This low-cost Spanish airline, based in Barcelona and pronounced “vol-oh-tayer”, offers non-stop flights to around 100 cities in Europe. Their route network focuses on the European side of the Mediterranean, as well as some flights in and around western and southern Europe. I love using their flights to hop from Barcelona to the Spanish islands on a budget.
Fees
Despite Volotea’s flight prices generally being lower than other airlines, it’s worth noting that you will end up paying fees for any extras – and the airline is strict about those. So, if you’re just planning on using it for short-haul flights with a little carry-on bag, like I do, this is a great choice. But if you’ll be checking luggage, traveling longer distances or want to choose exactly where you sit on the plane, make sure to calculate all the extra costs before booking.
Fare classes
Volotea doesn’t offer separate fare classes, as all their flights are economy only – though for an extra fee you can choose to sit in different parts of the plane, such as in the front row or the exit row. However, the airline does say all of their seats are 5% wider than the average seat you’ll find on other European airlines.
Flexibility
Volotea offers a Flex plan on their tickets when booking, added on for an additional cost. This allows you to make unlimited changes up to four hours before your flight. If you cancel, you also get a refund (or credit depending on the circumstances) on that flight. Without this plan, there are hefty fees for changes.
Check-in
Volotea makes the check-in process easy. You can check in and download your boarding pass to your mobile phone (or their app), and you can also do it online and print out a physical copy. Just note that if you check in at the airport without a boarding pass, you’ll be charged a fee for them to print it for you (though there are a few exceptions to this rule, such as if you’re traveling with a service dog or an infant).
It’s also worth bearing in mind that some airports in Europe don’t allow digital boarding passes, so if you’re traveling to one of those destinations, you’ll need to have a physical copy – make sure to check with the airport before traveling.
Self check-in kiosks
Volotea is in the process of rolling out self check-in kiosks, but in most places, they’re not currently available. So, make sure to leave plenty of time in case you have to check your bags with a desk agent, or need extra help. There’s no special line for priority travelers either, so everyone has to stand in the same line.
Price guarantee
Volotea takes pricing very seriously. If you book online or in the app and then see the same flight elsewhere for a cheaper price, they’ll honor the price difference for you. I really appreciate this part of their service, as when you book with Volotea you know you’re getting the best price available for your route.
Seating
The airline doesn’t offer lay flat business class seats or premium economy, but for a fee, you can get a better economy seat. These are called Premium Seats, and you’ll find them in rows with more legroom (row 1 and the emergency exit rows). They also have Standard Seats, which are located near the front of the plane between rows 3 and 6. The remaining seats are known as Basic Seats, and these are randomly allocated when you book at no extra charge.
In-flight entertainment
Volotea doesn’t offer personal screens on their flights. But when you connect to the Volotea Media network, you will find a host of things to watch and do on your own device. There you’ll find TV series, films, travel guides, music, newspapers, magazines, and games, plus a section for kids.
Traveling as a family
Unlike many airlines, where infants under two fly free, it’s worth noting that Volotea charges a fee for babies aged between seven days and 23 months – though it’s fairly small, between 25 – 30 euros. If the infant is under two, they have to sit on their parent or guardian’s lap, as the airline doesn’t provide onboard cots.
There are no limits on liquids for babies and they are exempt from TSA restrictions. Plus, Volotea lets you travel with two items of baby equipment (like a stroller) for free. The airline also allows pregnant women to fly up to 36 weeks. If you’re traveling as a large family, you need to state this and travel with the right documentation (a Large Family Certificate issued by your Autonomous Community).
Onboard menu
On Volotea you can pre-order and add a menu when you book your ticket or during check-in, or pick something up on the flight. Like many airlines, they don’t take cash, so have a credit card ready for any onboard purchases. During the flight, they serve coffees (including espresso) and teas, as well as soft drinks and alcohol.
You can also get savory snacks like cheese and chips, sweet treats like cookies, and full meals (choose between a tapas option or a hot meal). It’s a decent selection for a short flight, though I usually like to travel with my own healthy treats, so I’m not disappointed if the snacks aren’t what I’m after.
Wi-Fi on the plane
Most of Volotea’s flights don’t have Wi-Fi that actually connects to the internet. Even though many are advertised as having Wi-Fi, it’s just to connect to their onboard entertainment network, and can’t be used for things like messaging or browsing. Since I tend to use Volotea mainly for short flights of around an hour, this isn’t something that bothers me.
Airline magazine
Since many airlines no longer offer their own magazine, I really appreciate the fact that Volotea does. It’s called Volare and it has great music playlists and travel articles to peruse. Download their app to read it while you’re onboard. Some of the planes also have paper copies.
Loyalty program
If you’re planning to use this airline a lot, I highly recommend joining their loyalty program, though it does come with annual costs. It’s basically a subscription model you can cancel at any time. There are two levels: Megavolotea and Megavolotea Plus.
The benefits are similar, except with Plus you also get priority boarding and the discounts are bigger. So, for up to four passengers on a booking, you get cheaper flights, a 22 lb bag allowed in the cabin, discounted priority seats, cheaper luggage, and unlimited changes to flights. If you just want to trial the program for two weeks, they also offer this as an option.
Boarding
The airline boards people with extra time needs first, then their priority boarding customers, and then everyone else. You can add priority boarding to a ticket up to two hours and 30 minutes before a flight.
Luggage policy
In my experience, Europe is much stricter about luggage size and weight than some other places, especially the low-cost airlines. They will definitely weigh and measure any baggage, so be mindful of that when packing your bags.
In a Standard Seat you have one personal item included for under your seat, but no cabin bags. If you have Megavolotea or Megavolotea Plus status you get one personal bag under the seat, plus one item of cabin luggage included.
All checked bags come at a cost, which is cheapest when booking, and becomes increasingly more expensive if you do it at check-in or at the boarding gate. The airline limits checked baggage weight to 110 lbs.
Fast Track
Volotea offers priority boarding – referred to as Fast Track during the booking process – for a fee. It’s a nominal amount, so it could be worth it if you have luggage and don’t want to worry about not having space in the overhead bin for it.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
