Choosing an airline: beyond the flight price

Route network and delay management

Flag carriers rely on their flights through central hubs with many connections available, which reduces the risk of being stranded if a route is cancelled, and typically offer faster rebooking on an alternative flight. Low-cost carriers, with point-to-point networks, more often leave the passenger to find a solution in case of cancellation. If you want to compare the two models point by point, you'll find an in-depth analysis in this dedicated article.

Fleet age and cabin comfort

The average fleet age, often listed on specialist sites or in the company's financial reports, is a concrete indicator of the type of cabin you'll find on board: newer generation aircraft offer quieter cabins and updated entertainment systems. It's not the only criterion that matters for safety — regular maintenance weighs more than the year of manufacture — but it significantly affects the comfort you experience on a long flight.

Customer service and airline alliances

Having a number or chat with quick response in case of last-minute cancellation is worth more than it seems at booking time. It's also worth checking whether the airline belongs to one of the major global alliances (Star Alliance, SkyTeam or Oneworld): membership allows you to accumulate miles on multiple carriers and, in some cases, access partner lounges even when flying in economy class.

Legroom: reading seat reviews

The pitch, that is the distance between one row of seats and the next, varies greatly even within the same airline depending on the aircraft used on the route. Before an intercontinental flight, it's worth checking, by entering your flight number on a seat review site, the specific configuration you'll encounter, rather than relying on the average claimed by the airline.

Before booking, compare the actual cost — fare plus baggage, seat and any extras — with an alternative that already includes them: often the difference is minimal or nothing, while comfort changes quite a bit.