Author Topic: US needs a discount airline to Europe  (Read 8708 times)

rob in cal

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US needs a discount airline to Europe
« on: June 02, 2014, 09:42:27 AM »
   I've been researching travel in Europe and am amazed at the low prices that the discount airlines over there charge on flights within Europe.  Of course they charge huge amounts for baggage, drinks on planes, printing your boarding pass at the gate etc., but I'd like to see something like Ryanair of Expressjet offer flights to Europe from the US.  Right now flights seem pretty expensive, especially when buying for more than one person.

DCA-SEA

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2014, 10:53:22 AM »
Their service level is lower both on board and in terms of frequencies, and their labor practices are controversial with some, but Norwegian is trying to be an ultra-low-cost trans-Atlantic carrier.

Icelandair is frequently less expensive than the biggest carriers also, as is Aer Lingus.

But with any of those of course, you have to live where they fly and want to fly where they go.

beltim

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2014, 11:07:39 AM »
   I've been researching travel in Europe and am amazed at the low prices that the discount airlines over there charge on flights within Europe.  Of course they charge huge amounts for baggage, drinks on planes, printing your boarding pass at the gate etc., but I'd like to see something like Ryanair of Expressjet offer flights to Europe from the US.  Right now flights seem pretty expensive, especially when buying for more than one person.

Those are all short-haul flights.  I was curious how Ryanair fares were on long flights, so I did some research.  The longest flight from Dublin that I could find was to Bucharest, and an average one-way fare for that trip was about 55 euros if booked a few weeks in advance (the range was about 40 to 160).  For a round trip that's almost exactly $150, not including fees.  Using a great circle mapper, the distance between those two airports is 1579 miles. 

In contrast, Boston to Dublin is about the shortest flight from the US to Europe, and it's nearly twice as long at 3000 miles.  Expedia says I can get a round trip flight for maybe $750 if i book in advance and not during peak times (just like I used for Ryanair).  But wait! When you look at the breakdown of costs, only $416 of that $750 is the airfare - the rest is taxes and fees, which weren't included in that Ryanair quote above.

So the actual comparison is $416 to $150 for a flight that's twice as long.  In other words, Ryanair is about 25-30% cheaper per mile. Not bad, but then of course you also have to pay for bags, drinks, boarding passes, etc.

Jamesqf

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2014, 11:53:58 AM »
Right now flights seem pretty expensive, especially when buying for more than one person.

Maybe we need a categoy for 21st century problems, like the one for first world problems.  I mean, you'll be crossing the effing Atlantic Ocean, and in less than a day, for what's likely not even a week's earnings for most of us?

simonsez

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #4 on: June 02, 2014, 12:08:48 PM »
rob in cal, I assume you live in California?  Instead of Europe, why not travel to Hawaii, Japan, New Zealand or other Pacific options since they are likely cheaper for you in California than it would be for me in Virginia.  Likewise, I don't intend on living on the East Coast my whole life and have planned vacations that take advantage of the proximity and cheaper cost of trips to Europe compared with flying out of places further west.

Jamesqf, your comment reminds me of the comedian Louis CK's bit where he talks about how awesome flying is and nearly everyone doesn't care.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3dYS7PcAG4

Silvie

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #5 on: June 02, 2014, 12:21:42 PM »
Ryanair plans on offering flights from Europe to 10 US destinations for 10 euros. Plus all the charges you mentioned of course, but still. Much cheaper than other airlines.

Albert

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #6 on: June 02, 2014, 12:36:09 PM »
Transatlantic flights are not as deregulated as those within EU thus the competition is less and prices higher. Also long haul flights are by nature different. It's physically impossible to get as fast a turnaround for them as for short flights.

Anyway as mentioned above flights are still very much affordable. Few years ago I was flying with Air France from Paris to US. It was some kind of anniversary for them and in the inflight magazine there was a great article about the very first intercontinental flight of Air France (Saigon-Paris) in the mid 1930-ties. There was an interview with an old guy who had used this flight as a teenager to return to France for college. It took 5 days and the ticket cost in today's money came to about 11,000$. One way!!!

Argyle

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #7 on: June 02, 2014, 12:40:52 PM »
There are still cheap flights if you don't mind taking 36 hours or so to get to your destination.  (Long layovers in Frankfurt or whereever.)  From the West Coast those are often, say, $800 as opposed to $1200.  For cheap transatlantic flights, also check Icelandair, Air India, and El Al.  The airlines that don't come up on Kayak.com are especially the ones to try.

randymarsh

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #8 on: June 02, 2014, 12:56:23 PM »
Ryanair plans on offering flights from Europe to 10 US destinations for 10 euros. Plus all the charges you mentioned of course, but still. Much cheaper than other airlines.

