Is price the most important factor...?

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Member for

18 years 6 months

Posts: 2,343

I am conducting some research for a university project, and am just wondering what peoples opinion are on the following questions:

Q. Is price the most important factor that you consider before choosing which airline you would fly with? If so, why?

Q. Would you pay a little bit extra in order to recieve a better service?

Any opinions are welcomed, however, please try and keep them relevant to the questions above...

Many Thanks.

Original post

Member for

18 years 11 months

Posts: 144

I would consider price usually. However if the airline did not fly directly to where I wanted to go i.e. as most low cost airlines do, I would pay more for a different airline to get me to the destination.

For the second question it would depend on the length of the flight for me to decide.

Member for

19 years 8 months

Posts: 1,953

Price is certainly a consideration, but not the only factor.

More important than ticket price is overall price, and convenience. Example - I recently visited Hamburg. BA CitiExpress from BHX was £109 round trip all included. Ryanair from STN was £0.99 plus tax one way and £2.99 plus tax back. But given that I'd have to drive to STN, that the Ryanair flight was so early I'd want to stay at STN the night befire, parking was more expensive at STN, I'd arrive not at HAM but at someplace more than an hour away by bus and have to pay for that too... Bottom line was that Ryanair was actually more expensive (and far less convenient) than BA. That's what the gullible casual punter doesn't get about Ryanair and the likes.

I'll go further and say that within reason, for me price is a secondary consideration to convenience, facilities and service, reliability, timing etc. I won't fly on Ryanair at any price, because I'm not prepared to take the risk on being messed around or stranded if things do go wrong. For a reasonable price premium, I'll gladly fly [for example] Lufthansa short haul over a low-fare carrier to get better located departure / arrival airports, better timing, better in-flight service, access to airport lounges, pre-assigned seating, more convenient timing, priority checkin, and very importantly better backup if the wheels fall off.

For me, low-fare carriers are the transport provider of last resort to be used only (a) where a full service carrier doesn't go where I need to go or when the full service carrier is hopelessly inconvenient, or (b) when the full service carrier is charging very significantly more than the low-fare carrier.

Andy

Member for

19 years 8 months

Posts: 1,953

I'll add that when it comes to comparing full service airlines, I will often pay a limited premium to fly with some airlines over others - this is directed towards my preference for Star Alliance airlines on which I will pay a premium to get frequent flyer miles, lounge access and a much better chance of an upgrade.

Andy

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 530

Flexibility also is a factor....... I've just booked ba to fly Man-Ace, out on Thursday 2nd march back on Sunday 5th to look at properties. The flights cost me £180 which wasn't bad, for that I get leather seats and meal/drinks service.

I tried charter sites but they would only quote for 7 days.

Member for

18 years 5 months

Posts: 992

The majority of the time im flying down to LHR to catch a connecting long haul flight which means I fly bmi because they are the only airline (that I know of) that fly EDI-LHR. I think the last time I flew them they were only £50 return which is fine for me, as they do give quite nice service and have always been happy with them.

To be honest, ive never flown a LCC but I think when the time comes that I have the opportunity to, I would definitely weigh up the cost offered by them, and the service offered by the full service airlines. Of course this is granted they are both flying the route they are after.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 6,503

Price is quite a way down on the list for me. I like a good service, which you've got to pay for.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 4,887

Price is most important to me, but I do look further then the airline fare alone. If I fly to London I always do so by BMI to LHR. They are usually a few pounds more expensive then Easyjet or Ryanair, but I save 3 times the money on train fares to London itself (a 5 zone travel card vs a train ticket and a 2-zone travel card).

I am willing to pay a bit more to get a better timed flight, though not a lot. Perhaps 20% or thereabouts. Other then that I would normally not pay for the usual extra services like lounges, PTV, free nuts or a drink.

Truth be told though, I have flown once with Buzz to STN, even though they where a tad more expensive then BMI. Only reason for that was so I could fly on a BAe146 instead of another 320/737. But as a spotter I am entitled to some excentricities. ;)

Member for

20 years 2 months

Posts: 2,495

For me price is importnat but I am willing to pay more if the times are better.
One example being is when we met up in MAN last August. Rayanair were cheaper that Aer Lingus but the EI times suited me alot better.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 6,503

Online check-in is definitely a service worth paying extra for. bmi could have gotten me to Paris next month for around £60, but the few quid extra with British Airways was well worth it. No need to rush to the airport on the day of departure.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,940

Price is important, but if you shop around you can get some good online deals with full service carriers. Yesterday I bagged return flights NCL-BRU for less than £90. Considering that I am flying with a full service carrier who I happen to rate very highly, I find that a good price.

On the other hand, I could never fly with Ryanair. OK, their prices are cheap, but for that you get taken to an airport in the middle of nowhere, with probably crap transport links to the city you want to get to, you don't get allocated a seat at check in (something I find important, I don't like the idea of a free for all) and you have to pay for anything you have on board.

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 3,394

On the other hand, I could never fly with Ryanair. OK, their prices are cheap, but for that you get taken to an airport in the middle of nowhere, with probably crap transport links to the city you want to get to, you don't get allocated a seat at check in (something I find important, I don't like the idea of a free for all) and you have to pay for anything you have on board.

