Product Description
The main UK airports run hundreds of flights each day to the majority of the major cities around the world. These flights are run by numerous commercial airlines, both UK based and foreign, and take thousands of passengers to their holiday destinations each day. Flights can range dramatically in price depending on the airline operator you use, the distance you’re travelling and seasonal demand. The price will also depend on which class you want to fly and how early you book your seats but there are lots of opportunities to make savings.  Beware of thinking that ‘low-cost’ airlines always being the cheaper option though, because the major ‘flag-carrier’ airlines have adopted similar pricing models and are fighting back with some very competitive offers.

Main Players
The largest UK airlines include names like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair, BMI Baby and EasyJet. All of these companies run flights to Europe and beyond however Ryanair, BMI Baby and EasyJet are better known as ‘low-cost’ or ‘no frills’ carriers. For long haul flights you will probably have to book with the larger, ‘flag carrier’ airlines as a lot of the budget airlines don’t travel that far afield.

Pros of Flights

• Flights allow you to travel around the world in comfort and in a relatively short period of time. This adds to many people’s enjoyment of their holiday.
• There are numerous budget airlines and healthy competition ensures excellent value prices to a wide range of destinations. In some cases, last minute bookings can save you even more.
• You can often choose a local airport to fly from which means additional convenience for you.

Cons of Flights

• Very few budget airlines run long haul flights which means it can be more expensive to fly longer distances.
• Routes with less competition can also be more expensive.
• Flights can sometimes be unreliable in extreme weather conditions.
• Some other modes of transport are regarded as being better for the environment.

Things to Consider when Choosing a Provider
The biggest thing you need to consider is the trade-off between comfort or affordability. If you want comfort then the larger ‘flag carrier’ airlines tend to offer the better option but you will pay for the extra leg room, in-flight movies and meals. If however you aren’t so bothered about watching a film and stretching out then some of the budget airlines can offer similar flights for a lot less money, especially if you plan ahead and book well in advance. If you are flying to somewhere relatively close then it is often worth being a bit cramped for a few hours and saving on the price.

When you book a flight you should also take note of any additional charges that might occur. These can include airport taxes, additional baggage charges and meal fees and while some are included in the prices quoted, others aren’t and they will need to be paid as additions.

BUYability Summary
There are hundreds of flight providers that run from UK airports and it’s easy to find one that’s going where you want it to go, that leaves from a nearby airport, that offers the in-flight entertainment you want and that has prices within your budget. If you’re only travelling a short distance and you’re not fussy about when you fly you can often get very cheap flights with the budget airlines. These may not be as comfortable as the more expensive flights but you’ll have much more money to spend on holiday as a result. Either way, the internet has made the booking process a lot easier for travellers to do their own research and the major comparison engines are invaluable for tracking down the best deals.