Whether you're a jet setter or an occasional traveler looking for a getaway, everybody wants to find the best deal on a flight.
As airlines work to make fares more cost-effective for travelers, many people are finding themselves willing to trade in a few extra perks if it means saving a few dollars. But is a budget airline really worth it, or are you better off booking with a major airline? All that glitters isn't gold. And if that $50 ticket seems too good to be true, that's because it probably is. You could end up paying hundreds more on the backend.
Being clear on what you're getting before you book that cheap flight could make the difference between a smooth trip or a trip filled with frustration. Let's explore why giving yourself a little extra "cushion" and skipping the low-cost airline might be a better decision.
You Get What You Pay For, Literally.
Budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant were created for the sole purpose of getting passengers from point A to point B at the lowest cost possible. This means that you get what you pay for. A cheap flight with NO frills. And I do mean NONE!
There are charges for EVERYTHING, including but not limited to:
- Carry-ons
- Choosing your seat (an uncomfortable, NON-RECLINING seat)!
- Extra legroom
- Food and drinks (prepare to fill that water bottle up before you leave home).
- Pillows and blankets
- Printing your boarding pass at the airport
- Speaking with a representative when you book
- Breathing (OK, this is a joke. But you get my point.)
But wait! There's more. There is no wifi or onboard entertainment. So, if you're traveling for longer than three hours, be sure to bring a good book.
Delays And Cancellations Are A Headache When You Book On A Budget
Many times luggage is lost and flights are moved to a completely different day or canceled altogether with little to NO help from customer service, (causing passengers to pay hundreds of dollars extra for another airline to get them to their destinations promptly). I've even heard stories about how ticket vouchers were not honored for their full value when customers tried to use them after being inconvenienced on a flight. There are also strict "use it or lose it" ticket policies.
I would only suggest flying a budget airline if there is a last-minute emergency. And if that's the case, pack light, show up early, bring snacks, put a couple hundred dollars to the side for an unforeseen circumstance, and PRAY!
Major Airlines Provide More On Board Comfort And Ticket Flexibility
GiphyMajor airlines are better prepared to deal with last-minute issues such as delays, cancellations, and lost luggage because of the policies that are in place. You're less likely to have a flight abruptly canceled on you and left to figure out another option ON YOUR OWN when flying with a major airline. They also provide better flight times due to larger budgets that afford them the ability to pay steeper airport taxes. Frequent flyers also get to take advantage of corporate deals, loyalty programs, and special discounts.
Book Basic If You’re Booking On A Budget
If you're looking for a slightly more accommodating low-cost option, the "Big Three" airlines (American, Delta, and United) have adopted a similar approach to budget airlines called Basic Economy. This option gives the same in-flight cabin experience as the other passengers, only with fewer amenities. Basic Economy allows passengers to reap the benefits of at least some perks WITHOUT paying extra.
Basic Economy provides:
- Snacks, drinks, and in-flight entertainment
- A free carry-on bag (American Airlines will allow free carry-ons beginning September 5th, 2018 and Mileage Plus members who fly United are allowed to bring one free carry-on on board).
- More comfortable seats (they actually recline)!
- Free pillows and blankets
- Speaking with a representative at no extra charge
- Printing your boarding pass at no extra charge
Booking Economy does not allow upgrades, cancellations, or priority boarding, and assigned seating is an extra fee. But your experience isn't nearly as uncomfortable as it would be on a budget airline (even with the stipulations). Passengers who care about comfort and cost might want to consider this option over a budget airline.
Ultimately, nothing beats FLEXIBILITY. Even if you don't anticipate any emergencies or last-minute changes, it is always best to plan for the worst. If you have the means to pay extra to book a ticket on a major airline that allows you a comfortable flight with the option to make last-minute changes, by all means, DO IT!
By the time you're done calculating all of the extra fees, you'll end up paying for bags, last-minute changes, and other extra perks, and it probably adds up to the cost of a regular ticket anyway. Paying a little more for a flight that gives you some extra "cushion" is always worth the extra bucks if it makes for a smoother trip and saves your sanity in the long run.
What's your preference? Budget or major airlines? Why or why not?
Featured image by Shutterstock
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Again, the answer never changes because, if there is one thing that Shellie Reneé Warren is gonna get, it’s 6-8 (sometimes nine) hours of sleep. However, since my chronotype (check out “Ever Wonder What Personality Traits Make Someone A 'Morning Person'?”) means that I like/prefer to write in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I will sleep for the night for five hours and take a nap in the day. And y’all, that is just fine with me because I am well aware of the fact that napping does everything from give me more energy, heighten my alertness and even make me more creative to decrease stress levels, strengthen immunity, and reduce my chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
My problem is I will oftentimes go “overboard” with my daytime zzz’s. What I mean by that is, in order to get the most out of a nap, they say thatyou shouldn’t sleep for longer than 25 minutes or so; otherwise, you could wake up feeling sluggish (I don’t but…). Also, it can make resting, soundly, at night a bit of a struggle.
