Standing in Cancún’s terminal with my boarding pass for a 90-minute flight to Belize, I had no idea I was about to regret choosing the cheapest option.

Instead of a quick hop, the trip turned into a 14-hour slog through two additional countries and three different aircraft. Mechanical issues forced a diversion to Honduras, where passengers waited on the sweltering tarmac without food, water or information. A second swap and a detour to Guatemala further extended the delay. By the time I landed in Belize, I was dehydrated and drained. The small fare saving had cost me time and sleep, and caused a lot of frustration.

Low-cost carriers have multiplied in recent years, opening new routes at unprecedented prices. But that growth raises a crucial question: How can travelers identify reliable operators before booking?

Industry experts suggest focusing on operational details rather than just price when choosing budget carriers.

The Factors That Determine Your Travel Fate

George Novak, president and CEO of the National Air Carrier Association and a former FAA attorney, said most delays and cancellations come from “inadequate aircraft and personnel resources at the affected airport.”

“If a carrier only flies one aircraft daily into an airport, it is much harder to provide a replacement or quickly move passengers onto another flight,” Novak said. “Carriers with larger fleets and hubs have far more flexibility to handle disruptions.”

Budget airlines operate point-to-point routes without the hub networks that allow larger airlines to reroute passengers. Novak calls cancellations a “minimal risk,” but when that risk becomes real, travellers may be stranded with no alternatives.

Crew scheduling makes the problem worse. “As with having a larger fleet, the larger crew base you have, the more likely you will be able to have aircraft crews on standby for re-positioning to handle those rare instances when crews ‘time out’ and cannot legally operate,” Novak explained.

This isn’t a safety issue. Aviation authorities enforce identical standards across all airlines. The difference is in the backup options when something goes wrong.

What happens after those delays or cancellations also........

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