Are you scared by airfare prices? And you put off traveling for a long time because they are not to your liking?
Today there is an excellent way out of this situation: low-cost airlines, low-cost airlines, discounters - these are all names of budget airlines where you can buy a ticket at a low price.

Low-cost airlines are an ideal option for those who are willing to sacrifice a certain amount of comfort and additional services.

Why cheap?

Let's figure out how budget airlines manage to reduce ticket prices:
1. Selling tickets online
Air tickets are sold via the Internet. This eliminates the cost of maintaining staff, cash registers and rent.
2. Limited services
The main principle of low-cost airlines: you pay for the flight, but all additional services are at your request and for an additional fee. Some usual services, such as food or entertainment, are either not available at all or are provided for a fee.
3. Comfort
Low-cost airlines often increase the number passenger seats. This may make your stay on board the aircraft less comfortable.

What to remember when buying a plane ticket

— Low-cost airlines rarely deviate from this rule: the higher the plane’s occupancy, the more expensive the tickets will be for passengers. So try buy tickets in advance- the sooner, the cheaper.
— Buy ​​a ticket only if you are completely sure that you will fly. Some low-cost airlines do not allow you to return your ticket. If for any reason you want to change your departure date, do not forget that this most often entails additional costs.
— Low-cost airlines have their own baggage policy: you will have to collect all the necessary things in hand luggage. The cabin usually allows you to take luggage measuring up to 55x40x20 cm and weighing up to 8 kg (this information needs to be clarified, as each company may have its own restrictions). If you feel that the dimensions of your luggage are larger, then it is better to pay for transportation on the website in advance extra baggage.
— If the low-cost airline’s website offers you additional services, then remember that by paying for them on the website, and not on board, you will save a decent amount of money.
— Often, checking in for a flight at the airport is also a paid service. Therefore, try to register online. And pay for additional services there

Low-cost airlines that fly from Russia:

Foreign low-cost airlines:

  • Ryanair- Irish low-cost airline, the largest low-cost airline in Europe.
  • Blu-express- Italian low-cost airline. Destination: France, Greece, Italy, Türkiye.
  • Iceland Express- low-cost airlines from Iceland. International flights: Alicante, Basel, Berlin, Billund, Gothenburg, Copenhagen, London, Oslo, Paris, Stockholm, Frankfurt am Main, Friedrichshafen, Eindhoven.
  • Thomson Airways- airlines between the UK and Europe.
  • Cebu Pacific- Philippine low-cost airline. Cebu Pacific serves 34 domestic and 22 international destinations in 14 countries.
  • Condor- German low-cost airline, operates flights to the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, North America and to the Caribbean islands.
  • Interjet- Mexican airline. Operates flights to 43 airports in Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Costa Rica and the United States on 56 routes.
  • Gol is a low-cost airline in Brazil headquartered in Sao Paulo, operating regular and charter flights. passenger air transportation at airports across the country and beyond.
  • Mango is a South African low-cost airline. Route network: Johannesburg - Cape Town; Cape Town - Durban; Johannesburg - Durban; Cape Town - Bloemfontein; Johannesburg - Bloemfontein.
  • Atlasjet — Turkish airline, based in Istanbul. It provides regular and charter passenger air transportation both to European countries, Kazakhstan, Iraq and Iran, and within Turkey.
  • Smart Wings is a brand of the Czech airline Travel Service. Implements regular flights throughout Europe and the Middle East, is the most famous among Czech low-cost airlines.
  • Sun Country Airlines is a US low-cost airline operating in the field of regular and charter flights. passenger transportation in the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, UK and the Caribbean.
  • Flybe- British low-cost airline. It is Europe's largest independent regional airline, flying 150 routes to 55 airports.

Many people who are planning to fly somewhere often come across the concept of low-cost. What is it and what is its feature? Discounters, low-cost airlines, low-cost carriers - all these are the names of low-cost airlines that originally emerged in the West, and today are actively developing in Russia. The essence of low-cost airlines is that the passenger can sacrifice comfort and optional services on board, while saving money on purchasing tickets.

Initially, when few people knew about low-cost airlines, airlines offered tickets for sale at a price of 10.5 dollars, and sometimes it even dropped to one dollar. Today there are no such prices, but tickets costing 20-30 dollars are often found. These are the cheap low-cost airlines that are popular now.

Why cheap?

In fact, there is nothing strange about the low price. And you shouldn’t expect any tricks when buying a cheap ticket. You just need to understand exactly how airlines save on selling economy class tickets.

