Are budget airlines always the cheapest? Essential airfare comparison tips before heading to the travel fair!

▲ Airplane landing (Photo / Reporter Xu Wenbin)

Reported by Jiayun Yu / Compiled by staff

As the 2016 Taipei International Travel Fair approaches, everyone is looking to find the most ideal and economical travel deals or promotions at the event. However, the overwhelming amount of information often makes it hard to know where to start. Skyscanner compared traditional airline and low-cost carrier ticket prices for the top 10 most popular travel destinations among Taiwanese travelers in 2016, and found that the prices of traditional airlines have broken away from their previously expensive image—some are even comparable to those of low-cost carriers. This result gives travelers more choices when it comes to airfare.

▲ Airfare comparison for the top 10 most popular travel cities among Taiwanese travelers. (Photo / Provided by Skyscanner)

AndThe average ticket prices of low-cost carriers for the top 10 cities are 15% to 49% cheaper than those of traditional airlines. Taking Tokyo and Osaka, the most favored by Taiwanese travelers, as examples, the average fares for low-cost carriers are NT$5,442 and NT$4,904 respectively—40% and 49% cheaper than traditional airlines. London, which has no low-cost carrier routes, is the only European or American city in the top 10, reflecting how recent changes in the British pound have made London one of Taiwan’s popular travel destinations in 2016.

It’s worth noting that, under the competition from low-cost carriers, traditional airlines have already started adjusting their ticket prices. Compared to 2015, the prices of traditional airline tickets for these 10 cities have dropped by 5% to 22%, with the largest drop seen in Singapore at 22%. The most popular destinations, Tokyo and Osaka, also saw drops of 16% and 15% respectively. Therefore, Skyscanner also recommends that travelers planning a trip use relevant apps and websites to compare prices extensively before booking their tickets, in order to find the most suitable travel option for themselves.