Low Cost Carriers

I have been rather surprised by the anti LCC feeling there is amongst members of this board. It seems that some of you are put off by the fact that you will fly a LCC and will chosse to fly a full service airline. I just find this hard to comprehend when on a such a short service what a non LCC offers really has no advantage what so ever- I seem to remember reading a comment along the lines of 'the connection was with TED so i didnt book'. Am I missing something hear??? Having flown Easyjet, TED, Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue, Ryanair- I dont see what the problem is- you pay a cheap fare and get a service that is too the point with no airy fariy stuff! LCC's have been so successful that many established carriers are resorting to a low cost service of sorts; BA,NZ,UA,AA etc etc. Just shocks me that people are branding LCCs with the same brush- I dont fly BA get awful service and say o I wont fly VS as last time i flew a long haul British carrier the service was poor. So what do you all think of LCCs??

willd

With the TED comments, are you referring to the BD LAS flights and comments about connecting flights on TED? Personally, I'd say that those comments are totally valid - the fare booked was business class (albeit a cheap fare!), and the problem with that is that TED doesn't even have a business class (though it does have Economy+ at 35" seat pitch)!

Cheers

Michael

What is a LCC?

Well I am a fan of all LCC especially BMI and BA, I reckon that 90% of the time they offer the cheapest fares if you are booking at less than 28days notice, especially when you factor in, in my case the costs of getting to the LCC bases, the cost of the Coffee, snack, newspaper etc etc when you don't have a lounge and then I always look at the milage value, because you earn on the difference in the cost not the total IMO so you can earn some very cheap miles.

To give an example I have just booked a Manchester to Brussels one way in Feb next year for Valenetines so a pretty busy weekend BMI Via LHR is only £59 including taxes. 2 sectors on miles

The overall issue is the Taxes and Charges, nearly all the time I catch the LHR - MAN shuttle the taxes at 32.40 are more than the flights.

However TED is bad, IMO, if you think United Econ is bad try TED I was very glad I was able to get out of Ted flights, on the LAS trips I have, - I am not against LCC, juts TED based on pervious experience

My Top 4 LCC that I would happily fly based on Value V Service
South West
Jet Blue
Easy Jet
Monarch Schedule

I avoid at all costs the following.
Ted
Excell Airways - I have awful experiences but friends rave?

Just my views

quote:Originally posted by bluefish
What is a LCC?

LCC = Low Cost Carrier - one for the glossary?

Phil (Buffy)

quote:Originally posted by BuffyTVS65
one for the glossary?

Added

Cheers

Michael

Sorry I meant what defines a LCC?

Cos if it is price all airlines are LCC at times.

Sorry;)

I've had some good experiences with LCC's. From what I hear though, although they can be great when everything is going well, the difference becomes apparent when things go wrong and they don't have the people or infrastructure to cope as well as full-service carriers. So if I opt to use an LCC or no-frills airline I'm trading cost savings for potential hassles, and will only do so if I'm prepared to live with the results.

Anybody who wants a greater insight into the workings and pressures in the LCC world should read this.

Excellent read. I have a copy if anybody wants to borrow it.

Phil (Buffy)

I guess it all depends on a persons experience with a LCC for example, touch wood as im flying FR next week, i have never had a problem with an LCC- in fact the service onboard Virgin Blue and TED has been much better than on sch carriers- am loving the leather seats!

I just feel that we all should give LCC's a go even if your use to flying J class- on such a short flight what does it matter!

Bluefish- the TED a/c have the same legroom as the whole of the United fleet- they have not been changed at all- in fact they may even have more legroom.

Yep I know, and you can still get Econ+ for free as a StarGold but the service I have experienced out of SFO has been really really bad, three times hence my conclusion.

The cabins etc are good as you say, if not a little dated.

I do agree though, you pays your money you takes your choice.

My experience is limited to Easyjet & Ryanair. I think they are wonderful....but I never fly them.

To explain, I have used both of them a couple of times two or three years ago, and each flight was delayed by between one and twelve hours. After those experiences I swore off them. Largely because of the feeling of helplessness, you know they're not going to help you out (food, hotels, validating ticket etc), you are getting what you pay for.

But, the competition they have introduced to the European market has forced all the scheduled carriers to re-evaluate their pricing. I probably fly domestic (UK) or europe a couple of times a month, and I'd say my average price is about 80GBP return (including taxes), nine times out of ten that's with BA. Not booking way in advance and flying at convenient times. At least 50% of the time that will be significantly cheaper than EZ or FR.

So, I'm not anti LCC per se, but If there's competition and a company lets me down then I'll move elsewhere (LCC or full price), having made a call on the price difference.

Vslf

Yes i think that regardless of the airline (lcc or not) if you have poor service you will be put off them. In fact I am currently trying despritely to pursuade my parents to fly VS to ANU this summer. They are refusing after such poor service on VS (twice! and only 10,000miles!) this year.Instead they will enjoy the comforts of the premium cabin on First choice.