Best Budget Airlines You Have Never Heard Of

I flew from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysian Borneo, on AirAsia for 89 ringgit ($19). The same route on Malaysia Airlines, the full-service carrier, cost 450 ringgit ($96). The flight was two hours and 15 minutes, the aircraft was a clean Airbus A320, and the only difference from the full-service carrier was that there was no free meal and the seat pitch was slightly tighter. I brought my own sandwich and a book, and the $77 savings paid for two nights in a hotel in Kota Kinabalu.

Budget airlines are the single biggest reason that long-distance travel is affordable for people with modest incomes. Everyone knows about Ryanair and easyJet in Europe and Spirit and Southwest in the US. But there are dozens of budget airlines around the world that most travelers have never heard of, and many of them offer fares that are 50 to 80 percent below full-service carriers. Here are the best budget airlines you may not know about, organized by region.

Asia

AirAsia, based in Malaysia, is the largest budget airline in Asia, with routes spanning from Japan to India to Australia. Their fares are consistently 40 to 70 percent below full-service carriers. I have flown AirAsia on 12 routes and the average fare was $35 for a two-to-three hour flight. The catch is that baggage, meals, and seat selection are all add-ons. A checked bag costs $12 to $25 depending on the route and weight. If you travel with just a carry-on, as I do, the base fare is the total fare.

Cebu Pacific, based in the Philippines, is the best budget airline for routes within the Philippines and between the Philippines and other Asian destinations. I flew from Manila to Siargao for 2,500 pesos ($43) one way, a route that Philippine Airlines charges 5,500 pesos ($95) for. Cebu Pacific also flies to destinations like Bangkok, Singapore, and Tokyo at prices that are 50 to 60 percent below full-service carriers. Their "Go Lite" fare, which includes only a personal item (no carry-on bag), is the cheapest option.

VietJet Air, based in Vietnam, is the most aggressive discounter in Southeast Asia. Their fares are sometimes absurdly low: I once saw a promotion for flights within Vietnam starting at 99,000 dong ($4.20) one way. The catch is that VietJet is known for delays, cramped seating, and aggressive in-flight sales pitches. I have flown VietJet four times, and three of the four flights were delayed by 30 to 90 minutes. For short flights within Vietnam, the savings are worth the discomfort. For longer flights, I pay extra for a full-service carrier.

Europe, Latin America, and Africa

In Europe, beyond Ryanair and easyJet, Wizz Air is the best budget airline for Eastern European routes. Based in Hungary, Wizz Air flies to destinations that Ryanair does not serve, including cities in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Balkans. I flew Wizz Air from Budapest to Tbilisi, Georgia, for 45 euros ($49) one way. No other airline flies this route directly. Wizz Air's baggage fees are similar to Ryanair's, but their routes open up destinations that are otherwise difficult and expensive to reach.

Vueling, based in Spain, is a budget airline that offers a slightly higher level of service than Ryanair or easyJet. They include a carry-on bag in the base fare, serve complimentary coffee and water, and operate primarily from Barcelona and Rome. I flew Vueling from Barcelona to Rome for 35 euros ($38), which was 60 percent below the Alitalia fare for the same route. Vueling is a good middle ground between the ultra-low-cost carriers and the full-service airlines.

In Latin America, Sky Airline (Chile), JetSMART (Chile), and Volaris (Mexico) are the leading budget carriers. Volaris, based in Mexico, offers fares that are 40 to 60 percent below Aeromexico, the full-service carrier. I flew Volaris from Mexico City to Cancun for 500 pesos ($28) one way, compared to 1,200 pesos ($67) on Aeromexico. JetSMART, based in Chile, offers similar savings on routes within Chile and to Peru and Argentina.

In Africa, FlySafair (South Africa) and Jambojet (Kenya) are the best budget options. FlySafair, based in Johannesburg, offers domestic routes within South Africa for 300 to 600 rand ($17 to $33) one way, compared to 1,000 to 1,500 rand ($55 to $83) on South African Airways. Jambojet, based in Nairobi, offers flights within Kenya and to neighboring countries for prices that are 50 to 70 percent below Kenya Airways.

The key to flying budget airlines is understanding their business model. The base fare is low, but everything else is an extra: bags, food, seat selection, and sometimes even boarding priority. If you travel with just a personal item, bring your own food, and do not care where you sit, the base fare is all you pay. If you need checked bags or prefer a specific seat, add those costs to the base fare before comparing with full-service carriers. In my experience, budget airlines are still 30 to 50 percent cheaper even after adding baggage fees, as long as you are strategic about what you pay for and what you skip.