So, what are you saying, Shellie? We should get quickies in? Yeah. And it’s funny that the word “quickie” would come up because just like a sex quickie can do wonders for you (and it can — check out “12 Super Solid Reasons To Have A Quickie Every Single Day”), it’s a full-circle moment when I say that something that can improve the quality of your sex life is to have a power nap (a nap that lasts between 10-30 minutes).
Wanna know how the two things correlate? Honestly, it’s no secret that sleep and sex work together to optimize both (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”). Today, though, we’re going to tap into how a nap, specifically, can have you partaking in some of the best sex that you’ve experienced in a minute. I’ll explain.
Naps Reduce Stress
GiphyIf you’re feeling super stressed out right now, you are not alone. There is plenty of data out here that says that most of us are stressed for at least a couple of reasons at a time — and that can impact your sexual health on a few levels. For one thing, it can bring about feelings of depression and/or anxiety. Stress can also throw your hormone levels off (including your cycle) which can weaken your libido. Stress can make you want to put distance between you and your partner (yes, literally).
Stress can also make it challenging to get aroused or to have an orgasm. And just what can help to decrease stress? Taking a nap. Since sleep has a way of helping you to “get off of the clock” and relax a bit, that can lower your stress levels and “reset” your body so that you are calmer — and that, in turn, can do wonders for your sex drive and ultimately your sex life.
Naps Improve Your Mood
GiphyThere is one person in my life, and fairly 80 percent of the time, she’s in a super good mood. Oh, but let that girl go without sleep, and…who is this woman? LOL. There’s research behind why this happens. When a person is sleep-deprived, it messes with their brain chemicals, and that can amplify emotions like anger, restlessness and sadness. In fact, one study revealed that people who had their sleep disrupted throughout the night, they ended up having their positive outlook on life reduced by about 30 percent.
And geeze, who wants to have sex when they’re not feeling very good? Anyway, since serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate your moods, your sleep patterns, and your libido and sleep is what helps to keep it in balance — by taking a nap, not only can it help you to feel better, it can also increase your desire for sex (it can also build up your endurance which is also…sexually beneficial).
Naps Increase Your Focus and Concentration
GiphySomething that some of my clients bring up is how, when it comes to having sex, sometimes the flesh is willing while the spirit is weak because, although the desire for intimacy is there, so much is going on that they aren’t able to get still enough to focus on experiencing copulation with their partner. This also tracks because, when you don’t have enough rest, your brain finds itself not working in harmony and that can make it hard to do everything from approaching life with a sense of flexibility to making necessary decisions.
Certain data also reveal that a lack of rest can cause you to have a really poor attention span and not process things in context (the more you know). So, if you really want to get some yet it’s hard for you to focus long enough to make it happen, ask your bae to lie down with you and take a nap. Between the sleep and the snuggling (check out “Fall's Coming: 8 Wonderful Health Benefits Of Cuddling”) — you may wake up with your mind and body totally on the same page. #wink
Naps Can Make You Feel Better About Your Body
GiphyEven if, overall, you feel really good about your body, I think that we all have moments when we feel less attractive than others — and who wants to have sex when they don’t really feel…very sexy? Well, something else that sleep, in general, can do is increase your confidence in your body.
For one thing, if you want to lose a few pounds, sleep can actually make that happen by helping your body metabolize the glucose (sugar) that’s in it so that you can better manage your appetite. Other studies go on to share that since sleep deprivation can impact one’s mental health and emotional stability in a negative way, of course, getting enough rest would increase body positivity.
Shoot, science even goes so far as to say that insomnia can cause people to have an elevated level of dissatisfaction when it comes to their body image. Don’t take their word for it, though. Look in the mirror before a nap. Then look in a mirror after waking up from me. Do you feel better? I’d be surprised if you don’t.
Makes Your Brain Bigger…Which Could Make Your Orgasms Better
GiphyI saved the best for last by design. Now if you’re wondering how in the world a nap can improve (and possibly increase) your orgasms — oh, there is a method to the madness…trust. For starters, the saying that your biggest sex organ is your brain? That isn’t a myth. Long story less long, the brain is what houses your central nervous system and that is what controls how men and women sexually function (yes, literally).
And since the brain also releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin during sex and brain activity significantly increases in women during sexual activity (especially right before she orgasms) — well, would it trip you out to know that when you take a nap, your brain actually expands? A bigger brain (that’s healthy) can potentially intensify your sexual experiences (and your climaxes) — and who doesn’t want that to go down?
____
Like I said earlier, I never have to be convinced to get a nap in. However, if your sex life has been a bit stagnant lately, you’ve been feeling a little sluggish and you’re not sure what to do — I’m hoping that a nap can get you right.
There’s enough science to prove that it can. All you need to do is give it a shot.
Now where’s your pillow and sleep mask, chile?
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