photograph courtesy of acampm1

UK low-cost carrier Jet2 today announced the launch of what they’re calling their “Stress Less” check-in system.

This new set-up will allow passengers to pre-select seats on all flights. The check-in option is only free on 11 routes, however, including flights between Leeds and Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, and Paris; flights between Manchester and Amsterdam and Paris; and Newcastle-Amsterdam flights. On other routes, seat reservations will cost from €4 (for standard seats) to between €15 and €23 for seats with extra legroom.

Additionally, passengers traveling between UK airports and Amsterdam will be able to check-in online from 28 days to five hours before departure.

Advance seat selection is an especially nice perk for families and groups traveling together. Along with Jet2’s new handheld device, it’s another way that Jet2 is setting itself apart from the low-cost pack. 

But a whopping €23 for a seat with extra legroom to Tenerife? That’s how low fare flights turn into average fare flights, buddy.

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 photograph courtesy of Kristina Drechsel

During a walking tour of Amsterdam last summer we spotted and purchased many cutsie postcards of our favorite carrot-eating friend, Miffy the bunny. Dick Bruna’s feelgood furball—whose name is Nintje in the Dutch-speaking world—is now celebrating her 50th birthday in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood. Dare we say the Miffster doesn’t look a day over two? And, her simple, smart wardrobe is positively Prada-inspired.

But if happy hares in minimalist dresses send you rushing for a Cadbury egg, be forewarned. Just on the rabbit feet of last year’s salmonella scare—in which Cadbury recalled a million chocolate bars—the UK-based company has now issued a new warning on thousands of their candy eggs. Bad bunny! Bad!

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We love a good budget-friendly travel tool. While exploring UK low-fare carrier Monarch’s site recently we couldn’t help but find their “Bargain Hunter” drop-down menu extremely useful.

Monarch’s Bargain Hunter tool works like this: you enter your departure airport and your month of travel and up pop a few low fares. We selected flights from Lisbon in March and found a one-way fare to Gatwick for €43.40.

What we like about Bargain Hunter is that it clarifies the stakes. We find so often with low-fare carriers that the lowest listed fare can be difficult to find. A tool like this one cuts through the smoke and allows consumers to find the cheapest fares within a given period. Budget travelers are used to foregrounding flexibility above all else, and this tool is especially useful for the Cheapo demographic.

Popularity: 2% [?]