Cost of air travel,.

[Capt Lightning]

Looking at the cost of travel for later this year. Looks good, but wait, let's look at that bargain price. Flights A to B from only £39? That's the cheapest fare with Dubious airlines. No baggage allowance and it get you to your destination at 2 a.m.! Want a flight at a reasonable time? That will cost £120. Want to take cabin bag? Another £20 or check in a suitcase, another £40. Suddenly your £39 flight costs maybe £160. Might as well go with a national carrier for £180 including luggage and travel at a reasonable time.

Since Covid, many of the flights from my local airport have been stopped or cut back, so travel outside the UK generally means going via London or Amsterdam. A smaller airline called Wideroe offers travel via Bergen. Of course the cost has also risen for air travel, but passenger numbers have risen since covid ended. Holidays are going to be expensive this year.

 

[Packerjohn]

Very funny, Capt Lightning but very true. On my last flight I had to get up at 1 AM because my taxi was waiting for me at 2:30 AM. My flight left at 5:00 AM. What a crazy ungodly hour to be catching a flight!

The trouble with "El Cheapo" Airlines is that everyone seems to be flying; even with 3 week old babies. I know because I have seen it on my last trip. I smile when I see flights that advertise flying Vancouver to Toronto for $59 Canadian. Get real! That is over 4 hours of direct flying. Yet, people want wonderful service for that price. They complain when they get only a little cookie or a tiny bag of preztels. Do they expect champaign and caviar for that price? Many do!

We have a First World Problem here. Way too many people flying. Almost everyone expects a winter holiday. The flights on "El Cheapo" Air might be cheap but they get you at the resorts. Which brings me to the fact about the massive consumer debt in this country and it's growing by leaps and bounds every year. Definitely a First World problem!

 

[OneEyedDiva]

Last week my cousin flew from Massachussettes back to her home in Puerto Rico. She had a 3 a.m. flight! I didn't ask what airline it was. You didn't say how far you are flying or if those prices are for round trip tickets, but those prices seem pretty good compare to ones I've seen here in the U.S.

 

[Capt Lightning]

Last week my cousin flew from Massachussettes back to her home in Puerto Rico. She had a 3 a.m. flight! I didn't ask what airline it was. You didn't say how far you are flying or if those prices are for round trip tickets, but those prices seem pretty good compare to ones I've seen here in the U.S.

I'm generalising here. Many budget airlines will advertise the basic flight cost, but this does not include checked in baggage, choosing your seat etc.. This can more than double the base price. You can also pay considerably more for flights at convenient times.

For example one airline flying from Aberdeen, Scotland to Gdansk, Poland ... Basic price is £57 return, but if you want checked in baggage and choice of seat, it will be £144.

 

[hollydolly]

Looking at the cost of travel for later this year. Looks good, but wait, let's look at that bargain price. Flights A to B from only £39? That's the cheapest fare with Dubious airlines. No baggage allowance and it get you to your destination at 2 a.m.! Want a flight at a reasonable time? That will cost £120. Want to take cabin bag? Another £20 or check in a suitcase, another £40. Suddenly your £39 flight costs maybe £160. Might as well go with a national carrier for £180 including luggage and travel at a reasonable time.

Since Covid, many of the flights from my local airport have been stopped or cut back, so travel outside the UK generally means going via London or Amsterdam. A smaller airline called Wideroe offers travel via Bergen. Of course the cost has also risen for air travel, but passenger numbers have risen since covid ended. Holidays are going to be expensive this year.

I've been doing this Financial airline dance for many years... as you say the cheapest price for a flight tends to mean a 3am rise to catch a 5.30am flight.... and on the return the last flight at around 11.30pm.. not arriving back until the early hours of the morning...for 2 of us it cost £70 to put one case each in the hold..then you have to pay parking fees..usually no change from about £150 for a week..( London airports) .. then fast track through security.. another £12 for 2... x 2..both ways.. then airport taxes... and that's before we find that the only £49 tickets are on the only days where you can't book into your hotel.. that's £49 x2.....but the return fare always costs more.. so £49 ish to go.. and £110 x2 to return..

Then when you get to your destination the hire car companies fleece you for any money you have left...

 

[hearlady]

Like shopping and eating out, they've ruined traveling.

 

[Nathan]

Cost of air travel

Just yesterday I booked two round trip tickets from ONT to BDL in CT... $1800 and change.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

I'm generalising here. Many budget airlines will advertise the basic flight cost, but this does not include checked in baggage, choosing your seat etc.. This can more than double the base price. You can also pay considerably more for flights at convenient times.

For example one airline flying from Aberdeen, Scotland to Gdansk, Poland ... Basic price is £57 return, but if you want checked in baggage and choice of seat, it will be £144.