The basic principle that low-cost airlines in Europe, America, and Russia adhere to can be described as follows: “We give you the opportunity to fly, and you have to pay for the rest yourself.” It is worth recognizing that this principle really works, since it really helps to reduce the cost of purchasing tickets. And many airlines, which previously could not be called cheap, are gradually beginning to adhere to this principle. Even national air carriers sometimes offer such attractive prices that they can automatically be classified as low-cost airlines. We have already figured out what attractive prices are - this is the opportunity to fly from one point to another for just 20-30 dollars. But even the cost of a ticket of 60-100 dollars is low if you have to fly over very long distances. Finding such cheap tickets is not a problem - the Expedia booking system will help with this. Low-cost airlines are immediately visible with their low prices. It also happens that the difference in price when flying the same route with different airlines can be several thousand dollars.

Unfortunately, there are very fanatical low-cost airlines that are so keen on cutting costs that it becomes difficult to fly with such airlines. Delays at check-in, very small and uncomfortable seats on planes, possible problems with luggage - all this is automatically received by the passenger when purchasing a ticket from a low-cost airline. But complaints are a different story. If a passenger believes that an employee has violated his rights, then complaining to the airline means wasting his nerves. However, most modern Low Cost companies conduct business “humanely”, without spoiling their reputation with terrible conditions for passengers.

What do they save on?

So, we have already found out what a low-cost airline is. But what exactly is achieved? low price ticket? Let's talk about this. The first factor influencing the cost of a ticket is the airport.

Airports

The airport tax has not been canceled - passengers pay it when purchasing a ticket for aircraft maintenance. Low-cost airlines in Italy and other countries are trying to reduce the fee, which will entail a reduction in the cost of a ticket for the passenger, so they “park” their planes at cheaper airports. The cheapest airports are those located far from the city.

For example, the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air uses the airport in Katowice (Poland), rather than interesting for tourists city ​​of Krakow. Many passengers travel to Poland first in Katowice and then via public transport go to Krakow if necessary. This saves money.

Often, low-cost airlines use old airports that set minimum airport taxes in order to at least stay afloat. They can be located even within the city, from where tourists can easily reach tourist areas. One of the cheapest airports is Zhulyany in Kyiv. In Bangkok, for example, after the opening of a modern Suvarnabhumi Airport old Don Mueang has become a base for cheap low-cost airlines.

There is another option to reduce airport fees - to reduce the cost of infrastructure. For example, if you cancel buses at airports that carry passengers (from here you can remove the cost of servicing buses, gasoline, and driver salaries), and use boarding hoses instead, you can also achieve a reduction in ticket prices. However, even planting sleeves cost money. At some airports (for example, at Kuala Lumpur Airport, at the LCCT terminal), passengers generally walk from the terminals to the aircraft. Due to the cheap maintenance of aircraft at such airports, tickets are also inexpensive.

However, there is also serious competition among companies of this level, and in order to “outdo” others, many low-cost airlines use the services of more expensive airports compared to competitors.

Frequency and times

It is not only passengers who pay for aircraft parking when purchasing tickets. Airlines also contribute a certain amount. Therefore, low-cost airlines try to spend less time at the airport and keep their planes in the air. Consequently, the frequency of landings/takeoffs is quite high throughout the day. The planes of low-cost companies operate on the principle of minibuses: they arrive, take passengers, and fly away. And for the “overnight” they stay only at special hub airports.

Often the airport tax depends on the time of arrival of the aircraft. It's usually cheaper at night than during the day. During the peak tourist season, airport taxes for airlines are higher, so tickets may be more expensive. Therefore, when buying a ticket, you should not be surprised that the cost of flying to the same country for the same airline will differ at different times.

Aircraft fleet

When you buy a new car, it comes with a 5-year warranty. A good car rarely needs repairs. It's the same with airplanes. In order not to spend a lot of money on maintaining a staff of repairers and maintenance personnel, low-cost airlines try to use only new aircraft. After a new airliner has been flying for 5-6 years, some of its elements require replacement, so they try to sell the airliner itself to other airlines. As a result, it turns out that the average age of low-cost aircraft from Moscow, for example, will be about 5-6 years, and the average age of airliners from expensive companies can reach 13-15 years. However, this does not mean that an old plane that has been flying for 15 years is bad. Rather, it is even better, since such a machine is time-tested and well known to pilots and mechanics.

Load volume

One of the most effective ways to reduce ticket prices is to place as many seats as possible in the cabin. Consequently, budget airline aircraft are always equipped with a much larger number of seats compared to classic airline aircraft. Narrow aisles between rows, small legroom - all this is typical for budget airlines.

