subject: Budget Airlines, where the bargain ends [print this page] Budget airlines were a revelation in the late nineties and the early millennium with the rise of companies such as Easyjet and Ryanair handing out real bargains for flights in and around Europe. This was a breath of fresh air for the package holiday consumer who never knew any different. Booking separately for hotels and flights has since become the norm. Booking well in advance through a budget airline could cut the cost of a break away by up to half, bargain flight prices would be under 10 all in.
Ten years on from the surge of the early nineties the reputation of these budget flight companies has plummeted into somewhat of a laughing stock of frustrated consumers and secret money juicing methods from the airlines, caused by the sudden influx of competition within the market. One of the advantages of the budget flight was the all in aspect of the price, with only a few taxes and the slight inconvenience of paying for an in-flight meal if required.
This was all taken with a pinch of salt and a beggars can't be choosers' ethos. These little hidden extras which initially weren't a massive problem have escalated significantly; charges are now incurred for all the little things you would take for granted. To speak to a human being while checking in is now charged if you can't reach a printer the day before to check in online. The whole industry has turned into a sour affair of the consumer trying to avoid the hidden charges and the airlines finding more ways to slap them on as they work their way through their process.
A recent shocking development was the revelation hand luggage measurement cages were larger at the check-in desk than at the departure gate for many airlines. Meaning many travellers have had to pay an excess charge to put the bag into the hold after checking in, when their bag was perfectly within the originally advertised size limit. Aside from the extortionate nature of the charges, this was also a sign of blatant deceit, roping the customer into the charge knowing full well what would happen when they reached the departure gate. This kind of under hand tactic has convinced people to find other means of sending their luggage to the destination of choice.
Many parcel delivery services can ship a parcel to the destination of choice within only a couple of days, giving a sense of peace of mind and comfort which sadly is no longer provided by the airline. Budget airlines need to restructure their service in general or risk alienating the customers which keep them in business.
