Best Budget Airlines for Service

Budget airlines have been key in opening up the world and allowing more people to travel. No longer the exclusive privilege of the wealthy, travelling is becoming more and more mainstream, which in turn is causing increasing numbers or these budget airlines to pop up around the world. A virtuous circle is thus created.

However, while flying with a budget airline can save you a significant chunk of cash, cheap flights still come with a price. Unlike the more luxurious airlines, those who cater to a budget traveller have become notorious for their poor or complete lack of customer service. Indeed, crew members tend to wear an “I don’t get paid enough to deal with this” look on their face at all times.

But, it would be unfair of me to paint all budget airlines with the same brush. There are indeed some who cater well to their passengers despite their low-priced tickets. Take a look and see which budget airlines out there still treat you like a VIP.

WestJet

Canadians are known for their friendly demeanour and their cabin crew members are no exception. With astonishingly cheap prices (less than US $250 for a flight from London to Vancouver), you would expect the service to be sub-par but this isn’t the case at all. Staff are very willing to go out of their way to accommodate your needs and are even happy to bend the rules a bit if it leads to better customer satisfaction.

Viva Colombia

Viva Colombia is owned by low-cost giant Ryanair, but unlike their European parent this airline actually has a pretty good customer service record. Although the airline makes you pay to have an allocated seat, the cabin crew don’t seem to mind at all when passengers mix and match seats once on the plane to avoid the charge. They also have a fantastic call centre with employees who deal with issues incredibly efficiently.

Air Asia

The thing that makes Air Asia stand out above all other budget airlines is its Red Lounge in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2. For $20 passengers can use the lounge for up to 3 hours. Once inside, there are showers, refreshment tables and some comfy seating areas where you while away the time before your flight. If you happen to have a connection here then it really is an absolute godsend.

EasyJet

EasyJet is an all rounder when it comes to service. Passengers often praise the airline for having a smooth and easy check in followed by a warm welcome once you board the plane. Cabin crew are generally both efficient and friendly, a useful combination for putting nervous fliers at ease and making sure everyone has an enjoyable trip. The captain even thanks everyone at the end for choosing EasyJet, which is a nice touch.

Norwegian

This airline has soared into the limelight over the past few years thanks to its fantastically cheap transatlantic flights. But, does the service match the sublime pricing? The answer is yes. The staff offer passengers a high level of personal attention – particularly those who don’t feel very comfortable on planes. Overall, people who have travelled with Norwegian say they would definitely do it again.