Our travel team’s best tips for flying with budget airlines from ‘free’ legroom seats to cheap food hacks
SUMMER is fast approaching with lots of Brits gearing up for their flights to Europe on budget airlines.
The Sun’s travel team have revealed their best tips for flying with budget airlines from little-known tricks to nabbing extra legroom seats without forking out for the privilege to saving on luggage fees, there’s something for everyone.
Loyalty doesn’t reward – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
IF YOU’RE the type of traveller that prefers to go with a full-service airline (which often comes with pricier fares), then signing up for a loyalty scheme is well worth it, but if you’re flying with a low-cost carrier, scrap the loyalty.
It will get you nowhere in the long run.
Let’s be honest, the main reason for flying budget is to keep costs to a minimum, so a bit of research to find the best deal will make a world of difference.
Comparison sites like Skyscanner are a godsend when I’m planning a personal getaway with pals or family.
If you have some flexibility then you can filter by the cheapest month to fly and the nifty Skyscanner calendar will lay out the lowest price on each date.
If you have flexibility on the destination, even better! You can select ‘Everywhere’ in the destination box and the month you wish to travel to see where the cheapest holiday spots are for that month.
Consider the destination, too. Is there another airport just a short train ride away from your holiday destination that you can fly to for cheaper?
If you’re sacrificing comfort and ease to go budget, then it’s worth making sure you’re bagging the best bargain possible.
Check-in chicken – Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter
NOT a single person I know would describe me as a risk taker but I do like to play ‘check-in chicken’ before flying with Ryanair or Wizz Air.
While I never pay to reserve a seat, I will often check-in before the last possible moment to try and get an extra legroom seat without having to dust of my debit card.
The trend took to social media last year, with influencers waiting to check-in at the last possible moment to get better seats.
I tried the hack out on several occasions and managed to nab an entire emergency exit row to myself when I flew to Leipzig, Germany, last November.
On other occasions, I’ve been rewarded with an aisle or window seat.
Although the trick doesn’t always work, as I have been forced to sit in the middle seat several times.
Free seat upgrade – Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter
Are you much of a daredevil when it comes to flying? Well, I’m not.
I’m always four hours early for a flight and eagerly early at the gate.
But, there is one thing I’m prepared to gamble on, and that’s my seat.
While being short does pay off when you’re on a budget-friendly flight, they’re still never comfortable.
So, when I get the chance, I will always ask flight attendants as I board if there are any seats available that are either by the window or extra legroom seats I can move to.
It’s not technically an upgrade, so what’s the harm in asking?
If you don’t want to ask as you board, just wait until the plane is up in the air.
Underseat bags – Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter
I’M SOMEONE who regularly flies with budget airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet, and there’s nothing I loathe more than paying extra for a large carry-on bag.
To avoid paying extra for my city breaks to Europe, I have mastered the art of flying with just an underseat bag.
Back in 2023, I put the Narwey duffel bag through its paces on a trip to Vienna and Bratislava.
And more recently, I took just an underseat bag on a nine-day trip through Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria.
More often than not, my backpack of choice is the Fjällräven High Coast Foldsack.
Be sure to pack a capsule wardrobe, so you can mix and match outfits, and cut down on unnecessary toiletries by using reusable makeup remover pads.
Bring food onto the plane – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
THERE’S no point scoring an uber-cheap low-cost flight if you’re going to blow the budget buying overpriced food onboard.
Budget airlines may charge you very little for your basic fare but they make their money on all the ancillaries – from food and drink onboard to duty-free ‘bargains’ and everything from baggage to seat selection.
If you want to keep your costs down, it makes sense to ignore those tempting onboard snacks.
Depending on the time I fly, I’ll make sure to bring something along for the flight.
If its an early morning flight, I’ll take a cereal bar or fill a croissant with ham and cheese at home and pack it in my bag.
On afternoon or late flights, re-sealable plastic bags with nuts, olives or pretzels are more than enough to keep you going across a two or three hour flight.
And of course, a water bottle is an essential – fill it up at the water fountains in the departure lounge after you’ve gone through security. These can sometimes be quite difficult to spot but are there for all.
The main thing to do is avoid the temptation to spend on pricey airport pints or a coffee and sarnie onboard. Save yourself – and your holiday cash – for your holiday destination.
It’s about the little luxuries – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
IF YOU ever see me on a flight, I’ll be that person spritzing a face mist on the two-hour hop to Spain.
But I love trying to make my budget Ryanair flight feel that bit fancier.
I’ll always make sure to have the cosiest clothes – so think brushed cotton trousers, my softest jumper and some hotel slippers I snaffled from my last trip.
I often save those little minis from hotels to take on the plane, my favourite being small Molton Brown moisturisers for my hands and face.
And finally, I’ll bring my own herbal tea bags such as Jasmine or Chamomile – it beats the weak coffee you’ll fork out a fiver for.