10 Things Your Low-Cost Airline does Better

Air travel has never been easier, more practical and cheaper to afford than it is nowadays.

If you've been around for a while, odds are that you'll most likely agree that air travel was only available for a few wealthy ones, business travelers or the occasional upper-middle-class luxury trip.

The rest of us had to keep dreaming of diving into the clouds up there, as I clearly remember a return flight from Lisbon to London would cost somewhere around €600,00 - $660,00.

These days, the same route can cost ten times less. For that line of pricing, you can now get as further as Bangkok, Singapore, New York and still have some change to spare.

Low-Cost airlines have changed that paradigm and, with it, the market changed accordingly. The door was open to Millions of passengers searching for a great deal to commute, fly on business or looking for the perfect holiday on a budget.

Whatever your feelings may be regarding Low-Cost carriers, there are some things they truly do well, so let's focus on those for now.

Price Factor

Price may just be the primary factor that determines where or when you'll get to travel and is surely the main strength of the low-cost airline business model.

Low-Cost Airlines have made air travel much more affordable and, at the same time, have forced the competition from legacy carriers to cut their prices considerably.

For you, the passenger, it's a great deal as you are presented with more choice than ever.

You're now treated to so much choice and great prices that you may even consider spending that little extra to fly with your flag carrier.

Though things are rapidly changing and evolving, it may be so that your legacy carrier still includes a piece of hold luggage, some snacks and more comfort in the boarding process. Be reminded that all these "perks" are already included in your airfare price.

Even then, for routes that are supposed to get you from A to B in less than three hours, it's often a great strategy to check the Low-Cost Airline first. If you book ahead in time, you can get to fly for ridiculously low prices.

In the end, it's always best to compare different prices, different dates and consider differences in services.

Unique Promotions

Don't expect that there were many promotions in Air Travel in the old days. Promotions were more suitable for retail stores and car dealers, people often thought.

With Low-Cost airlines, promotions soon became a reality. With Air Travel being a business almost like any other, why not ensure that you sell off all your capacity as soon as you can?

The first seats on a low-cost flight are often sold by ridiculously low prices, so you're doing well to wait for the season sale to open if you can afford to wait.

Though some companies have more aggressive marketing than others and place their product differently, promotions are surely always a great way to appeal to eventual customers.

If you follow a couple of airlines online on social media/newsletters you may just grab yourself a great deal with very little effort.

When you consider the likings of airlines such as Ryanair it's very hard to find promotions that are more catching to the eye than theirs.

Processes Made Easy

It's ideal not to see the low-cost airline's commercial structure only as a way for companies to make further money - remember that in the old days you'd pay for everything diluted in your airfare price, whether you used it or not - but mostly as ones that give you the absolute freedom of buying only what you need.

Why pay for a piece of hold luggage if you carry none? 

Why pay for snacks and drinks if you have your own or won't need it on a short flight?

In that same sense, as mentioned before, legacy carriers have recently repositioned their offer to ensure their clients have the same type of freedom by starting with a basic package that includes little more than a seat and a couple of wings - pardon the punch - and from where you can start building your personalized experience towards your needs.

Just as Comfortable

You may have a raised eyebrow whilst reading the headline, but do bear with us.

Unless you're in the lucky few to fly business or premium with legacy carriers, odds are that you'll be sitting in Economy Class. Nothing wrong with that, but when you come to think about it, is legacy carrier economy class far superior to a regular low-cost flight?

We'd go as far as saying that a Low-Cost airline's aircraft is, at least, just as good as that.

Depending on the length of your flight, odds are that you wouldn't benefit much from the upgraded comfort of those extremely expensive premium seats onboard your legacy carrier flight, so you may just as well see it all for what it is - a means to reach an end safely and, hopefully, on time.

With most low-cost airlines owning some of the most recent aircraft models in the world, odds are that your super light Recaro seats are more modern and comfortable than some old-time legacy carrier ones.

Friendly Staff

It shouldn't come as a big surprise that some low-cost airlines win awards all around the world mostly due to their approachable, uncomplicated and lovely staff.

