traveling airlines
It seems strange that the taxi fare to the airport can cost more than the actual flight to a foreign land. Well that is what the low cost airlines have done to the flight trade over recent times. The business model was started in the USA by South West Airlines and now has pretty much been copied over the world with Easyjet and Ryanair dominating the UK. I have been to Italy for 99p each way and Salzburg for under a tenner and even Stockholm for £15. It’s quite amazing how the most expensive form of travel bar space flight can now be one of the cheapest. There are lessons here for every type of transport and business.
If you really want to cut costs and start your business with that in mind from day one, anything can be achievable. There are disadvantages though, if you require to be booked all the way through to follow on flights it isn’t going to happen. The same is true for your luggage; you will need to wait until it is unloaded then you collect it to book on your next flight. If you wait until the last minute you will find your flights are actually very expensive with even the top airlines beating the price. However if you book early especially as the flights are released, do not have any follow on flights and are not bothered about meals then you are in for some real bargains.
The ironic thing is also that the UK low cost airlines have some of the newest planes in the sky. The 737, now the low cost airline standards are ordered in there hundreds and their safety record is extremely good. It would make perfect sense that with the huge amount of extra flights per day these carriers make, that it is just a matter of time for an accident. It wouldn’t be that the airlines were unsafe just a case of statistics, more flights more chance of an accident but don’t forget air travel still is a thousand times safer than driving your car. These airlines have brought about jobs and prosperity for related trades too. As many fly from small airports, these once near deserted airports are now springing to life with of course shopping and other services like airport parking. Strangely enough some of the airports are easier to get to, have less time waiting for baggage, less walking to flight gates and cheaper services. Some of the big airports are now mini cities and the costs just to get there are a bigger chunk of your total travel costs.
Low cost airlines have changed the way we travel, brought regular traveling to the masses and created jobs and prosperity to the related industries. Long may this remain true!
Mark is webmaster for Breakdown Cover and Emergency Travel Insurance and Breakdown Insurance
What are some good discount airlines for traveling in between London, Paris, & Rome?
I will be visiting these cities in the summer and wish to know of some of the cheaper airlines with routes containing these cities.
There are a number of budget airlines operating here in Europe. These are two very good sites for finding the cheapest options: http://www.skyscanner.net/ and http://www.whichbudget.com/ .
You might also want to consider the night train between Paris and Rome. I prefer it to flying. It’s a long trip, but you can sleep in a berth through the night and arrive the next morning. If you buy tickets far enough in advance, there are very good discounts. You can get a berth for as little as 35 euro at the Smart fare discount. See: http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ad1ce14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD
United Breaks Guitars