Sales period and return of tickets

Ferrying an empty plane from one airport to another is unprofitable. Therefore, each airline is trying to ensure that the cabins of their aircraft are 100% full. However, this rarely happens. According to IATA, the average occupancy rate of aircraft cabins is 70%. All airlines know about this, although they try not to talk about it out loud. Of course, incomplete occupancy is taken into account by the carrier, so the ticket price is formed in such a way as to ensure the profitability of the flight even with 70% occupancy of the cabin. To put it simply, when purchasing a ticket, the passenger also pays for a third of the empty seat in the cabin.

However, there is also a positive aspect. If the carrier knows that the flight will pay for itself even if 20-30% of passengers are absent on board, then it bets big discounts for tickets to earn more money. This way, many passengers get the opportunity to cheaply purchase tickets for low-cost airlines from Moscow or other cities in Russia and other countries.

It is also worth noting the early ticket sales service. If an airline client buys a ticket six months before departure (and this happens), then the passenger is satisfied because he was able to save a lot. The carrier is also satisfied, since he gets the opportunity to use clients’ money for six months. In essence, the airline receives an interest-free loan that does not need to be repaid at all, because low-cost airlines usually do not allow customers to return tickets. In some companies, even changing the departure date or last name on the ticket can result in additional expenses for the client.

Ticket purchase and registration

Low-cost airlines in Italy, France, the USA, Russia and other countries sell tickets for flights on the Internet. They do not want to create offices and pay salaries large staff employees. As for many classic companies, they sell tickets over the Internet and through agent networks. The latter have their own percentage of ticket sales, which makes the ticket price higher. The same applies to registration. You can check in for a low-cost flight online. This eliminates the need to pay salaries to employees at reception desks. You can save money by purchasing your ticket and checking in for your flight online.

Nutrition

Low-cost airlines most often do not feed passengers on board for free, but passengers can order food for money. Although on short flights food is not needed at all. Classic and expensive airlines feed passengers, and the cost of food is included in the ticket price. That is, the passenger pays for food when purchasing a ticket in any case, whether he wants to eat it or not.

In addition, if you order food in advance on the website of a low-cost airline, you can also save money. It will be cheaper than if you buy it directly on board.

Places

Many low-cost airlines manage to make money even on small things. On many conventional airlines, passengers can select a window seat when purchasing a ticket. You can also ask the employee at check-in to give you tickets that are close to each other if you are flying with friends. Many low-cost airlines do not offer this option. Or rather, you can “knock out” a seat by the window, but you will have to pay extra for it. Many passengers are willing to pay extra to sit emergency exit, where there is more legroom. By the way, small legroom is a problem for many low-cost airlines, which try to place seats as close to each other as possible.

However, if a passenger is given an aisle seat, he can politely ask the flight attendant for permission to move to the window (if such a seat is available), and she will almost certainly allow him.

Baggage

Considering what a low-cost airline is, you shouldn’t be surprised by the baggage policy. Most often, regular airlines assign one baggage and one hand luggage per passenger. Many low-cost airlines check in only hand luggage for passengers, and you have to pay separately for baggage transportation.

Many passengers manage to pass off their luggage as hand luggage, taking a small (or large) backpack with them into the cabin. You can put everything you need on yourself and put it in your pockets. In general, if you follow the rules, luggage weighing up to 8 kg and measuring up to 55x40x20 cm is usually considered carry-on luggage.

Finally

Now you know what low-cost is. Such companies open up the possibility of air travel to all citizens, eliminating all possible services that a passenger can do without. Today, low-cost tours from Moscow and other Russian cities are very popular, so many expensive airlines open so-called “subsidiaries” - low-cost airlines offering passengers cheap tickets.

IN modern world airplanes are one of the most popular modes of transport. However, for many, flying is prohibitively expensive. The solution was the emergence of low-cost airlines, which offer travel at a relatively low price, paying only for tickets. Such air transportation quickly gained popularity all over the world.

What is a low-cost airline

Many travelers are interested in what a low-cost airline is in aviation. The main difference between such companies is the low ticket price. Literally translated, the term means “low costs.” Low-cost airlines may offer cheap tickets for a number of reasons. European and American companies have been providing such services since the 90s. Low-cost airlines appeared in Russia relatively recently. Thanks to the development of such a business, passengers can move from the point of departure to the point of arrival, spending almost 2 times less money.

How do low cost airlines work?

