Free Flights - Ryanair - Ends Thursday.

gromituk

andrewmoorcroft wrote:

Why does the cost of the flight make any difference to how green it is?

It doesn't make any difference to that individual flight, but that's a pointless question. What does happen is if flights are more expensive, there will be fewer of them.

Can you point me to the evidence that shows for example that a 100 seat plane from glasgow to london is less green than 50 cars doing the journey instead?

Another strange thing to ask. There are other forms of transport available, such as trains and coaches, both of which are much more fuel-efficient. The plane would not be replaced by 50 car journeys.

rizla01

Surely Grometuk, This site is not for you and the rest of your eco-warrior friends.

By pointing out the bargains to be had this will encourage mass buying of goods from which much pollution will be caused in order to put said items back on the shelves.

Plus many purchase items that they don't actually need but simply cant resist a bargain. More land-fill site rubbish + more pollution.

Your points arew very valid but as I stated earlier, I think you should read the rules of this site and keep this thread 'On Topic' rether than straying into areas not suited to this forum.

Or are you afraid that you won't find an audience on the discussion forum?

Take your arguments there and meet more people that wish to enter into an argument/discussion with you instead of polluting this thread with your opinions.

fergee

Lets not start thinking these are free, but they are not alone. I regularly fly on business using Ryanair, Easyjet and Flybe. You can regularily get free flights with both Ryanair and Flybe but they screw you on the taxes.Easyjet normally works out cheaper even when you pay for the fares, and so does Jet2.

Before the budget airlines came along airports used to get paid around £10 per passenger, this paid for the baggage, security, customer service etc etc. Since the arrival of the budget airlines airports are getting around £3.50 per passenger, this means that the airport don't have as many staff to assist your progress through the airport leading to delays etc.

Also airports have had to compensate with different revenue streams, coffee and parking being just two. Have you ever wondered why the cost in the coffee shops and the parking costs have gone through the roof in the last 5-10 years.

So in conclusion don't be fooled by this offer check the other low cost carriers before booking, and please remember ryanair customer service is the worst of all the above mentioned airlines.

gromituk

I had a word with Martin last time he included this offer in his weekly email. I'm glad to see he's now more robust in his description of what these flights actually are.

seaniboy

gromituk wrote:

Air travel is hugely polluting compared with other forms of travel, but you do not notice this because it is subsidised because of the lack of tax on airline fuel.

It's pointless to try to divide things into two categories - the world is analogue.

Glad to see you're now calling them cheap flights though:p

pollution or even with high taxes it beats the £220 return EDIN-LON on the bloody train! no bargains for me but thanks to the OP

gromituk

Gosh - I bet you had to try hard to find a price that high - I did that journey for two people last month for £50 (thanks to the half price rail travel topic on here).

I agree, though, that rail prices are too high. Some of the tax that ought to be placed on aviation fuel should go to subsidising rail travel.