How have these Budget Airlines Got Away With It ?

Butts

balletshoes wrote: »

OP do you class Easyjet as a budget airline? Just wondering, as when you look for fares with them, the taxes are included in the price you see at first. Granted the hold luggage isn't, you pay extra for that, but if you don't need it anyway, what difference does it make whether its included in the first price you see or not?

As a traveller from a regional airport area of the country, I have a choice of 3 budget carriers, and no comparative "big" airline company at all (certainly not one which doesn't charge at least twice the price of the budget carrier for the same journey).

Budget carriers work very well for me, short haul and domestic.

I think you forgot the fee for paying by debit card and the priority boarding if you want to get on first:D

I agree if you live by a regional airport you obviously use the services of the carriers that operate from it.

As I mentioned earlier I used to fly from Birmingham to Edinburgh when I lived in the Midlands. It was originally BA then Fly Be and BMI Baby and now just Fly Be. When Fly Be first started there were hardly any extras but now it's got to the point where in addition to the advertised price you've got a credit/debit card fee/admin fee/fee to reserve a seat/no grub - but at least with them it is still free to check in online or at the airport.

The prices are now the same or higher than BA used to do it for in many cases with a reduced service.

The bottom line is you are paying more for less - don't get me started about the "cheap rate" telephone lines the budget carriers utilise if you heaven forbid have to contact them.

If you've never had a full service carrier operate a route you travel on then fair enough you use whatevers available I would / have to as well:D

Butts

malkie76 wrote: »

BA domestic is reduced to a small bag of pretzels or crisps.

You still get a "breakfast" on early morning Flights - mind you the description might be stretching the truth a bit:D

c45arlo

malkie76 wrote: »

BA domestic is reduced to a small bag of pretzels or crisps.

Try Air New Zealand Domestic and all you get is a cup of Water so BA are more than generous!!:beer:

daveyjp

Last time I tried to get prices for a so called low cost airline it wouldn't tell me the final price until I had entered my card details - sorry, but I like to know how much something is before handing over the money.

balletshoes

daveyjp wrote: »

Last time I tried to get prices for a so called low cost airline it wouldn't tell me the final price until I had entered my card details - sorry, but I like to know how much something is before handing over the money.

which airline was that?

benjus

For my holiday last year in Italy I had the choice of Ryanair (direct) or Alitalia (indirect). It was high season, so the Ryanair prices were very high and I chose Alitalia. Nice to have inclusive baggage allowance, but the refreshments on board were very disappointing - a small bag of grissini or something similar. It was an early morning flight, so we'd hoped to at least be given breakfast. With the change it took about twice as long as the Ryanair flights, so I could even see justification for spending a little more to fly with Ryanair...

daveyjp

balletshoes wrote: »

which airline was that?

Jet 2. I assume it was so they could add more charges depending which card I paid with, but I still didn't play ball.

dmg24

daveyjp wrote: »

Last time I tried to get prices for a so called low cost airline it wouldn't tell me the final price until I had entered my card details - sorry, but I like to know how much something is before handing over the money.

How long ago was that? I have just done a run through on Jet2 and the price is very clear.

Doshwaster

malkie76 wrote: »

BA domestic is reduced to a small bag of pretzels or crisps.

For a flight of an hour, do you really expect and need to be served free food and drink? You don't get that on buses and trains. Fly EasyJet from Stansted to Newcastle and the flight is less than 40 minutes in the air which hardly gives the staff time to serve a cup of tea and for you to drink it.

I also don't understand familes who fly on the budget carriers because they are cheaper than splash out more than their ticket price on rubbish onboard snacks for everyone. Can't they just go without stuffing their faces for an hour or so or come prepared?

dmg24

Doshwaster wrote: »

For a flight of an hour, do you really expect and need to be served free food and drink? You don't get that on buses and trains. Fly EasyJet from Stansted to Newcastle and the flight is less than 40 minutes in the air which hardly gives the staff time to serve a cup of tea and for you to drink it.

I also don't understand familes who fly on the budget carriers because they are cheaper than splash out more than their ticket price on rubbish onboard snacks for everyone. Can't they just go without stuffing their faces for an hour or so or come prepared?

I agree, and I think that was malkie76's point as well - responding to those who would rather fly BA for the sake of a (mini) bag of pretzels!

On another note, does anyone know the name of the crisp type things they give out on JetBlue? They have Doritos in them, but other things as well? Now that is one low cost airline I would choose over any of the traditional ones.

Edit: Found it - Doritos Munchies Mix!