Skip to main content

Tagged With "ultra-low-cost"

Comment

Re: France Train Service, SNCF, Expands Low Cost Trains and Buses

Travel Rob ·
It's great news for budget travelers. I took the Ouigo train from to Marseille in 2013 and loved it.
Comment

Re: New trend? Some airlines end toll-free calls

DrFumblefinger ·
Yet another drop in service, but one that likely will have minimal impact on most customers. If it saves millions of dollars, and the savings are used to reduce company overhead (say instead of bonuses for executives), I think consumers will be supportive.
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

Travel Rob ·
We flew Norwegian in May, Orlando-Oslo and were really impressed. The 787 made such a difference and we arrived feeling fresh. The moister air, bigger windows and lighting made a world of difference in how we felt post trip. We brought a decent sized carry-on and personal bag each for free too. As far other extra fees, we didn't pay any. They charge for food or drinks, but we just bought those at the airport. And I think they also charge for blankets, but we brought jackets to cover with and...
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

PortMoresby ·
This is sounding very promising, Rob. I can think of no reason to pay more money to pay with miles than for a ticket on Norwegian. I have enough miles to go around the world and only the first leg (or last, depending) is more expensive using miles. It makes no sense. So you were able to carry on your main bag plus a smaller one? I'm speaking of the limits for discounted coach tickets (aka "steerage").
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

Paul Heymont ·
Amazing the way these calculations work out. We're going to England next spring, using American Airlines points. The flight selection offered us flights on British Airways and American. The AA flights cost the points plus government fees. The BA flights cost the points plus the government fees, plus enough surcharges to make a $1000+ difference. If I only had the BA flights, I'd certainly rather find a low-cost carrier! It will be interesting to see what happens in the coming year as Aer...
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

Travel Rob ·
The carry-on limits are posted on the site. Still we were a little worried but there were no problems. We each took a carry-on and a personal bag on for free. A note that my same carry-on was too big for Air China so Norwegian had decent limits.
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

PortMoresby ·
The website states the limits for a carry-on bag are (approximately, stated in cm) 21 x 16 x 9 inches, and 10 kilos/22 pounds. Plus a "small" item that fits comfortably under the seat. Were your bags within these guidelines, Rob?
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

Travel Rob ·
I think that's very similar to American Airlines carry-on allowance. A lot better than EasyJets etc. Whether my bag was over, I can't say. My original bag was lost by Megabus, if you can believe it, so I had a different bag and clothes than what I was planning on The thing about the 787 is there's actually room for the carry-on. in the overhead.
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

PortMoresby ·
I've checked my bag for years but it sounds like in this case it'd be worthwhile to pack light and carry it on. My usual, without trying, is about 13 kilos, so 10 isn't a huge stretch. Sounding like an interesting possibility.
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

Travel Rob ·
I was just reading a Chris Elliott piece on when people get so fed up with air travel they stop flying altogether. He interviewed a man who owned a travel company, Spencer Carlson and the positive airline example he gave was Norwegian. So it seems like my good experience is the norm with them. Here is this link: http://www.seattletimes.com/li...-to-take-it-anymore/
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

PortMoresby ·
I can live indefinitely with 2 sets of clothes, 1 to wear & 1 to wash, 1 extra pair of shoes, all in a day pack. I wouldn't necessarily WANT to do it, but I could, rather than stop flying if, say, the airlines reduced baggage limits to 10 pounds altogether. It's the same old story, I figure, if for any reason, you can't or won't travel (time, money, fed up, whatever), you just don't want to enough. One excuse is as good as another. Good to hear about Norwegian. I repeated the exercise...
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

PortMoresby ·
Continuing my search for an economical way to use my miles and avoid absurd fees, I tried a combination of 2 one-way flights, one with miles, one on Norwegian. One way on Norwegian is as low as $286. If I avoid using BA with points, flights on AA to Paris are 20,000 miles (before May 15th) plus a $5 fee (excellent!) but with a stupid schedule, 3 flights and 2 days to get there. And 1 possibility available. All the rest are BA flights, $326 in fees + 20,000 miles. Next thought, why is AA...
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

Paul Heymont ·
The AA-BA mashup is tricky, yes, but not as devious as it may seem. Between New York and Paris, for instance, AA has only two non-stops a day; BA has a half-dozen (or more, including Open Skies). And, BA has many seats LON-PAR, so availability is greater. A similar situation exists on this side of the ocean, where BA feeds many AA domestic flights. It's sometimes possible to get around better if you don't mind one stop...we've used AA to Madrid paired with Iberia to Paris (Iberia's charges...
Reply

Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

PortMoresby ·
Call it whatever you like, but I seem to have missed your point. But, no matter, MY point was simply that I see no excuse for charging astonishingly different prices for the same product, transportation from point A to point B, on partner airlines ostensibly selling the same thing.
Comment

