AIRLINE TRAVEL TIPS: Recommended Airlines and Online Booking Services

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AIRLINE TRAVEL TIPS: Recommended Airlines and Online Booking Services

When it comes to flying, I’ve been very fortunate during the past 20 years of international travels: most of my flights have been with Asian airlines. Although I certainly always appreciated their services, I didn’t know how very fortunate I’ve been until I had to use some American carriers in recent years. Wow, talk about a disparity in service and attitude! To speak candidly, all the American carriers I’ve dealt with were C**P, especially compared to Asian airlines.

In case you haven’t flown with any Asian airlines, and especially if you’ve only ever flown with US carriers, let me fill you in what you’re missing. Among Asian carriers, all of the following services and amenities are included, au gratis, and considered standard on all flights: carry-on baggage, check-in baggage, blankets, pillows, headphones, movies and music with individual back seat screens, in-flight magazines, high quality meals, drinks, snacks, and excellent, polite, professional service. In addition, their websites offer super-efficient, easy to use online bookings.

I had always considered the aforementioned flight amenities and services standard because, in Asia, they are. I was in for shock after shock when I started using various American airlines. Not only did many ‘standard’ services cost extra money, but staff were often inattentive, impolite, and distinctly non-service oriented.

airline travel tips- pre flight plane checks

Best online booking service: CheapOAir

Last year I was in the US much longer than usual. During that time, I researched loads of flights to various destinations from the US. I’m delighted to report that I found one excellent online booking service and one excellent airline, both of which I recommend to other travelers flying in the US domestically or internationally from the USA. Here they are:

CheapOAir has the lowest fares that I’ve found online for flights originating in the US. They are cheaper than Expedia, Travelocity, or Priceline, and certainly cheaper than booking through airlines’ websites directly. CheapOAir also often offers instant discounts of $10- $20, which is handy. They provide flights’ total costs with taxes at the click of a link in a little pop-up window, while staying on the current page. They show flight options from various airlines in a handy table followed by a list of those flights, from cheapest and most efficient to more expensive.

Best airline: JetBlue Airways

This is the only airline I would personally use in the US and recommend to others. Here’s why:

* Excellent, fast, easy customer service via online inquiries and toll-free phone. Calls are taken quickly and staff are incredibly friendly, polite and knowledgeable. I was astounded, considering my previous experiences with other US carriers.

* Free carry-on and check-in luggage. All other US carriers that I researched charge fees for check in bags, and often for carry-on bags, as well. Totally outrageous.

* Polite and friendly staff, both at check-in and in-flight.

* Snacks and drinks provided free, even on short flights.

In Asia I can recommend the following:

For luxurious service and amenities:

Malaysian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Airlines, JAL (Japan Airlines), ANA (All Nippon Airways), Korean Airlines

For amazing budget flights:

Air Asia. If you’re in Asia, and you’re a budget traveler, you need to discover Air Asia, an award-winning Malaysian budget airline that has been rapidly expanding its services and destinations during the past several years. Their motto is “ Now everyone can fly.” They currently fly to almost every Asian country plus Australia, New Zealand, France and England. Air Asia is simply amazing. In fact, I moved my ‘hub’ in Asia from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur in 2004 when I discovered Air Asia, and have not looked back since.

Note- Air Asia does charge baggage fees for carry on luggage, but fees are very low. (About $10 US)

You also have to pay for food on board, but they charge standard low Asian prices, NOT airport prices.

Air Asia flights are so cheap that even with a few minor extra fees, the total flight cost is minimal. Here are some recent examples I found. All flights are one way from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city.

KL to Singapore 7 MR / $2.35 US – with taxes total = 55 MR / $ 20 US

KL to Sri Lanka 107 MR / $34 US – with taxes total = 169 MR / $55 US

KL to Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia 84 MR /$27 US, with taxes total 119 MR / $38 US

high fives

yeah for cheap flights!

tips:

* book as far ahead as possible. If you book 2-3 months ahead, or more, you’ll find these super low fares. If you book close to your departure date, costs are much higher

* get on Air Asia’s mailing list so you’ll be notified of sales. They often offer nearly free flights to selected destinations, during quick sale periods.

That sums up my flight advice for the USA and Asia. Simply stated, in Asia use Air Asia for super low fares or major carriers for really luxurious service. In USA, use CheapOAir to book flights online and JetBlue to fly with. US carriers- simple: don’t use them, if at all possible. Happy flying!

(note: These are my personal opinions and recommendations. This is NOT a sponsored post)