I doubt this actually happens. Their CEO is known for making outrageous/sensationalist comments designed to get media attention.

I'm not sure there's enough volume US > Europe to make such flights viable.

Jamesqf

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #9 on: June 02, 2014, 01:34:31 PM »
It took 5 days and the ticket cost in today's money came to about 11,000$. One way!!!

That's something that bothered me more, back in the days when I actually flew commercial, than the actual cost of the ticket: why on Earth would it cost more for a one-way ticket to destination X, than for a round-trip?

Jags4186

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #10 on: June 02, 2014, 03:16:28 PM »
That never made sense to me either...book the round trip and just never take the return flight!

Silvie

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #11 on: June 03, 2014, 08:08:18 AM »
Ryanair plans on offering flights from Europe to 10 US destinations for 10 euros. Plus all the charges you mentioned of course, but still. Much cheaper than other airlines.

I doubt this actually happens. Their CEO is known for making outrageous/sensationalist comments designed to get media attention.

I'm not sure there's enough volume US > Europe to make such flights viable.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2569065/Ryanair-plans-offer-flights-New-York-just-8-145-time-youve-paid-hidden-charges.html

Let's see. I hope it does happen!

warfreak2

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #12 on: June 03, 2014, 08:14:59 AM »
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2569065/Ryanair-plans-offer-flights-New-York-just-8-145-time-youve-paid-hidden-charges.html
That's some obvious complainypantsing right there.
Quote
Ticket:                                                     £8.21

Credit card fee:                                       £4.54 Use a debit card

One checked bag 20kg:                         £25 Carry-on luggage.

Seat reservation:                                    £10 Why does it matter where you sit?

Airport passenger duty                           £67

Food:                                                     £30.95 Are you kidding me, bring a packed lunch

(Panini, cup of tea, small Heineken,
glass of wine, bottle of water,
lasagne and chips)
                                           

Grand total:                                         £145.70 £75.21

randymarsh

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #13 on: June 03, 2014, 09:18:27 AM »
I'm sure most people would probably buy a bottle of water on an 8+ hour flight, since the TSA fascists won't let us have liquids. RyanAir will probably charge $15 for that.

warfreak2

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #14 on: June 03, 2014, 01:02:32 PM »
I'm sure most people would probably buy a bottle of water on an 8+ hour flight, since the TSA fascists won't let us have liquids. RyanAir will probably charge $15 for that.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you buy water in the airport once you're past security?

Or if you want to be super cheap, find a discarded empty bottle of water that some other sucker paid for, clean it and fill it up from a sink.

simonsez

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #15 on: June 03, 2014, 01:10:47 PM »
I'm sure most people would probably buy a bottle of water on an 8+ hour flight, since the TSA fascists won't let us have liquids. RyanAir will probably charge $15 for that.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you buy water in the airport once you're past security?

Or if you want to be super cheap, find a discarded empty bottle of water that some other sucker paid for, clean it and fill it up from a sink.
Or bring your own (empty) nalgene or one of the similar reusable ones with the screw-on lid that clips to a bag or backpack.  Or even camelbaks, you may get a weird look but ask a vendor if you can fill your camelbak up with ice and water.  Lifesaver on my flight to NZ from DC.

Argyle

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #16 on: June 03, 2014, 01:17:24 PM »
Or just use an old plastic bottle that you have from some previous use.  Carry it through security empty, fill it up from a water fountain or bathroom faucet afterwards.

frugalnacho

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #17 on: June 03, 2014, 01:38:38 PM »
I'm sure most people would probably buy a bottle of water on an 8+ hour flight, since the TSA fascists won't let us have liquids. RyanAir will probably charge $15 for that.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you buy water in the airport once you're past security?

Or if you want to be super cheap, find a discarded empty bottle of water that some other sucker paid for, clean it and fill it up from a sink.

lol.  the airport itself is as outrageous as the airlines.  Expect to pay $3-4 for a generic bottled water.  Or you can bring your own empty one and fill it up at the drinking fountain.  That's what I do when I have to fly.

warfreak2

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #18 on: June 03, 2014, 01:50:57 PM »
I was going to suggest bringing an empty bottle with you, but I was under the impression the TSA also banned containers for liquids over 100ml, even if they didn't contain more than 100ml of liquids. Seems I was wrong about that (I thankfully have no experience with US airport security). So, yeah, you don't have to splurge on bottled water when you fly.

legacyoneup

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #19 on: June 03, 2014, 01:51:40 PM »
Maybe we need a categoy for 21st century problems, like the one for first world problems.  I mean, you'll be crossing the effing Atlantic Ocean, and in less than a day, for what's likely not even a week's earnings for most of us?

