By Karen Cummings
As someone who needs to fly, often at short notice, from Boston to America’s Heartland, specifically Maysville, Ky., I recently tried the relatively new Skybus in search of reasonable airfare.
I used to fly JetBlue, my personal favorite, from Boston to Columbus — two-and-a-half hours from Maysville — but JetBlue just discontinued their Boston-Columbus flights in January. The only other non-stop alternative is with Delta to Cincinnati and airfares are outrageous. When I checked a week before I needed to fly, the cost was a formidable $1,215 — in coach! Other legacy airlines have one-stop flights to Cincinnati in the $600 to $700 range and one-stop flights are available to Columbus in the more reasonable $250 to $350 range.
Finding a nonstop was important to me — I didn’t want to risk being grounded somewhere by weather, plane troubles or airlines just deciding to cancel flights, which has happened to me on many occasions. Plus, Skybus offered me the option to change my schedule for a reasonable $40 (major airlines are traditionally $100) and that meant more flexibility. So, I decided to try skybus.com to reduce expenses.
Buying my ticket and boarding
Skybus does not have a phone number and all reservations and communications are online. Booking was simple and the prices were great. Boston to Columbus was a mere $55. The return flight I scheduled was $95 (Thursday nights must be busy). Not having flown the airline before, I splurged and paid the extra $10 for early boarding on each segment (then, wouldn’t you know, I arrived late for the first flight so ended up last in line of the #1 priority group – live and learn).
It was all amazingly reasonable for a last-minute flight. With taxes and fees, the total flight cost came to $206.50. I checked my bag for $5, bringing the price to $211.50. There’s no charge for two carry-ons and the first two checked bags are just $5 each – that’s cheaper than United Airlines, where the second bag is now $25.
Later when I wanted to change my return flight, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that because the flight cost was lower than the original, the $40 fee was waived. If new flight costs more, travelers need to pay the difference, plus the $40.
On flight day, I was concerned that I would have to stand out in the driving rain to board, but my flight actually had a jetbridge (another earlier flight did not, however, nor was there one when we landed so make sure you’re dressed for the weather conditions).
Onboard the Skybus
Once in the air, I ordered a cinnamon roll for a whopping $5. I figured, what could they do to a cinnamon roll? Well, it seemed to have been reheated 10 times — completely dry and stale. Next time, I’ll try the $2 candy bar or snack to go with the $2 soda to get me through the flight. Alcoholic drinks are $5 and “meals” ranged from $5 to $10. No bringing your own munchie stash — Skybus rules say no one can bring snacks or beverages on board.
The flight attendant looked more like a waitress at a trendy diner with her casual T-shirt, slacks, and money-changing apron. In addition to selling our drinks and snacks, she hawked the official Skybus T-shirt and kids’ airplane backpack. Fake diamond jewelry, designer watches, perfume and more were available from their in-flight catalog, which seemed strange on a two-hour domestic flight.
The seats were comfy and leather. They had less knee space than JetBlue, about the same as the major airlines. Boarding was surprisingly quick – I’m told that’s because the airplane’s aisles are wider. And since they often deplane from the back as well as the front of the plane, sometimes it may be quicker to exit from the rear of the airplane.
While some airline bloggers are making fun of the extra charges, I had no problem with paying $5 to check my bag. The extra charge for overweight luggage actually saved me from over packing. I had no need for a pillow or blanket, so no extra expense for that (and if you buy them, you get to keep them). Since I usually only get to read when I’m on a plane, I did not miss the lack of in-flight entertainment. And, no, they didn’t charge for using the rest room.
On arrival
The flight departed and landed on time, something that could be attributed to the fact that Skybus serves less-crowded airports. Several of the airports used by Skybus are many miles away from the destination listed. Though the Skybus website says Boston (Portsmouth, NH), few passengers realize that the Portsmouth airport is 55 miles to the north of Logan Airport. Skybus flights to Fort Myers, Fla., land in Punta Gorda, Fla., 29 miles from Fort Myers, the Chicago flights touch down in Gary, Ind., and the Skybus Los Angeles airport is actually the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, Calif., not LAX. Pay attention when making reservations.
Rental cars — I noticed one Skybus passenger dismayed to learn there was no Hertz service at the Portsmouth airport. Plan on booking with Skybus rental car partners, Avis and Budget, to make sure a car will be where you land.
No interconnecting flights — Skybus does not schedule interconnecting flights even within their own system. Travelers, planning to fly from Boston to Los Angeles, let’s say, must reserve each segment separately. They then must pick up checked luggage at each stop and re-check it to the next destination. Skybus recommends allowing plenty of time between flights.
10 seats for $10 — For those who can plan ahead, Skybus offers 10 seats on every plane for $10 (they are selling for the summer months right now). At that price, no matter where you land, how much luggage you have, how much you eat and drink, how complicated changing planes might be, and even if you buy yourself a T-shirt, flying Skybus still ends up being cheaper than the other options. It still gets you where you want to go.
Note: Shortly after this story was posted, Skybus announced that beginning Tuesday, Feb. 19, the rate for passengers wishing to board first will be $12.50, up from $10, and in March, rates for checking the first two bags of luggage will be $12 per piece ($10 if done online), up from $5.
Karen Cummings is an executive who shuttles between Northern Kentucky and Boston. She works hard to avoid the exorbitant airfares out of the Delta-controlled Cincinnati airport.
