When is a Low Cost Airline not a Low Cost Airline?

When is a low-cost airline not a low cost airline? It seems to be a question being asked by many commentators and passengers these days. And why not? Here’s a list of just some of the ‘optional extra’s available from various airlines, both here in Australia and overseas…

• Business class lounges (pay-per-use)
• Seats with extra leg room
• Inflight entertainment (prices can vary by flight length)
• Light meal
• Single meal
• Full service meal
• Headphones for the inflight entertainment
• Portable video player (cheaper if booked in advance)
• Your baggage (also cheaper if booked in advance)
• Comfort kits (blankets, eyeshades, socks, inflatable neck support)
• Kids entertainment backpack (colouring book, pencils, stickers puzzle, soft toy & postcards)

Once you’ve selected your “optional extra’s” and possibly made your way to the out-of –town airport that the carrier uses, you may find you total costs are not that different from those offered by a full service airline out of a more convenient airport.

I’ve already speculated elsewhere on this blog that the day may one day come when a low cost airlines attempts to monetise the aircraft toilet. The other possibility is that the low costs airlines, sooner or later, go full circle and start bundling up all these optional extras, in the same way regulators around the world are increasingly demanding that airlines advertise airfares exclusive of taxes and surcharges.