It’s better to understand what a low-cost airline is by studying the basic operating principles of low-cost airlines:

  • Low-cost airlines fly directly from the point of departure to the destination, without transfers. In addition, planes travel short distances. This schedule helps low-cost airlines serve more passengers at low fares.
  • Low-cost airlines use aircraft of the same model, and the airliners should not be older than 5 years. Such conditions ensure a reduction in costs for spare parts, maintenance and personnel training. Among the models of low-cost airlines, the A310, A320 or small Boeings are used.
  • Companies are hiring fewer workers.
  • Tickets are sold online on the discounter's website, so there is no need to print and process papers or maintain a ticket office.
  • Savings on fuel are achieved by concluding long-term contracts with companies that supply it. During the period of price increases, low-cost airlines sell fuel at the previous price.
  • For departures and landings, low-cost airlines use small air harbors, which are often located far from the city. These airports charge lower fees.
  • Passenger aircraft of such companies stay in the air for a longer period of time, which reduces the cost of using airfields.
  • Inside airliners of budget companies there are seats that do not have reclining backrests. Reducing the distance between seats allows you to accommodate more passengers. There is no division into classes.
  • Transport of low-cost airline companies is actively used for advertising. There are no pockets on the seat backs, and there are no curtains on the windows, so less time is spent on cleaning, and the aircraft only uses the airport for a short period.

What is included in the price of budget air tickets?

When purchasing low-cost air tickets, passengers pay only the cost of their seat, which is not set in advance. Once inside the salon, you can take any free space. However, the most comfortable ones must be paid for. The company's profit comes from additional services, for which an additional fee is charged. These include baggage allowance (excluding hand luggage), food and drinks, and reservations. To save money, you need to fly low-cost airlines with only a small amount of things, packing some food to eat while the trip lasts.

Popular low cost airlines

Today there are several of the most common companies that offer low-cost tours:

  • AirAsia - a large Asian low-cost airline has more than a hundred aircraft at its disposal. The giant's airliners fly across Indonesia, Thailand and many other countries of the continent.
  • Air Berlin is widely represented in Russia. The low-cost airline operates flights from 16 settlements of this country. The low-cost airline offers flights to 170 different destinations.
  • Vueling Airlines is a company based in Spanish territory. Delivers passengers to 45 destinations. Departures from Russia are made from airfields in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
  • EasyJet is a UK-based company with a large transport network, covering more than 3 hundred destinations. From Moscow you can fly to London and Manchester using low-cost airlines.
  • Ryanair is the largest low-cost airline in the European Union. Aircraft depart to 1,500 points. This low-cost airline is not represented in Russia. You can fly from Latvia or Finland.

Are there low-cost tours in Russia?

In the summer of 2014, Russian residents found out what a low-cost airline is. The Dobrolet project was organized, which ceased to exist after a short time. The reason for the reorganization of the low-cost airline was sanctions from European countries. The replacement was Aeroflot's new creation, which is called Pobeda. At the first stage, the aircraft performed exclusively domestic flights, however, the network subsequently grew. Now the Boeings of the Russian low-cost airline can fly to European cities. The organization's operating principles are based on the same principles as those of European carriers.

Previously, several unsuccessful attempts were made to organize low-cost flights in the country. They were represented by the following companies:

  • Sky Express;
  • Avianova.

A low-cost, or low-cost, airline is an air carrier that eliminates a number of services and flight conditions in order to reduce the cost of tickets. The birthplace of this term is the USA. It is worth noting that low-cost airlines are not small regional companies whose range of services does not include the amenities available to large carriers.

The concept of low-cost flights dates back to 1949 in the USA, when Pacific Southwest Airlines successfully launched this concept. In subsequent years and to the present day, low-cost airlines are actively competing with traditional airlines and charters. Many large carriers have created their own low-cost airline subsidiaries. IN Eastern Europe The development of low-cost transportation was facilitated by the accession of new countries to the EU.

Low-cost airlines in Russia began operating in 2006, when SkyExpress was founded. The carrier specialized in flights to Russian cities and used leased Boeing 737s for this purpose. In 2011, the airline became part of Kuban Airlines and ceased its low-cost flight operations. In 2009, the Avianova company was founded. The company introduced an electronic ticket system and operated flights to Russian cities from Moscow. In 2011, Avianova declared herself bankrupt.

In 2013, low-cost airlines in Russia were replenished with a new representative. It was Dobrolet, created under the leadership of Aeroflot. Due to the aggravated political situation and sanctions from the EU, the low-cost airline ceased to exist next year. The next project of a low-cost carrier from Aeroflot was called “Pobeda” and is still operating.

IN last years A new direction has emerged in budget flights - business low-cost airlines. They cut down some of the services of regular airlines and, nevertheless, retain some privileges for passengers.