Thank you for clarifying Capt. but as you can see by @Nathan's reply #7, even with the added costs you're still getting a "bargain".

 

[squatting dog]

There is another way.

 

[Alligatorob]

I know it seems like air travel costs are going up, but they have actually gone down substantially on an inflation adjusted basis.

Adjusted for inflation, today's prices are half of what they were in 1978, and in the 50s only the rich could afford to fly.

Result is many people are flying, crowding planes and airports.

How the Price of Airline Tickets Fell by 50% in 40 Years
https://moneywise.com/life/travel/airline-prices-fell-50-and-nobody-noticed

 

[MrPants]

There is another way.


View attachment 290535

Or this?

 

[squatting dog]

Or this?
View attachment 290540

Yeah... and don't forget this classic. (remember... it must be true, I saw it on the internet)

 

[oldman]

I think the days of cheap flights may be over. Now that the airlines know they can get away with charging all the fees that they charge, they will only try to escalate them. You can save a few bucks here and there if you know how to play their stupid games. One way is to get a United credit card and use it to purchase your ticket on United. I think they still allow the credit card holder one free checked bag and priority boarding after First and Business Classes. I believe American and Delta offer the same deal. Always check fares on Tuesday. The airlines do flip prices on that day of the week, unless they leave them alone.

Right now, a few airlines are offering a bucket-load of miles if you sign up for their credit card and spend the amount of money necessary during a specified time period. I believe that Southwest is offering 60,000 miles if you get their card and charge $2000 in the next 90 days. Check other airlines because I believe other airlines are also making this offer. I know 60,000 miles will get you a r/t ticket to Hawaii, or across the pond.

I am very appreciative of my free travel privileges on United only.

 

[Born_To_Lose]

Tell me about it. Last week I booked 2 seats in business class from Newark to Frankfurt for $3500 on Delta. Just 5 years ago, the cost was half that amount.

 

[Alligatorob]

I think the days of cheap flights may be over.

Do you think the average cost of tickets really was much if any lower at any time in the past?

Seems to me that there are always some bargain fares, but most people don't or can't take advantage of them. Too many limitations and other fees.

I have over 6 million miles on Delta, and over 100k on several other airlines. Traveled a lot for business. So I have purchased a lot of plane tickets, I can remember a few bargains, but kind of the way I can remember winning at slot machines. The exception, not the rule.

 

[oldman]

Do you think the average cost of tickets really was much if any lower at any time in the past?

Seems to me that there are always some bargain fares, but most people don't or can't take advantage of them. Too many limitations and other fees.

I have over 6 million miles on Delta, and over 100k on several other airlines. Traveled a lot for business. So I have purchased a lot of plane tickets, I can remember a few bargains, but kind of the way I can remember winning at slot machines. The exception, not the rule.

You have that many miles, what are doing sitting at home? Get out and see the world or give the miles to someone that does want a trip. You can also donate the miles to St. Jude. I believe there is a transfer fee when giving your miles to another person. I have free travel and have flown to several different cities since retirement. The free travel card also includes one companion. The only issue is that we have to travel standby. My wife and I flew to Chicago last week for lunch and then back home on the 6:00 flight. After lunch, we walked down Michigan Avenue, as always and kind of just talked and walked before going back to the airport. We have flown on International flights also, but not just for lunch.

 

[Alligatorob]

You have that many miles, what are doing sitting at home? Get out and see the world or give the miles to someone that does want a trip. You can also donate the miles to St. Jude.

Those are my lifetime miles flown, not frequent flyer miles. I am sure I got well more award miles than that and over the years. Lots of doubling or tripling award miles on some trips and other sources, like my AmEx card.

Over the years I've taken a lot of free trips and given even more away. Not many left now, but I do still have the 6MM baggage tags. And flight attendants still recognize the miles, once in a while a pilot will even come to my seat and thank me.

 

[hollydolly]

Those are my lifetime miles flown, not frequent flyer miles. I am sure I got well more award miles than that and over the years. Lots of doubling or tripling award miles on some trips and other sources, like my AmEx card.

Over the years I've taken a lot of free trips and given even more away. Not many left now, but I do still have the 6MM baggage tags. And flight attendants still recognize the miles, once in a while a pilot will even come to my seat and thank me.

if you feel like giving away any flights... feel free to toss them this way...

 

[Packerjohn]

I am probably "blowing against the wind" here but the sooner air fares go up the better! I sort of get tired of seeing parents "dragging" little screaming kiddies through the streets of Lamu, Kenya during Christmas break. Enough of those pale faces from the north upsetting the locals.