its price cuts and sales to the USA. A one flight to Chicago start at as little as €150, with prices dropping to €99 during sale periods. Norwegian Air also offer reasonable flights across the pond. A spokesperson for the airline announced last week that they are hoping to secure a permanent base at Dublin Airport this year.
“Norwegian opened a new pilot base in Dublin last year and has since created a cabin crew base with more than 40 cabin crew positions recruited for the Dublin base so far,” the spokesperson told The Irish Times.
From April, the Scandinavian airline will offer 66,000 more seats from Dublin to New York, with flights starting at €99 one way. With websites like Skyscanner and Kayak on the rise, searching for cheap flights has never been easier. Airlines like British Airways, American Airlines and Aer Lingus often advertise markdown prices on flight-searching websites like them.
Skyscanner has become a firm favourite amongst holidaymakers because of their multi-trip option. This allows you to fly into one airport and fly home from another, with the possibility to make various trips in between. Airlines flying to Asia often receive the highest compliments on social media, like Emirates, Etihad and Singapore Airlines. Both Etihad and Emirates recently announced that they are trialling virtual reality services in their UAE airport lounges, offering an exciting new experience for travellers during their layovers.
Emirates were one of the first airlines to offer WiFi. They’re also known for their on-board cuisine, their comfort and hospitality. Like with every holiday, there’s always the potential to wrong. Delayed flights have led to missed connections, bags can go missing and airline food can be hit and miss.
But each airline has its positives and negatives- it’s all about finding the right one for your price point and comfort needs.
Rachel Farrell
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