Pros and Cons of Cheap Flights
Cheap air travel is not as good as you might think , precisely because, in general, air travel sucks. Believe it or not, in a sense, air travel has improved as well.
Flights are more affordable than ever, which seems good at first glance. A $ 100 round-trip ticket across the country – what’s not to love about that? On the other hand, we complain about terrible airline service and crowded and cramped flights, while most of the reasons air travel sucks right now is because airlines are struggling to keep up with cheap competition to avoid bankruptcy.
The New York Times put together a data-driven graphical article on the pros and cons of air travel, and they highlighted the same points. They add that the cabins are fuller and the seats are cramped than ever. It’s true, legroom has really shrunk over the years. In the mid 80’s you had about 32-36 inches , and today you are lucky to get 30 inches . And the seats were once 18-18.5 inches, and now they have shrunk to 17 or even 16.5 inches.
Of course, the upside to cheap air travel is that discount airlines like JetBlue and Spirit have forced major carriers like American Airlines to split their own fares. Overall, however, shoppers do pay more for this model.
A study published in the Journal of Economics & Management found that when airlines split fares and impose charges, customers pay more for the same:
The data also suggests that the average fare falls less than the baggage charge itself, so the total cost of the trip rises for passengers who choose to check in their baggage … the 25th percentile fare is reduced by about $ 7 when the charge is introduced baggage transportation. , an amount equal to approximately half to one third of the commission. As a result , the overall cost of the trip appears to increase for the average leisure traveler by at least half of the travel luggage charge when that passenger checks the bag . However, passengers who do not screen their baggage receive lower fares.
However, you at least have the option to waive these fees and pay for your flight. This flexibility can be a plus. Cheap airline tickets make travel more affordable for people who might otherwise not be able to fly at all.
So that’s not all bad news. In addition, as reported by The New York Times, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Flights tend to arrive on time more often; up over 80 percent of the time last year. Airlines are losing less baggage. And fares for passengers kicked out of their flight – denied boarding – have also dropped.
In 2007, there were seven reports of inappropriate baggage for every 1,000 passengers. In 2016, this figure fell to less than three reports for every thousand passengers, the lowest level in that time. Despite the fact that the latest news is not the best indicator , the increased passenger traffic also decreased. In 2007, there were just over 100 hits for every million passengers, and now there are fewer than 75 per million.
The New York Times has more interesting data to share, so their article is definitely worth reading. Take a look at the link below.
Why We Feel So Trapped in the Sky | New York Times