TripZillaTravel can be an expensive hobby, especially for budget travellers looking to strike off pricey destinations on their bucket list – think Greece, Rome and Paris. To stretch your travel dollar, one of the best ways is to hop on a low cost long-haul flight (and bonus, an award-winning one).
Many low cost long-haul carriers such as AirAsia X, Norwegian Airlines and Scoot are now capturing significant attention worldwide. Albeit facing slow expansion and scepticism of its long-term viability in their early years, these disruptive forces capitalise on a brilliant strategy that encircles around increased cabin capacity and flight frequency. Most of them also include a basic, no-frills ticket option for baggage allowance and in-flight meals. So budget travellers, be savvy and choose to opt for the bare minimum.
We have rounded up the five best low cost long-haul carriers that clinched the awards at SKYTRAX World Airline Awards.
AirAsia X
Image credit: F.M. Chang
Destinations: Malé (Maldives), Honolulu (Hawaii), Auckland (New Zealand), Gold Coast (Australia), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Seoul (South Korea), Tokyo (Japan), Taipei (Taiwan), New Delhi (India), Shanghai (China), and Kathmandu (Nepal). More information can be obtained here.
Looking for the cheapest flight to a relaxing resort getaway in the idyllic Maldives? Or to the beach paradise in Hawaii with gleaming golden sands and turquoise waters? Discerning travellers might want to consider AirAsia X.
Known to house remarkably comfy seats and exceptionally wide legroom, it is of no surprise that AirAsia X scooped up the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline Premium Cabin and World’s Best Low-Cost Airline Premium Seat awards for consecutively five years.
And the good news is – following the successful launch of its budget flights to Honolulu in June, AirAsia X is launching additional direct flights to Maldives from 6 Feb 2018 onwards. Budget travellers can look forward to a four times weekly Kuala Lumpur-Malé service and an incremental 156,000 seats per year. Promotional fares start from as low as RM 199 for all flights booked from now till 14 Jan 2018, for immediate travel till 6 May 2018. If you fancy checking out the award-winning Premium Flatbed, flights start at RM 699 onwards.
Norwegian
Image credit: Cato Lien
Destinations: London (England), New York/Las Vegas/Los Angeles (USA), Copenhagen (Denmark), Santorini (Greece), Bergen (Norway), Madrid (Spain). More information can be obtained here.
If you would like to travel to America’s best architectural city in Chicago, the world’s live music capital in Austin or the natural wonderland of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Norwegian has got you covered.
With a single transit at London Gatwick, travellers can enjoy a bargain price of GBP 149.90 for daily one-way flights to Chicago and three times weekly flights to Austin. Both services will be launched on 27 Mar 2018. Starting 14 Feb 2018, Norwegian will also commence its Argentina-London flights (from GBP 299), which will be operating four times weekly.
Not to mention, gadget lovers would be thrilled to know that Norwegian airlines is introducing in-flight Wi-Fi on all long-haul flights later this year.
Jetstar Airways
Image credit: Anura
Destinations: Melbourne (Australia), Auckland/Christchurch (New Zealand), and Honolulu (Hawaii). More information can be obtained here.
Crowned not only as one of the best low cost long-haul carriers but also one of the safest airlines to fly, Jetstar Airways is another crowd-favourite when it comes to budget airlines.
The 13-hour flight to Christchurch, New Zealand from Singapore is only priced between S$300 to S$500 in June 2017, with a transit at Melbourne.
Budget travellers with a penchant for English heritage and contemporary culture, bookmark Jetstar Airways now!
Scoot
Image credit: Torasan Photography
Destinations: Berlin (Germany), Athens (Greece), and Honolulu (Hawaii)
Brainchild of Singapore Airlines, Scoot definitely deserves a spot on the prestigious SKYTRAX awards.
On 1 Dec 2017, Scoot has also unveiled its Singapore-Berlin flights which will operate four times weekly on the state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliners; the service is scheduled to commence on 20 Jun 2018. This makes Berlin the third long-haul destination after Athens and Honolulu. Till 31 Jan 2018, one-way, all-in promotional fares are priced at S$299 for Economy FLY and S$899 for ScootBiz. What’s best? You can take 10% off selected FLYBAG and FLYBAGEAT fares with the promo code ‘GOBERLIN’.
If you have been wanting to check out Berlin’s turbulent 20th-century history and its grungy vibes, now is the time.
Air Canada Rouge
Image credit: Gerry Kane
Destinations: More information can be obtained here.
Albeit not having many flights to or from Southeast Asia, Air Canada Rouge is still worth a mention.
As of December 2017, Air Canada Rouge has expanded its plethora of long-haul destinations to include year-round direct Montreal-Lima flights. The new service sees a twice-weekly rotation and costs US$622 round-trip, all in. Nagoya and Berlin Tegel were also added to its long-haul network in June 2017, with a three times weekly service from Vancouver and a four times weekly service from Toronto Pearson.
With these award-winning budget airlines and affordable long-haul airfares, you are all ready for that wanderlust now!