With unique company cultures such as the one you find at easyJet in Europe, Southwest Airlines in the US or the amazing Air Asia in Asia - you've guessed it - you will very often be impressed by their positive mood and dedication of a huge team of staff members that are there to help you along the way.

They often deliver funny and entertaining moments whilst still maintaining their utmost professionalism.

After all, don't forget that all airline crew is trained to the highest industry standards no matter your choice of carrier.

Early Technology Adoption

Low-Cost airlines pride themselves on early technological adoption.

Though they consider very well the ROI (Return of Investment) of any further offer in place, they do realize that evolving technologically ensures that they can gain an edge on their competitors.

From simple mobile Apps to intuitive websites, not only will the low-cost airline be able to easily sell you their product, but they can also adapt to your future needs. 

From rental-cars at the destination to hotel bookings and other premium services to further expand your experience, you, as a customer, will surely benefit from all the choice.

When The System Fails

You're only as good as your actions when things go wrong. With that in sense, don't ever expect your low-cost airline to not know what it's doing.

The top low-cost airlines will take good care of you when that bad day comes. Whether by providing you a meal for a delayed flight, hotel accommodation for cancellation or alternative means to get you to your destination, there are plenty of examples all year-round that proves that your low-cost airline truly cares.

With strict regulations on passenger rights, there is also further attention to your needs as a customer and you should always be aware of your rights for compensation according to local regulatory laws.

Overall, most low-cost airlines will take good care of you in case you face a delay or, even worse, cancellation!

Cheers!

There's nothing more enjoyable on a flight - except, perhaps, to arrive early.

That little drink most people enjoy whilst cloud surfing is still as enjoyable now as it was in the old days. Fair enough, you may be paying it as if it was one of the last drops of alcohol available in the world, but when you consider that you are sitting in a 60t metal machine in the sky, it may be time to just sit back and relax.

Saving on your flight also means that you can treat yourself to a very well-deserved - even if overpriced - drink.

OTP (On Time Performance)

No need to act surprised. Low-cost airlines thrive where others often fail.

Their structure and organization are vastly focused on On-Time Performance. That means that the system is designed to allow almost perfect timings to get things going with clockwork precision.

When things go well - and that means no cancellations, no tech issues, no strikes or ATC congestion - you'll be surprised to find out that you may just arrive before the scheduled time.

With the daily operation combining multiple flights, low-cost airlines rely on this precision to ensure they can make a profit at the end of the day. For you, the passenger, it's the best of two worlds. Not only do you get to arrive early, but you've also most likely paid less than that one-hour delayed legacy carrier flight.

Again, do expect that if things go wrong at some point of the day, odds are that your later flight can be affected but still, do rest assured your low-cost airline will move mountains to arrive that extra minute early.

Maintenance

Disregard comments from people that state low-cost carriers cut on maintenance.

Odds are that they understand as much about flying as they do about deep space exploration. Most likely, some don't even get to fly at all and are simply jealous of that holiday you're off to Santorini (Greece).

Aircraft maintenance is a very serious business, with airlines and local regulators following extremely strict rules and providing constant monitoring.

Once you realize that each aircraft is checked every day and any issue is often corrected on-site, you'll soon be able to relax your worried mind about that misconception.

If that still doesn't work for you, consider that you're flying in some of the most modern aircraft in the world, such as the super modern Airbus NEO family at easyJet.

It may be so that you've found enough positive points to consider flying a low-cost carrier in the future. Whether you own a business and you're cutting your travel costs down - with low-cost carriers also providing specific flexible fares such as the Flexi Fare by easyJet - it's very easy to be conquered.

To avoid any issues, always ensure you realize your obligations and rights, stated in the T&C of your fare along with information on the airline's website. Some people disregard them completely and are often "surprised" by luggage fees.

For now, it may just be time to sit back, relax and enjoy your flight!

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#travel #airtravel #airlines #easyJet #ryanair #southwest #airasia #airfare #airlinetickets #lowcost #lowcostairlines #littlecardboardsuitcase