You get what you pay for!

[Saitek]

So don't complain!
Cheap and cheerful. I like the low cost airlines.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6087016.stm

[Craig.]

10 years ago most of the people who use ryanair and easyjet, would never have been able to afford to fly the places they go. Now they seem to expect to fly anywhere in the world for the price of a bus ticket. And the service should be the level of an airline like BA or Virgin. Give me a break, I am all for airlines like this, in the sense they do exactly what they say on the tin. I am against the people who seem to think flying is a right and not a privilage.

[Hagar]

If the "Save the Planet" people have their way airline travel will soon become too expensive for the masses. Enjoy it while you can.

[F3Hadlow]

With the extremely low prices you pay to fly with these airlines you can't expect top notch service. That's why British Airways and it's like are more expensive!

[expat]

If the "Save the Planet" people have their way airline travel will soon become too expensive for the masses. Enjoy it while you can.

But fact is that airlines pollution exceeds just about everything. A couple of 747's over the Atlantic cause more carbon emissions than a city full of cars. However maybe they could hold off a little longer with the any new regulations, say another 25 years until I retire. I don't want some tree hugger being the cause of me loosing my job thank you  ;D


Matt

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]


But fact is that airlines pollution exceeds just about everything. A couple of 747's over the Atlantic cause more carbon emissions than a city full of cars. However maybe they could hold off a little longer with the any new regulations, say another 25 years until I retire. I don't want some tree hugger being the cause of me loosing my job thank you

[Souichiro]

Actually thats not true. Don't let this be widely known but the Merchant Shipping fleets of Europe emit over 30% more carbon than aircraft. And thats just Europe, so add in Asias merchant ships, and the Americas, plus the military ships of the world.

Course, not a lot of people know that.

And there are many people making sure that the masses don't know these kind of " details"

[expat]

Actually thats not true. Don't let this be widely known but the Merchant Shipping fleets of Europe emit over 30% more carbon than aircraft. And thats just Europe, so add in Asias merchant ships, and the Americas, plus the military ships of the world.

Course, not a lot of people know that.

Just screw the car driver. it is by far the easier option.

One thing I do not understand though. If you damaged the environment, you pay. So by that rational, if you have the money you can do all the damage you want. So we are not really doing anything to protect the environment are we?

Matt

[Chris_F]

Now they seem to expect to fly anywhere in the world for the price of a bus ticket.

Odd coincidence.  When I read the article I was immediately reminded of the discount airline we have in the USA: Southwest.  Southwest however probably has the friendliest staff of any of the airlines and although they skimp on niceties (no assigned seating, no meal service, etc) they do get you from place to place on time with better regularity than most airlines.  Oh, and they have a sense of humor (on one flight I took the flight attendants were so comical that during the safety breifing everyone on the plane was laughing hysterically).

The thing that's kinda coincidence is that when Southwest started their intent was to compete with bus routes, not other airlines.  They wanted to get people from place to place more conveniently and cheaper than busses.  That's a lofty goal indeed, but it netted probably the most successful airline in the US.

[expat]

Cheap and cheerful, but I have to say that Southwest is the best airline I have flown with.

Matt

[Craig.]

Southwest though put some effort into it. Ryanair and Easyjet just dont seem to care. And the majority of chavs they fly seem not to either.

[Chris_F]

Southwest though put some effort into it. Ryanair and Easyjet just dont seem to care. And the majority of chavs they fly seem not to either.

It would be really interesting to see what would happen if Southwest serviced the same markets as Ryanair and Easyjet.  In the US it seems no other airline can compete with 'em head to head in the discount airline business.  Some do an admirable job, but when I fly Southwest is often the cheapest, often the most direct, and almost always the best option.  They simply have everyone outclassed.

Plus, I do like 737's...

[RitterKreuz]

Southwest airlines is great, they made the right call when they got their fuel hedge several years ago, but their hedge is going to run out at which point they are going to be eating the same shi* sandwhich everyone else is eating.

There are three driving forces behind the destruction of the airline industry...

Labor relations is one of them

Fuel costs is another

and this low cost - human cattle trailer mentality is the third.

I cant stand how people want to pay these bus fare prices and then complain because they dont get first class service. Because of the three reasons listed above flight attendants and pilots and many other airline employees are forced to live with between 4 and 8 other people in an appartment or rent house just to make ends meet. That is utterly pathetic IMHO. Personally, i cant stand low cost air carriers. If a person wants to pay 80 bucks for a ticket from kalimazoo to timbucktoo there is a grey hound station down the street, they will be there in about 6 hours driving time... but if they want to get there in an hour and a half the cost SHOULD be substantially greater. thats the difference between COST and VALUE.

[Hagar]

Southwest airlines is great,

Personally, i cant stand low cost air carriers.

Those seem to be contradictory statements. According to what I read Southwest is a low-cost carrier.

My earlier prediction might come true sooner than I suspected. After a report published this morning the British government is pressing for crippling surcharges on air travel amongst other forms of transport. This could have far-reaching consequences for the future of the airline industry as a whole. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6096084.stm

[expat]

Those seem to be contradictory statements. According to what I read Southwest is a low-cost carrier.

My earlier prediction might come true sooner than I suspected. After a report published this morning the British government is pressing for crippling surcharges on air travel amongst other forms of transport. This could have far-reaching consequences for the future of the airline industry as a whole. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6096084.stm

Those seem to be contradictory statements. According to what I read Southwest is a low-cost carrier.

My earlier prediction might come true sooner than I suspected. After a report published this morning the British government is pressing for crippling surcharges on air travel amongst other forms of transport. This could have far-reaching consequences for the future of the airline industry as a whole. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6096084.stm

As I said, you can damage the environment providing you can afford to pay for it. It is just tax talk. Anything raised by such levies will get swallowed up into the Treasuries coffers. Example, here in Germany as of next year, diesel cars will be taxed at a higher rate if they are not fitted with a partial filter in the exhaust system. So as the driver of a BMW 525D, I will have to pay an extra