Lol... sweet. Reminds me of this video of Louis CK :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEY58fiSK8E&feature=kp

simonsez

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #20 on: June 03, 2014, 01:52:35 PM »
lol.  the airport itself is as outrageous as the airlines.
"Do you think that the people at the airport that run the stores have any idea
what the prices are every place else in the world? Or do you think they just
feel they have their own little country out there and they can charge anything
they want? You're hungry? Tuna sandwich is nine dollars. You don't like it;
go back to your own country. I think the whole airport airline complex is a
huge scam just to sell the tuna sandwiches. I think that profit is what's
supporting the whole air travel industry. I mean think about it; the terminals,
the airplanes, it's all just a distraction so that you don't notice the beating
that you're taking on the tuna."

-Jerry Seinfeld, opening monologue from The Limo

Argyle

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #21 on: June 03, 2014, 01:53:53 PM »
No, containers are not banned. 

Paul der Krake

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #22 on: June 03, 2014, 02:25:47 PM »
There's definitely a demand for transatlantic flights. LHR to JFK alone is already over a dozen per day, and all in sizeable aircrafts. It's not the 20+ flights between JFK and LAX, but it's nothing to sneeze at.

As much as I despise Ryanair, I really want to see if they can shake things up on this side of the Atlantic.

warfreak2

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #23 on: June 03, 2014, 02:39:23 PM »
I have flown Ryanair a few times, and found the website (and in-flight ads) annoying but tolerable. I've recently booked another flight with them and found their website considerably less annoying (easier to click through and say no to everything, and no extra mandatory charges that don't appear at the start of the process), though it still is a bit annoying; I'll have to wait and see if there are still in-flight ads (I expect there still are).

Paul der Krake

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #24 on: June 03, 2014, 02:48:34 PM »
Ryanair's ads are tacky and annoying as hell, but more "reputable" airlines do it too. Delta is especially pushy when it comes to try to get their customers to sign up for their credit cards.

daverobev

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #25 on: June 03, 2014, 03:17:09 PM »
Anyone but Ryanair. Please.

But, really, though it would be good for me (I'm from one side of 'the pond' and live on the other), it's bad for the environment. I 100% support increasing the cost of flying directly linked to the pollution it causes.

I suspect airlines aren't that profitable. There's a meme about airlines being terrible investments.

But... Ryanair.. *shivers*

Never again.

Probably.

Albert

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #26 on: June 03, 2014, 03:34:32 PM »
Ryanair usually has low prices, but where are many occasions where they are not suitable. The most important one is that they don't offer connected flights which means that you are forced to schedule very long layovers if you aren't going exactly where they are flying from your city. Not really suitable for business flights either. I don't think their business model would work for long haul flights. There is a reason why there are no true limited service careers flying transcontinental flights.

Christof

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #27 on: June 03, 2014, 04:05:24 PM »
One of the reasons that Ryanair is cheaper is that they often do not fly to the main airport, but to a smaller airport up to 100 miles away from the advertised destination. On those small airport they are a big player and get prices they would never get with the larger airports.

arebelspy

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #28 on: June 06, 2014, 11:56:37 PM »
I'd love cheap flights to Europe.  I don't think it will happen.  But there are other ways to make it cheap (travel hacking, choosing when you fly to minimize cost, etc.) if you're resourceful.
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Davids

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #29 on: June 07, 2014, 10:21:43 AM »
I have traveled to Europe frequently (on a budget of course) and pretty much my thing is I leave the entire continent open and just search like crazy consaintly until I find the right flight deal and plan where I am going around that. My favorite airline is Lufthansa, great service and no charge for booze in coach. Also depending on where you live search other airports around you. I live in the Philly area and have flown out of Philly, Newark and JFK so also be open to traveling a bit to an airport as well if the deal is right.
« Last Edit: June 07, 2014, 10:24:36 AM by Davids »

rob in cal

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Re: US needs a discount airline to Europe
« Reply #30 on: June 09, 2014, 10:21:50 AM »
Did some more searching on this subject, and the best prices I could find were Norwegian Air.  But their prices are only attractive to Scandinavia, and if you can be real flexible with travel dates.  Did find a potential 800 dollar or so roundtrip from Oakland, CA to Oslo, and I'm including about 200 dollars in baggage costs (about 100 each way for one heavy bag). If you are planning a long trip to Europe, and have a rail pass, it might not be a bad deal, but if you have limited time and aren't planning on actually seeing Scandinavia, not such a good one.