Yes but that is all very dependent on the destinations your flying to/from. For example I'm flying to Dublin with FR next month and it cost £30 return, Dublin is not an airport in the middle of nowhere, no I do like an allocated seat but in most cases people do get what they want. I got a window on both my FR trips last year and didn't find it to be a push and shove game.

Well the paying issue, it's only a 50 minute flight so what would I want to pay for? ;) . These issues all link with each other really don't they :cool:

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 53

Price is usually the main consideration however airport location is another. I live in the east midlands so if i am flying from a London airport i usually choose Stansted because it only takes 1h 45m to get there. If i cant fly from east midlands or Doncaster Sheffield i would happily pay a little more to fly from Stansted or Luton as apposed to Heathrow or Gatwick.

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Yes but that is all very dependent on the destinations your flying to/from. For example I'm flying to Dublin with FR next month and it cost £30 return, Dublin is not an airport in the middle of nowhere, no I do like an allocated seat but in most cases people do get what they want. I got a window on both my FR trips last year and didn't find it to be a push and shove game.

Well the paying issue, it's only a 50 minute flight so what would I want to pay for? ;) . These issues all link with each other really don't they :cool:

100% agree Tom, thats my outlook on low cost carriers!

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 53

Yes but that is all very dependent on the destinations your flying to/from. For example I'm flying to Dublin with FR next month and it cost £30 return, Dublin is not an airport in the middle of nowhere, no I do like an allocated seat but in most cases people do get what they want. I got a window on both my FR trips last year and didn't find it to be a push and shove game.

Well the paying issue, it's only a 50 minute flight so what would I want to pay for? ;) . These issues all link with each other really don't they :cool:

Fare enough Ryanair are cheap but there boarding procedures suck. The first 60 people to check in are aloud to board first but in reality this doesnt happen. I was flying from Verona Brescia to Stansted, having been in the first 60 to check i should have been in the first 60 to board but the moment the flight is announced the whole departure lounge crouds around the desk pushing to get there tickets to the attendents first. The attendents just gave up on the "priority boarding" system.

It seems you have to be a rugby player to board a Ryanair flight.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,956

this is directed towards my preference for Star Alliance airlines on which I will pay a premium to get frequent flyer miles, lounge access and a much better chance of an upgrade.
Ditto. Couldn't have said it better myself. I will fly Star, no matter what, even if it is more expensive. Most people think I'm crazy, but they also haven't gotten random upgrades due to flights being overbooked, had lounge access, nor have gotten as many award travel tickets the last 7 years as I have.

I detest the locos, in my case, Southwest. I have flown them 3-4 times (out of respect in these situations based on traveling with a group who could care less about ff miles, elite qualifying, etc.) and with my most recent experience with them about a year ago, I will never fly them again.

Member for

18 years 6 months

Posts: 2,343

I detest the locos, in my case, Southwest. I have flown them 3-4 times (out of respect in these situations based on traveling with a group who could care less about ff miles, elite qualifying, etc.) and with my most recent experience with them about a year ago, I will never fly them again.

Is Southwest the most popular loco in the US? Care to explain what happend that has made you decide that you will never fly with them again? (PM me if necessary.)

Thanks for all your comments by the way, and keep them coming if you have an opinion! :D

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,956

Southwest is by far the most popular loco in the U.S., and very profitable to boot. Long story short, they allowed a female passenger to board the flight, that according to several people seated near me, was having some emotional issues prior to boarding (crying, anxiety, etc.) yet was allowed to board. Then, upon taxiing to the end of the runway prior to lining up for takeoff, without explanation, we taxied back to the gate and said passenger was deplaned. Again without explanation, we taxiied again and took off, coupled with the hour delay prior to all that, we took off 2 hours late. Bottom line, that woman should have never been allowed to board in the first place if there were some obvious issues beforehand.

Member for

20 years 5 months

Posts: 316

For me, price & convenience are of equal importance. I would pay a small premium to fly on Skyteam airlines for the same reasons as others have given (lounge access, miles, status, upgrades etc.). Sometimes though Low Costs win for various reasons. One example was when I lived in Spain for 6 months. The most convenient way to visit my family was Easyjet from Bilbao to Bristol so I used them. A second example was a few weeks ago when I flew from Manchester to Cologne with Hapag Lloyd Express for £16 for 2 people. You can't argue with prices like that!!!

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 24

five dollars isn't much to make the difference between good service and not so good so if they were close enough i would pay alittle more but not any more than like 30 because that isn't worth it.

yeah price means something but as an economist would say i go for the best value not the best price.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,940

Yes but that is all very dependent on the destinations your flying to/from. For example I'm flying to Dublin with FR next month and it cost £30 return, Dublin is not an airport in the middle of nowhere, no I do like an allocated seat but in most cases people do get what they want. I got a window on both my FR trips last year and didn't find it to be a push and shove game.

Well the paying issue, it's only a 50 minute flight so what would I want to pay for? ;) . These issues all link with each other really don't they :cool:

With DUB you are lucky, but consider Paris - they use Beauvais, which no one else uses for Paris flights. For Brussels they use Charleroi which does not have the efficient transport links of Brussels National. There are others but I cannot think of them off the top of my head.