Re: Why tickets stay high while fuel prices drop

DrFumblefinger ·
I think I'm seeing better ticket prices than I have for several years now, so I'm not sure if this is completely true. But it could just represent a biased sampling (Canada, more than US flights).
Comment

Re: Why tickets stay high while fuel prices drop

Paul Heymont ·
Overall, for U.S. airlines, the trend is up; last month all the majors went along with a $2 average increase on almost all fares. Those fares, of course, are subject to competitive discounting on specific flights or routes; Alaska and Delta have been battling over the Seattle market all year, for example, affecting prices on those routes.
Comment

Re: Why tickets stay high while fuel prices drop

Travel Rob ·
With Airline consolidation the last few years and some budget airlines changing their image and prices, there doesn't seem to be that downword pressure for most prices in the US
Comment

Re: Why tickets stay high while fuel prices drop

GarryRF ·
The cost of an Airline Ticket has little to do with the cost of a barrel of oil. That's why I can fly to Sydney Australia for the same price as I can to New York. That's 3500 miles to New York or 10,500 miles to Sydney. Same price. It's solely based on the principle of how much juice you can squeeze from an orange.
Comment

Re: Why tickets stay high while fuel prices drop

Paul Heymont ·
While it's true that competition and cupidity rather than cost are the basis of pricing, fuel does factor in: when fuel is high, the airlines add surcharges, and when fuel costs drop, they seldom remove them!
Comment

Re: Why tickets stay high while fuel prices drop

GarryRF ·
Airlines and many other companies are determined to squeeze the public to the last drop of juice. Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_fixing_cases and see that there's no honour amongst thieves. Steal from one man and its theft. Steal from a thousand and its Corporate Policy.
Comment

Re: Europe's cost-of-living has wide range

PortMoresby ·
There are websites devoted to helping people sort out the possibilities worldwide. This is one I've found useful: http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings.jsp
Comment

Re: Ultra budget, NewLeaf Travel, offering bargain Canadian airfares

DrFumblefinger ·
Their route map is very limited, but I wish them well. Canada really needs an airline like this.
Comment

Re: Ultra budget, NewLeaf Travel, offering bargain Canadian airfares

Travel Rob ·
For years Canada has had great international fares and lousy domestic ones. This and other budget airlines on the horizon should do a great deal to help Canadians travel within their own country too
Comment

Re: Ultra budget, NewLeaf Travel, offering bargain Canadian airfares

DrFumblefinger ·
Good news for New Leaf. The authorities have given the company permission to start selling its discounted flights in Canada. More on this update at this link .
Comment

Re: Ultra budget, NewLeaf Travel, offering bargain Canadian airfares

DrFumblefinger ·
NewLeaf is grounded, at least temporarily, as the Canadian is reviewing it's license. Will issue refunds for tickets already sold. Read more at this link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...a-reaction-1.3409694
Comment

Re: Ultra budget, NewLeaf Travel, offering bargain Canadian airfares

Travel Rob ·
Since the Canadian Transportation Agency has been looking into this issue of whether Indirect Service Providers should be required to hold a license, I'm surprised NewLeaf Travel didn't hold off before on selling tickets until this issue was settled https://www.otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/...ement-hold-a-licence
Comment

Re: Ultra budget, NewLeaf Travel, offering bargain Canadian airfares

GarryRF ·
I can remember this story so many times from the past 50 years - here in the UK. A new air service provider comes along with hopes of knocking the stuffing out of the "Big Boys". Then, always at the last minute - the most costly time - somebody throws a spanner in the works. Hoping to break the back - or bank - of the new kid on the block.. Dirty tricks again. And it wont be the last. And you never find out who started the fight. http://www.independent.co.uk/n...s-dirty-1478010.html
Comment

Re: Ultra budget, NewLeaf Travel, offering bargain Canadian airfares

DrFumblefinger ·
I agree with Garry. The timing of this is very suspicious.
Comment

Re: Behind the Rides: Orlando leads U.S. in visits and low-wage jobs

DrFumblefinger ·
I am not sure if an employee working in tourism in NYC would have a higher quality of life even if paid more. Orlando at least is cheap. Also many folks in the tourist trade make a lot of their earnings from tips which rarely are fully reported as income. So I never know what to make of studies like this
Blog Post

Mexico low-cost carrier adds U.S. flights

Paul Heymont ·
Volaris, a Guadalajara-based Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC) that has an extensive network in Mexico and also serves cities in the southwestern U.S. is pushing to increase its U.S. business by adding flights to further destinations, especially ones with...
Blog Post

Why tickets stay high while fuel prices drop

Paul Heymont ·
You may have noted the recent drop in gas prices at the pump. The airlines have noticed it, too, with a $1.6 billion savings in fuel costs over recent months. So why do the prices of tickets stay so high...and even rise?   An AP travel article...
Blog Post

They believe they can fly...but signs are not good!

