Map of Sana’a

These days, it’s pretty easy to hop from one country to another by plane. Budget airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair have revolutionised airline travel by introducing a whole new (affordable) tier of ticketing. But as with most things in life, you get what you pay for when you buy a discounted ticket to Malaga on a budget airline.

Of course we would all love to fly First Class, but sadly most of us can’t afford it, so if you are planning to travel on a budget airline this year, here are five things you should pack in your hand luggage.

Book or Other Form of Entertainment

When you fly on a scheduled airline, there are plenty of things to keep you entertained. In-flight movies, games, and music are all accessible from the console next to the seat. This is fantastic if you are flying for more than a couple of hours because with dozens of movies to watch, you won’t have time to be bored. It’s very different on budget airlines. If you’re lucky there will be a magazine to read, but this won’t last long, so make sure you pack a book or iPad to provide some much-needed entertainment. And don’t forget to charge your phone, just in case the flight is delayed and you end up stuck on the tarmac for hours.

Food and Drink

Unless you want to pay a fortune for a limp sandwich on board your holiday flight, take something with you to eat. It’s no longer a simple task to take food through airline security, but you will have the opportunity to buy snacks inside the airport once you have cleared security. They won’t be cheap, but they will be less expensive and probably tastier than anything the airline dishes up.

Earphones

If the thought of screaming kids sends a chill down your spine, pack some headphones so you can listen to your favourite tunes for the duration of the flight. It won’t block out the noise entirely, but it will certainly help.

Travel Pillow

Budget airlines tend to be cramped with passengers squashed in like sardines in a can. A travel pillow will enable you to relax a bit, and if you are seated next to the window, you can try and catch some sleep.

Antibacterial Hand Wipes

Airlines are supposed to be cleaned between flights, but if you saw the recent photos showing the grime in a BA First Class cabin, imagine what it’s like in the toilet of a budget airline? Enough said!

Lastly, don’t forget to pack your passport, tickets and cash. Forget any of those and you won’t be going anywhereThe reason low cost airlines are able to sell discounted tickets is because they cut their costs to the bone. Flying on an airline such as EasyJet or Ryanair is very much a no-frills’ experience. Everything apart from the basic ticket is charged extra, including luggage, snacks, and seat reservations. Most people use budget airlines because they prefer to spend their money on other things, and unless you are flying long haul, a budget airline is a good way of travelling to popular holiday destinations if you need to keep the cost down.