6 ms·

Because you'll often be faced with a 500 euro+ fare for a short flight on the national airlines, with either one of WizzAir/RyanAir offering the same flight for

Because you'll often be faced with a 500 euro+ fare for a short flight on the national airlines, with either one of WizzAir/RyanAir offering the same flight for 20-80 euro. 9/10 times the service is near-identical to a flagship. 1/10 times, the sub-par exception handling reveals itself. That's a trade-off I make regularly to save 400 euros.

consp 5y ago
There is a major difference: space. I cannot sit in a ryanair/transavia/whizzair seat for more than takeoff before the person in front has destroyed my knees. Most "premium" airlines have 1-2 inches more space and the option for more spacious seats.
- asd4232 5y ago
  That is true. Not a major concern for most shorter people though. As a teenager I once did a 12 hour flight (with refuel stop) on a charter 757 with 29" seat space. Didn't find it terribly uncomfortable back then to be honest. Apparently Ryanair has 30" space.
- klausjensen 5y ago
  I always buy extra leg-room (like seat by emergency exit), because I am tall as fuck. Problem solved. I fly a lot with RyanAir, WizzAir and the other discount-airlines, because what they offer is great value - and when you upgrade a bit, it is not terrible. A ticket listed for 50EUR, I usually end up paying around 100EUR with extras (legroom, luggage allowance).
_fat_santa 5y ago
They are cheaper until their not. Family booked a flight to Colorado from Georgia one winter to go skiing. Spirit let us know an hour before the flight that out flight was overbooked and offered us another flight....4 days later. We ended up coughing up an extra $1200 to fly Delta and Spirit never refunded us because "we could have taken the flight we offered". Last time I ever flew with a budget air carrier. Now I fly Delta, I pay more per flight but I've been screwed over in the same manner exactly zero times since. In fact Delta has gotten me out of situations of my own doing that Spirit or any budget airline would have shrugged at and told me to suit myself. At this point I consider the premium on airfare an insurance policy of sorts, might pay an extra $100-200 per flight but if that means not running the risk of screwing up a trip I paid thousands to put together, I'll take it.
- tyingq 5y ago
  The DOT has very specific rules about passenger compensation for passengers "bumped" off of flights via denied boarding: https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/bumping-oversales https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer... "Over 2 hour arrival delay 400% of one-way fare (airlines may limit the compensation to $1,550 if 400% of the one-way fare is higher than $1,550)" What they did in your case was illegal. Which has happened at Spirit before: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-fines-spirit-airlines-violating-dots-oversales-bumping-rules https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-fines-spiri... You can file a complaint here: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/file-consumer-complaint https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/file-consumer-com...
  - michaelmrose 5y ago
    When did this go into effect? Years back we tried to land twice due to fog then had to wait overnight with no accomodations to take the bus zero compensation. Still won't fly Southwest because they merged with the offender.
    - tyingq 5y ago
      Weather cancellations/delays don't count as denied boarding. These rules apply only if you're bumped due to overbooking.
      - michaelmrose 5y ago
        I was more talking about the overnight delay with no food or accommodations after the 2 failed trips in.
        tyingq 5y ago
        Yeah, they have government regulations for that in Europe, but not in the US. "There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed" https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/flight-delays-cancellations https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer... The only regulations for delays in the US that helps passengers is some specifics about not stranding you in the aircraft/tarmac for more than 3 hours (domestic flights) or 4 hours (international flights).
viraptor 5y ago
The really annoying part is that there are no reasonable prices. Often the options are for example Ryanair for 50, or KLM for 500. I'd happily pay more than 50, but I'm not paying 500 for a 2h flight.

consp 5y ago

There is a major difference: space. I cannot sit in a ryanair/transavia/whizzair seat for more than takeoff before the person in front has destroyed my knees. Most "premium" airlines have 1-2 inches more space and the option for more spacious seats.

asd4232 5y ago
That is true. Not a major concern for most shorter people though. As a teenager I once did a 12 hour flight (with refuel stop) on a charter 757 with 29" seat space. Didn't find it terribly uncomfortable back then to be honest. Apparently Ryanair has 30" space.
klausjensen 5y ago
I always buy extra leg-room (like seat by emergency exit), because I am tall as fuck. Problem solved. I fly a lot with RyanAir, WizzAir and the other discount-airlines, because what they offer is great value - and when you upgrade a bit, it is not terrible. A ticket listed for 50EUR, I usually end up paying around 100EUR with extras (legroom, luggage allowance).

_fat_santa 5y ago

They are cheaper until their not. Family booked a flight to Colorado from Georgia one winter to go skiing. Spirit let us know an hour before the flight that out flight was overbooked and offered us another flight....4 days later. We ended up coughing up an extra $1200 to fly Delta and Spirit never refunded us because "we could have taken the flight we offered". Last time I ever flew with a budget air carrier. Now I fly Delta, I pay more per flight but I've been screwed over in the same manner exactly zero times since. In fact Delta has gotten me out of situations of my own doing that Spirit or any budget airline would have shrugged at and told me to suit myself. At this point I consider the premium on airfare an insurance policy of sorts, might pay an extra $100-200 per flight but if that means not running the risk of screwing up a trip I paid thousands to put together, I'll take it.

tyingq 5y ago
The DOT has very specific rules about passenger compensation for passengers "bumped" off of flights via denied boarding: https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/bumping-oversales https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer... "Over 2 hour arrival delay 400% of one-way fare (airlines may limit the compensation to $1,550 if 400% of the one-way fare is higher than $1,550)" What they did in your case was illegal. Which has happened at Spirit before: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-fines-spirit-airlines-violating-dots-oversales-bumping-rules https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-fines-spiri... You can file a complaint here: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/file-consumer-complaint https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/file-consumer-com...
- michaelmrose 5y ago
  When did this go into effect? Years back we tried to land twice due to fog then had to wait overnight with no accomodations to take the bus zero compensation. Still won't fly Southwest because they merged with the offender.
  - tyingq 5y ago
    Weather cancellations/delays don't count as denied boarding. These rules apply only if you're bumped due to overbooking.
    - michaelmrose 5y ago
      I was more talking about the overnight delay with no food or accommodations after the 2 failed trips in.
      - tyingq 5y ago
        Yeah, they have government regulations for that in Europe, but not in the US. "There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed" https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/flight-delays-cancellations https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer... The only regulations for delays in the US that helps passengers is some specifics about not stranding you in the aircraft/tarmac for more than 3 hours (domestic flights) or 4 hours (international flights).

viraptor 5y ago

The really annoying part is that there are no reasonable prices. Often the options are for example Ryanair for 50, or KLM for 500. I'd happily pay more than 50, but I'm not paying 500 for a 2h flight.