When you fancy a quick getaway, whether that’s a week at a sunny beach resort or a long weekend in a new city, one of the first and easiest places to turn is a budget airline. With flights that cost less than airport parking, they’re the simplest solution to holiday blues.
Sometimes two flights to the same place, but with different airlines, can be wildly different prices. For instance, flights between Edinburgh and London can cost £50-£60 with British Airways but Ryanair is able to do the same journey for less than £20.
But have you ever found yourself wondering how these airlines like Ryanair and easyJet manage to keep costs down? Well, there are a few things that these airlines do to save pennies that, most of the time, you won’t even notice.
Read more: The add-ons Ryanair will charge you for - from your suitcase to oxygen
Sky bridge
The journey from the gate to the plane is made slightly more exciting when you find yourself walking down the tunnel without putting a toe outside. Believe it or not, the use of the sky bridge at airports will easily punch up the price.
Instead, budget airlines will opt for steps up to the plane at the front and the back. It makes boarding slightly quicker and reduces costs, especially for planes that have the steps built in.
Not using the sky bridge also means that the airline doesn’t need to employ the airport staff required to operate it. Instead, its cabin crew and ground staff are trained to lower the steps themselves.
Departure and landing gates
We’ve all been there, enjoying a pre-flight drink in the departure lounge and watching the board, too scared to blink in case you miss your flight, and the gate number pops up and it’s the one that’s a 20-minute walk away. Another cost-saving tactic from budget airlines as these parking spots are often a lot cheaper than those closer to the airport.
Always use the same plane
If the airline only uses one type of plane, that means that the training is just on one plane, it only needs to stock replacement parts for one type and each plane is the same.
Charging for baggage
As well as making back some money that helps to keep flights cheaper in the long run, charging for baggage can often deter passengers from bringing it with them. If there’s very little checked baggage, that’s the suitcase that goes into the back of the plane, then baggage handlers will be needed for a shorter amount of time, reducing staffing costs.
Choice of airport
Have you been on holiday with one of these budget airlines, landed at the airport and then been left to travel an extra hour or so to reach your destination? This is because these smaller, further-out airports cost less in plane parking and facilities, knocking even more pounds off your plane ticket.
Read next:
Northumberland lodge named one of the best Scandi-style escapes in the UK
Three crucial passport checks you should make now if you are planning a summer holiday
Popular Spanish holiday destinations contemplate bringing back 'some sort' of Covid restrictions
Digital Nomad Visa will let Brits with home working jobs to move to Spain and work from there
