Finding a low cost flight has become easier for those of us using smartphones and with smartphone penetration on the increase, budget airlines are now finding new and exciting ways to offer great savings to the budget conscious traveller. All essential elements of the low cost flight booking process have now been incorporated into top iPhone and Android apps:
In no particular order, below is a quick look at the mobile apps currently on offer from seven of Europe’s popular low cost airlines:
Ryanair’s mobile app
Ryanair has developed an attractive and fresh looking app that is available on the Android and Apple platforms. With a fresh default theme in yellow and blue, the app allows you to access flight booking, manage existing bookings, view flight timetables as well as provide direct access to Ryanair’s latest news, straight from the home screen. Within each section of the Ryanair app a neat toolbar along the bottom of the screen allows you not only to switch between pages, but also to arrange car hire, send an email to Ryanair customer services or perform a search request. Reviews on the app have tended to favour the one developed for Apple rather than Android as a few minor loading issues have been found with Android devices. Other than that it’s a great app.
Android: ✔
iOS: ✔
Flight reservations: ✔
Flight status: ✔
Electronic boarding passes: ✗
Social media integration: ✗
Easyjet’s mobile app
The Easyjet app is available on Android, Apple and Blackberry. This app goes a step further enabling users to choose seats, add flight options as well as the inclusion of social media features to share flight and trip information with others on Facebook and even send check-in reminders to your smartphone calendar. You can also activate a mobile boarding pass within the app saving on time and effort. Just make sure the airport you are using supports the mobile boarding pass facility. Some airports support multiple mobile boarding passes, a feature included within the app, which means that you can use the app to store the boarding passes for all travellers. All together a well-designed app, using the signature orange branding you are familiar with.
Android: ✔
iOS: ✔
Flight reservations: ✔
Flight status: ✔
Electronic boarding passes: ✔
Social media integration: ✔
Wizzair’s mobile app
Wizzair have really come up with an innovative app that ties in the opportunity to make savings within the app buy joining the WIZZ Discount Club and earn savings of 10 euros per flight! The app itself is attractive in the WIZZ colour combinations of purple and blue, while the usability of the app is second to none. Payment can be made by card or directly from your WIZZ account which is a great feature and easily set up on their website. If you use your WIZZ credit card to pay then every Euro spent earns you points that can be redeemed against flights within the application. It appears that only the iPhone app supports the mobile boarding pass facility which is then saved in Passbook, a native iPhone app.
Android: ✔
iOS: ✔
Flight reservations: ✔
Flight status: ✔
Electronic boarding passes: ✔ (iOS only)
Social media integration: ✗
air Baltic’s mobile app
Airbaltic has an amazing little app that is packed with features not found on the other budget airline apps such as the ability to connect directly with AIRBALTIC CONNECT which is the airline’s Facebook page and follow their tweets as well as read entries on their blog Wingtips. They have definitely taken advantage of the social media explosion and even provide direct access to their inflight magazine – Baltic Outlook. The airBaltic app also includes other helpful features such as allowing you to save favourite routes, setting default language and downloading the most current Timetable info. You can also set a default location. The only downside is that the app is currently unavailable on Android so if you’re an Apple device user you’re in luck and if you’re an android freak, sorry.
Android: ✔
iOS: ✔
Flight reservations: ✔
Flight status: ✔
Electronic boarding passes: ✔
Social media integration: ✔
Germanwing’s mobile app
This app is a breath of fresh air as it seamlessly integrates need-to-know info into the app. Apart from all of the features offered by most other apps it also presents your boarding pass on your iPhone home screen an hour before departure. Other smart features include push notifications providing information such as any changes in flight times and when you are able to check in via the app or online. The Germanwings app is available on the iPhone and Android platforms.
Android: ✔
iOS: ✔
Flight reservations: ✔
Flight status: ✔
Electronic boarding passes: ✔
Social media integration: ✔
Volotea’s mobile app
The Volotea app has an impressive range of social media connectivity from within including Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. Unfortunately it is only available on the IOS platform but includes advanced features such as mobile boarding passes, flight status and additional services additions.
Android: ✔
iOS: ✔
Flight reservations: ✔
Flight status: ✔
Electronic boarding passes: ✔
Social media integration: ✔
Vueling’s mobile app
Vueling offers a very smart looking app with a clear, crisp and intuitive layout with a black, yellow and grey theme. Choosing your seat is easy with a clear cabin layout and great for families as you can book seats with cot access straight from the app. Boarding passes and flight information such as gate number and boarding times are clearly viewed with no unnecessary clutter.
Android: ✔
iOS: ✔
Flight reservations: ✔
Flight status: ✔
Electronic boarding passes: ✔
Social media integration: ✔
