Air travel is often associated with a high price: many simply cannot afford to use this type of transport due to the high cost. Everything changed in the middle of the last century, when low-cost airlines appeared on the market - airlines selling tickets at the lowest possible prices.
Where did low-cost airlines come from?
It is officially believed that the first low-cost airline was the American airline Pacific Southwest Airlines, which launched its first flight at a record low price back in 1949. Then the very concept of "low-cost" was not yet formed, so the actions of the airline were perceived by competitors as a banal dumping. However, over the next few years, this practice has acquired specific principles, the main one of which is the provision of a minimum set of services at a minimum price. In fact, this principle is still relevant to this day.
There was a period when low-cost airlines were so popular that major airlines started launching subsidiary brands with low ticket prices. At the same time, the standards of service could not be significantly worse: the aviation giants valued their reputation. As a result, low-cost airlines began to compete with the main carrier of the same brand, which led to losses. Today, only a few airlines operate according to this scheme (for example, germanwings, the brainchild of German Lufthansa), the rest have abandoned the low-cost segment in their business. That is why these days low-cost airlines are a separate direction of civil aviation, with their own rules and laws of competition.
The most famous low-cost airlines
For many years, low-cost airlines functioned only in the American market. The real boom in the development of low-cost airlines came in the 90s of the last century, when Europeans began their active work: the Irish Ryanair and the British easyJet.
The Asians could not keep up with the market, where low-cost air travel became a real salvation for the dense passenger traffic typical for these countries.
Today the following low-cost airlines are most famous:
- Ryanair (Ireland);
- Germanwings (Germany);
- Canjet (Canada);
- WizzAir (Hungary);
- Vueling Airlines (Spain);
- Virgin America (USA);
- Allegiant Air (USA).
The undisputed leader of the Russian low-cost flight market is Pobeda Airlines, a member of the Aeroflot group of companies.
Why are low-cost airlines so cheap
For those who often fly over short distances, low-cost airlines have become a real boon. Seasoned travelers are subscribed to all sorts of updates from budget airlines to catch the best deals. Quite often a ticket from one European country can cost only … $ 10! For comparison, in major European cities, travel around the city by public transport can be more expensive.
Of course, air carriers do not operate at a loss. Extremely low prices can be achieved through well-calculated budgeting and a reduction in many costs. So, most low-cost airlines are guided by the following principles of economy.
- Refusal to eat on board. Perhaps the most significant factor in savings, because catering for passengers requires considerable costs and large-scale infrastructure. In flight, as a rule, I can only offer you cold water: everything else is not even for money.
- Reduced baggage allowances. Full-value luggage at low-cost airlines, of course, is paid. There are special requirements for hand luggage: you will definitely not be able to carry a voluminous backpack and a few more bags and knapsacks on board. The ticket implies only one small piece of carry-on baggage, which, in terms of dimensions, must fit into the frame located at the check-in counter. This moment is clearly recorded (and sometimes photographed) by the staff.
- Charging for all additional services. Paying for SMS notification, choosing a seat on board, pre-registration - all this can cost some money. Some airlines require payment even for printing a boarding pass, or offer you to print it yourself in advance.
- Multifunctionality of the staff. Flight attendants in low-cost airlines are often “jack of all trades”. First, they check in, then they serve you on board, and after the flight they clean the cabin.
- The use of small airports, as well as inexpensive aircraft with an increased number of seats.
- Selling tickets directly on the website. This measure allows you to exclude the payment of commissions to any intermediaries - from travel agencies to airline ticket search sites. That is why, if you want to find the cheapest tickets, go directly to the portals of low-cost airlines and subscribe to their updates and special offers.
You need to understand that tickets on low-cost airlines are not always ultra-cheap: otherwise, low-cost airlines would actually go bankrupt. Seasonal sales are offset by more stable prices, which are almost close to the level of tickets from conventional airlines. However, in most cases, the flight will still be cheaper, so the workload of low-cost airlines has remained consistently high for many years.
Features of low-cost flights
Many travelers are discouraged by the potential hardships of low-cost airlines despite the lowest prices. What do you need to be prepared for when flying a low-cost airline?
In fact, you just need to familiarize yourself with the airline's rules in detail. There are no "pitfalls", everything is detailed in the booking rules. The main thing is to carefully follow all the requirements and take into account some of the features of budget flights.
- There is no business class on lowcost aircraft. This is quite logical, given the price segment, but it still puzzles some passengers.
- The distance between the seats will be very small, the backs of the chairs, as a rule, do not recline. In a word, it is unlikely that you will be able to fly in comfort, fortunately, low-cost airlines often fly only short distances, so it is not difficult to endure.
- Flight attendants may not have anything at all that you might need. Therefore, it is worthwhile to stock up on food, drinks, blankets, medicines in advance.
- Most likely, you will arrive at a small, remote airport. For example, when choosing your destination Barcelona, you will find yourself at Reus Airport, which, although located in the Barcelona region, is located 150 km from the capital of Catalonia. There may be no major car rental companies at the airport, sometimes there will not even be a taxi, and the journey to public transport can be difficult. That is why it is better to know in advance all the details of the arrival point.
How lowcost airlines are developing now
The number of discounters is increasing every year, and the competition is increasing accordingly. The struggle for the customer has led to an interesting trend: some low-cost airlines are slowly starting to introduce free services into the spectrum. Of course, for the same price, the potential passenger will choose the airline that, for example, serves drinks or has a free seat selection option.
The approach of low-cost airlines to conventional airlines was expressed in yet another paradoxical trend. Airlines appear that position themselves as "business-class low-cost airlines." They serve the destinations often chosen by the financially wealthy public. For example, a transatlantic flight London-New York. In this case, clients can get business-class services for a very reasonable price, but no frills.
Experts believe that low-cost airlines generally "heal" civil aviation. On the one hand, ordinary airlines can no longer set prices that are unreasonable in their scope, on the other hand, low-cost carriers themselves are refusing excessive asceticism on their flights.
