Is it time to stop whining about LCC's?

[Princess Fiona]

Short, snappy article about getting what you pay for in an aircraft :
http://www.businessinsider.com/peop...ine-service-are-getting-what-they-want-2013-3

A few home truths there

 

[munitalP]

funny how they use an AA plane as their cover pic

 

[Princess Fiona]

funny how they use an AA place as their cover pic

Don't think AA would find it so funny :shock:

 

[qkslvr]

Completely agree with this article.

Fly Tiger - expect delays and cancelations
Fly Scoot - experience what it's like to be a sardine
Fly Jetstar - expect good looking flight attendants

If you are paying $140 to fly with Scoot from Sydney to Singapore then I would just be grateful that they are even providing seat-belts on the plane.

 

[markis10]

Completely agree with this article.

Fly Tiger - expect delays and cancelations
Fly Scoot - experience what it's like to be a sardine
Fly Jetstar - expect good looking flight attendants

If you are paying $140 to fly with Scoot from Sydney to Singapore then I would just be grateful that they are even providing seat-belts on the plane.

Clearly the public have not updated their perceptions re Tiger since the grounding, given they have pretty much topped the charts ever since resumption of flying when it comes to on time performance and a lack of cancelled flights, VA spin doctors have their work ahead of them!

 

[harvyk]

I both agree and disagree on this one...
On one hand you have the true LCC's, where if you honestly thought you where getting anything more than a seat for the $$$, then you have another think coming. These guys do not pretend they are anything more than a bus.

On the other hand you have the legacy carriers often promoting the luxury of travel, and in some cases the amounts they charge are very high, considering that you are effectively getting LCC service. (just thinking about the cost of my SFO-xLAX-MIA flight a couple of years ago, it was the same price as a CBR-xSYD-PER flight, except without lunch, decent AVOD, checked bags for non status pax etc...)

 

[simongr]

I don't complain about LCCs - I just choose not to fly them.

We however have got the airlines that we collectively wanted - people want to fly cheaply so we can now fly cheaply. The only problem is that people also want to fly "like the old days" - sadly the two are mutually exclusive.

The bigger problem is that we have aircraft on legacy carriers that are essentially a game of two halves - on one side of the curtain they are flying like the old days (a bit) and on the other side they ARE LCCs because the whY cabin is competing with LCCs - whether they like it or not. That pressure on profit in whY is then having to be made up in the other cabins... We are all flying LCCs whether we like it or not (apart from those of you flying Private jets or single class premium cabin jets).

 

[AVC]

If you are paying $140 to fly with Scoot from Sydney to Singapore then I would just be grateful that they are even providing seat-belts on the plane.

Or even a plane for that matter.

A straight to the point article to be sure. I dont know, but i dont think Ive ever thought of flying ecomony to be elegant. I think if youre flying Y you expect it to be cough. IMO people around here are more likely to complain about premium cabins, which is a legit complaint, as you are paying for some elgance.

Economy is economy, LCC or not.

 

[harvyk]

Economy is economy, LCC or not.

Not really, you most certainly have different levels of Y... Give me a Y seat on a B747 or A380 with AVOD, meals, drinks and decent (by Y standards) legroom and width over a Y seat on a Dash 8, being operated by an LCC called "sit down, shut up, and amputate your legs on boarding" airlines. Both are technically Y, but are worlds apart to how you feel at the end of the flight.

 

[AVC]

True. but not really comparing apples with apples. A Dash 8 and a 747 are completely different worlds of aircraft.

But, I guess if you compared an A380 Y with a run down 747 there would be a bit of difference, especially across airlines.

 

[clifford]

I don't whinge (very much) if the price is right.

Best Intl LCC is Scoot.

Worst is Air Asia X. Can you imagine sitting in one of those seats for 8 hours?

 

[clifford]

But, I guess if you compared an A380 Y with a run down 747 there would be a bit of difference, especially across airlines.

Ever been on a 388 in Y? It's not pleasant.

 

[RB]

I don't whinge (very much) if the price is right.

Best Intl LCC is Scoot.

Worst is Air Asia X. Can you imagine sitting in one of those seats for 8 hours?

Can you please outline what you experienced on Air Asia X that was so unpleasant? I am assuming you are speaking from experience rather than a mere generalisation. What is it about Scoot that you experienced that you really enjoyed?

 

[JohnK]

There are LCC's and there are LCC's.

I flew Aegean a few times and find their service quite good. I think their on time performance is quite OK as well but on one return trip both of my flights were cancelled and would not allow me on the eralier making me wait ~3 hours at the airport. But that could be just me.

I was pleasantly surprised with Air Asia in Thailand and I am about to try Bangkok Airways as well. I don't expect much with either considering a BKK-CNX return flight is ~AUD140 return.

Did someone say Jetstar has good looking flight attendants? Single?

 

[mannej]

Unless I am missing something don't scoot and D7 both cram an extra seat into each row?

 

[jetlagger]

Unless I am missing something don't scoot and D7 both cram an extra seat into each row?

Speaking from experience, I believe you are correct, with the exception of the premium cabin.

 

[lukenet]

I am 6'4,

In terms of leg room, I think the Dash 8's and even the newer ATR's have better leg room than QF B738. The QL / SunState cabins are more comprable to the old B734. I don't like Y on QF 738's.

 

[jetlagger]

I am 6'4,

In terms of leg room, I think the Dash 8's and even the newer ATR's have better leg room than QF B738. The QL / SunState cabins are more comprable to the old B734. I don't like Y on QF 738's.

It certainly doesn't feel that way in the Dash 8. IMO seems less legroom than the 738's
Have to look at the config. stats. in case proven otherwise

 

[stewiejp]

There are LCC's and there are LCC's.

I was pleasantly surprised with Air Asia in Thailand and I am about to try Bangkok Airways as well. I don't expect much with either considering a BKK-CNX return flight is ~AUD140 return.

Did someone say Jetstar has good looking flight attendants? Single?

We flew Air Asia and BKK Air in Feb. Air Asia got us there ok, but BKK Air were fantastic (both in economy). Pretty sure the Air Asia was a bit cheaper but BKK Air's food, service and seating were definitely better. I'd go as far as saying they are probably Thailand's best or 2nd best airline. Never flown Nok Air though.

A mate of mine flew Air Asia last year, and was shocked to see the cabin crew poking the door seal back into place as the cabin doors closed.

Couple of cuties on Jetstar on the way home..

 

[JohnK]

We flew Air Asia and BKK Air in Feb. Air Asia got us there ok, but BKK Air were fantastic (both in economy). Pretty sure the Air Asia was a bit cheaper but BKK Air's food, service and seating were definitely better. I'd go as far as saying they are probably Thailand's best or 2nd best airline. Never flown Nok Air though.

My only gripe with Bangkok Airways so far is I cannot preselect seats even for a fee unless I purchase the web freedome airfare. I will try and check-in online as soon as possible but could be in the air at the time.

Thinking of trying out Nok Air next time depending on how things go in Chiang Mai this time around.