My family of 4 would like to take one of the low cost airlines from Venice to Paris. What are your experiences with baggage restrictions, etc. ? Also my husband is concerned about the maintenance or lack thereof on low cost airlines. Any thoughts?
Posted by
Nottingham, UK
658 posts
All airlines, low cost or full service, that operate inside EU airspace have to comply fully with EU aircraft requirements.
Each has to have a certificate of air worthiness which is a log of regular maintenance. This is no mere piece of paper. Aircraft from all over the world get grounded inside the EU because they do not meet the strict safety and maintenance requirements.
Each low cost airline sets it's own baggage rules, that's why they are cheap, it's nothing to do with maintenance.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
The only one I'd suggest you avoid is Ryanair...the highest baggage charges, and the most out-of-the-way airports. They fly into "Paris Beauvais" which is actually an old French air force strip about a 90 minute bus ride from Paris. easyjet and vueling fly Venice-Marco Polo to Paris CDG...of the two, I prefer vueling. Myair flies Marco Polo to Paris Orly, which is actually an easier airport to get out of, and a little closer to downtown Paris. Besides agreeing with what Al says about maintenance and mechanical reliability, I note that most of these discount airlines are flying newer-than-average aircraft as well. Check out discount airlines at www.whichbudget.com
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
805 posts
I would not worry about maintenance at all. Low-cost airlines in fact have an arguably better reason than traditional ones to engage in high standards because a single crash can kill them (see Valujet for an example). Think about this fact, Southwest airlines has been flying for a long time and has been as safe, and some might argue safer, than its higher-cost counterparts. Next to the US and Canada, Europe has the strictest standards in the world and as noted above, they are applied.
See this page for more info: http://www.airsafe.com/
Posted by
Las Vegas, NV, USA
190 posts
I use Ryanair a lot. They do land at out-of-the-way airports, but they also make sure there are coaches scheduled to leave shortly after each flight to take passengers to the "real" destination. I had a great bus trip from Beauvais to Paris - and back. Reasonable cost and good connections;made the bus reservations through the link on Ryanair's site.
Just read ALL of the fine print on the websites to make sure you know what the restrictions are. And pay for checked baggage when you make your reservation - costs less than at the airport.