Now that CPAP machines are small and light with sufficient battery power, long flights for those with OSA are far more accommodating. While it’s usually the costs of transatlantic flights that deter most of us, it’s heartening to hear that less expensive transatlantic flights may be on the way. But what does that actually mean?
If you were to glance at the ticket prices for transatlantic flights on major carriers, the costs would likely stun you if you’ve never flown internationally or fly very infrequently. Like most things in life, a more thorough search will often reveal more satisfying results. In fact, it looks as if transatlantic flights will be cheaper than ever this summer. That is if you book at the right time, with the right carrier, and with the right destination.
It’s been recently reported in an article in CNN Money that several smaller airlines are looking to significantly lower prices for transatlantic flights in the coming years. The first questions you should be asking are, what do you consider “cheap,” and what are you actually paying for? While the rise of budget airlines, even in the transatlantic realm, certainly opens up the possibilities for more people to take flight, the devil, as they say, is in the details.
According to a number of predictions in print from the start of the year including an article from US News & World Report, cheap transatlantic flights will be offered this summer. Of course, that depends on when you book and what “extras” you are willing to pay for.
The article points out that “booking early” can yield the best prices, but that can mean anywhere from a year to 60 days. Although the article dealt primarily with domestic flights, the same low-cost airlines from the CNN Money article were mentioned as being the most economical in terms of transatlantic flights. The debate about these and other flights centers on comfort, amenities, unavoidable added fees, and other unmentioned possible factors that are important considerations.
As you may have noticed, this blog post is devoid of any actual price quotes. That’s because examples do not make a rule. That’s not to say that you can’t find your version of an affordable price for that European late summer vacation. The truth of the matter is what it has always been: only conscientious research will reveal the best options.
Probably one of the best recent articles to be found about how to fly cheaply when crossing the Atlantic was an Airfare Watchdog blog post that revealed some practical approaches. Chief among them was the idea that flying into a city close to your destination city (if it is a major travel destination) can yield some startling cost savings.
As Americans, we often forget that distances between cities and even countries in Europe are far smaller than we think. The ability to bundle flights with budget carriers or (even prime transatlantic carriers) along with in-country airline operators or even rail can shave very significant amounts off the total costs of travel expense. Whether that is feasible depends on the itinerary and the knowledge of the person booking the flight.
As a CPAP machine user, you’ve likely learned to get input from more experienced users on OSA and CPAP message boards to make decisions on CPAP equipment and the costs versus the convenience and efficacy of any given product. The same can be said for anyone looking to book a transatlantic flight in that you can learn a lot from those who have “been there, done that.” The key is to understand what you may give up for a “cheap” transatlantic flight as only you can determine if it is worth it for you or not.