Paul Heymont ·
America's most persistent attempt at starting a new airline is out there again, looking for crowdfunding to get off the ground. First as Family Airlines, and since 2010 as Avatar Airlines, they've been trying for take-off since 1992, with plans for an...
Blog Post

AA talks tough on discount competition, sees change ahead

Paul Heymont ·
American Airlines, the world's largest air carrier, isn't planning to let any Davids mess with its Goliath market share. CEO Doug Parker says that if smaller rivals take advantage of fuel price drops to add seats and then discount them to take market...
Blog Post

Not just passengers want free WiFi...ask Spirit!

Paul Heymont ·
Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant are U.S. ultra-low-cost carriers famous for wanting a nickel for everything they don't charge a dime for—and they're also among the very few U.S. carriers not offering WiFi.    If you've wondered why,...
Blog Post

More river cruises cancelled, but some hopeful signs

Paul Heymont ·
CroisiEurope's Leonardo da Vinci on the Neckar at Heidelberg   Continuing problems with low water in European rivers, as described in several recent TG NewsLinks, are disrupting more cruise plans by most operators...but at least some see hope in...
Blog Post

New trend? Some airlines end toll-free calls

Paul Heymont ·
Pay-to-talk may be coming soon to more reservation and customer-service centers   Frontier Airlines has announced the end of its toll-free customer service line, joining a number of airlines and other companies who've decided that the cost of...
Topic

Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

PortMoresby ·
Looking for flights to Europe on which to spend my miles and being astonished by the fees, I had a look on the Norwegian site and was amazed in the other direction, by how cheap the fares were from the West Coast.  Until I started trying to...
Blog Post

Low water puts some European river cruises on hold

Paul Heymont ·
Low water in the Danube, 2012   If it seems like only yesterday we were reporting on European river cruises being canceled because high waters were blocking ships from sailing under bridges...well, it was. On May 7, we reported problems on the...
Blog Post

Europe's cost-of-living has wide range

Paul Heymont ·
Gorgeous groceries...but can you afford them?     Photo: Lyzadanger / Wikimedia   Travelers planning vacations in Europe quickly become aware that some countries are more expensive than others; plenty of us have suffered sticker shock...
Blog Post

France Train Service, SNCF, Expands Low Cost Trains and Buses

Travel Rob ·
Frances train service, SNCF, is expanding its low cost TGV service, Ouigo and tripling it's fleet of coaches called Ouibus.   Ouigo was set up in 2013 to run TGV trains from Paris to the south of France, namely the cities of Lyon,...
Blog Post

Dec. 8, 2017: Low Force Waterfall, Tees Valley

Ian Cook ·
A lovely English waterfall beautifully captured by photographer Ian Cook.
Blog Post

Frontier cuts fares 12% and cuts amenities to 0

Paul Heymont ·
Denver-based Frontier Airlines, whose goal is to become an "ultra low-cost" carrier, has dropped its fares by about 12% (which works out to about 18% below Southwest on competing routes).    The fare cuts come with a big "but" but with no...
Blog Post

Behind the Rides: Orlando leads U.S. in visits and low-wage jobs

Paul Heymont ·
Orlando last year passed New York as the world's and nation's top tourist city, but it also has the lowest median pay of the top 50 U.S. cities, with many of the theme park employees among those living at or below the poverty line, according to...
Blog Post

Low water again affecting Rhine shipping

Paul Heymont ·
Low water levels in the Rhine are causing problems for shipping, and may affect river cruises.
Blog Post

American joins the 'basic economy' movement

Paul Heymont ·
American is shifting gears on competing with the ultra-low-cost carriers; instead of discounting regular fares, it will add a new 'Basic Economy.'
Blog Post

Cheapest airlines may not be the ones you think!

Paul Heymont ·
Sharpen your pencil: The discount and ultra-lowcost carriers are not always the cheapest choice!
Blog Post

Allegiant dips a toe into the NY market

Paul Heymont ·
Ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant gets its first New York area flights, and also adds Denver and Ogdensburg.
Blog Post

Low-Fare Florida-Scandinavia Flights in the Air Today!

Paul Heymont ·
Norwegian Air Shuttle's first Fort Lauderdale to Copenhagen flight is off today, to be followed by flights tomorrow and Sunday to Oslo and Stockholm. The low-fare carrier will have 6 weekly roundtrips ferrying freezing Scandinavians to Florida for...
Blog Post

United, AA to offer "basic economy"—that's the Spirit!

Paul Heymont ·
Ultra-low cost carriers like Spirit are pushing the majors into the no-frills arena. United has announced it will follow Delta next year, and offer "basic economy" style fares with no baggage, upgrade or airport privileges, and American has indicated that it's exploring the idea, too.  Fares like that—Spirit calls it a "bare fare"—have been the staple of flying on the ULC carriers such as Spirit and Frontier, but the majors have resisted up to now because they have wanted to...
Blog Post

Value Alliance unites 8 Asian low-cost carriers

Paul Heymont ·
Eight Asian low-cost airlines are hooking up their booking and ticketing to make it easier for travelers to choose them over growing rivals.
 
×
×
×
×