Unless you have been living under a rock, you probably know by now that low cost travel is dead. While you can still ocasionally find the 9 euro flights via Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling or more.. In general, there are fewer flights, drastically higher prices and the worst, the service and support has gone completely into the gutter.
And unfortunately, this now extends to legacy airlines, who for years have been slimming fat off their offering to compete with low cost carriers. But the outcome is similar. Fewer routes, much higher prices and shittier service. A favorite was one airline eliminating drinks and snack during Covid for “safety reasons”, only to never bring them back again.
So are the days of spontaneous hopping and exploration dead? Yes and no.
From an environmental perspective, a flight ticket costing less than a bus fare makes no sense. (Nor does a train ticket costing 10x more). So yes, it could not stay like this, especially for the environment. But for many, it was more than just that during the “golden era” of flexibility, spontaneity, affordability that helped them get incredible and enriching experiences in different parts of the globe. It trained many of us to pack up our lives in a carry on, under 7 kg and make it work.
How can you still do it?
Well in short, yes but you have to plan more. Some argue that it’s getting better again but we have not noticed this fully. What we have noticed in how fierce and aggressive brands and companies have gotten with sales and offers since the pandemic, especially during the Black Friday / Cyber Monday times. But in addition, boxing day grew again, as did new year sales… catching the trend? Companies are now more aware that the internet became the giant marketplace where one will spend most of their expenditures and not spend elsewhere anymore. So this means everyone wants a chance at your attention and ultimately, your wallet. And that includes travel. We will post some deals on the site but following instagram accounts, joining newsletters and reading blogs will save tons of money.
So what are some of the easiest places to locate deals and travel options for the zip travellers?
Booking.com
Pros: Booking now allows to book low cost airlines, hotels and homestays, experiences, etc.. We always check there first. It’s so much easier to manage everything in one place. Plus when you move up in tiers, your discounts get better.
Cons: outdated interface. Feels clunky. But once you get a hang of it, it’s quite easy to use.
Skyscanner
Pros: it sorts your options in no time and gives you a clear portrait of costs based on dates and popularity. This is actually great, especially if you are flexible.
Pro tip: you will always find cheaper deals from little known or travel operators. In today’s time, bite the bullet and book with the airlines directly. It will save you tons of headaches if you trip/flight is cancelled, postponed or delayed.
Pro tip 2: (but more of an urban myth really): Many will say to search while on airplane mode. Dynamic pricing, in it’s most capitalistic form, was pioneered by the airline industry. Your cookies and repeat visits typically trigger higher prices on future visits. Unless you’re read to book, keep it incognito
Cons: There is often a discrepancy with pricing, i.e. what is offered at search vs. what is available when wanting to book. Lufthansa is big culprit of this.
Cons: outdated interface. Feels clunky. But once you get a hang of it, it’s quite easy to use.
Seat guru:
Again not new but sometimes you get tips on types of aircraft (ciao Max 8), seating configs (relevant on such aircraft types such as the Airbus A220, B777, Airbus A380….The new Airbus 220 (formerly known as the Bombardier C-Series) is one of the newest planes featuring a unique seating config (3-2, vs 3-3, with the middle seat being desired instead of hated because it’s the widest. Little details that can make your journey more enjoyable and not a Ryanair account troll victim.
Hopper:
A not so mainstream option, but Hopper has been around for a while. While it has changed over time, Hopper provides a rather unique way to score deals.. in a passive way.
You enter your desired destination, travel options, accomodations and dates and hopper will advise on when the best time to book is, based on pricing trends.
Conclusion: Some countries have gained and others have lost during the pandemic. But getting some of the deals we were used to is just not possible anymore. In some cases, your best bet is to book in advance or if you’re willing to risk, non-refundable, no luggage included flights also works. Remember that in most cases, if the airline is responsible, they have to reaccomodate you
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