The principle of building a low-cost airline operating system

The goal of the business model of such airlines is to reduce the cost of travel by reducing costs and expenses. That is why low-cost airlines are reducing the volume of services, allowing them to reduce the cost of customer service. This is achieved in various ways.

As a rule, low-cost airlines in Russia and foreign countries strive to use the same make and model of aircraft, as well as a single passenger class service. This reduces the cost of training employees to operate and repair equipment.

Aircraft are equipped with minimal necessary set equipment; Passengers are not provided with televisions or displays. In this case, the weight of the vessel and its fuel consumption are reduced. Tickets are sold according to a simpler scheme using a single form. Today, many companies prefer electronic tickets. Selling tickets via the Internet allows you to reduce the cost of paying commission agents.

Booking your ticket early will result in a lower flight price. As the plane fills up, the price of a seat increases. IN boarding passes Often the seat number is not indicated, which encourages passengers to rush to get on board.

Departures often take place early in the morning or late in the evening from the least busy air hubs. One plane can make several round-trip flights per day. In this regard, most low-cost airline flights are direct to reduce transfer costs at hubs.

On-board services provided free of charge on standard airlines will be paid for on low-cost airlines. Additional services in the form of accompanying children, etc. may be excluded from the airline's list. Aircraft personnel often perform several functions at once. Thus, stewards can not only perform their immediate duties, but also clean the cabin after landing.

Quite often, low-cost airlines reduce fuel costs by actively hedging its cost.

Low-cost airlines in Russia

Low-cost airlines in Russia are divided into domestic and foreign. On the list Russian companies"Victory" is listed. Foreign low-cost carriers are represented in the following names:

  • Air Arabia;
  • airBerlin;
  • airBaltic;
  • Air One;
  • Blu-Express;
  • easyJet;
  • flydubai;
  • Germanwings;
  • Niki;
  • Norwegian;
  • Pegasus Airlines;
  • SmartWings;
  • Vueling;
  • Wizz Air.

As you can see, the list of countries offering their services is quite wide. Low-cost airlines in Russia are based in Germany, Britain, Hungary, Spain, the UAE, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Turkey. In Russia, via low-cost airline you can fly from the following cities:

  1. Moscow;
  2. Saint Petersburg;
  3. Ekaterinburg;
  4. Volgograd;
  5. Krasnodar;
  6. Kazan;
  7. Mineral water;
  8. Omsk;
  9. Rostov-on-Don.

Don't be afraid of budget flights. Despite a set of restrictions, company personnel strive, first of all, to protect the interests of passengers. At the airport and on board you will be greeted with friendly treatment, smiles and care. For the most part, eliminated services and costs do not affect the mood and comfort of the client during a short flight.

Low-cost flight options in Russia

To find out which is the most cheap airline in Russia, you need to analyze the offers of the carriers presented above. As a rule, they all offer flights on favorable terms. The only inconvenience may be the departure time, which usually occurs at night or early in the morning.

Pobeda Airlines

Of the Russian carriers, Pobeda is the most budget-friendly and the only domestic company. It features low ticket prices with a large number of paid services included. Passengers will only be provided with free water in the cabin. Weight free luggage up to 10 kg. Hand luggage is limited to a small set of items. Animals are not transported by low-cost airlines. Changing the date of the ticket, returning or choosing a seat is subject to additional payment.

The set of Victory routes is flexible and diverse. With the help of the airline you can fly not only to many cities in Russia, but also to Europe. Quite often, customers are offered combined flights with a transfer to a bus. From Moscow and St. Petersburg you can fly to German cities using airlines Air Berlin.

Low-cost airline Air Arabia

Air Arabia operates flights from the UAE to many countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. In Russia, flights are made through Moscow. The company offers big discounts on luggage when booking in advance. Online registration, seat selection, and meals services are paid.

Latvian company airBaltic

airBaltic is the national carrier of Latvia. Its operating principle combines a hybrid of elements of low-cost and traditional flights. In Russia, you can use the services of a carrier in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Air One

Air One - subsidiary Alitalia airlines. On board you can carry hand luggage up to 8 kg and baggage up to 32 kg. In other cases, additional payment is required. There is a fee for selecting a seat depending on the seat type. During the flight you will be offered not only water, but also chips, chocolate, and drinks. Also an Italian company is Blu-Express.

Easy Jet

With Easy Jet you can fly from London to Moscow. To date, this is the only flight to Russia from this carrier. Passengers are allowed to carry three pieces of luggage with certain dimensions. Manipulations with tickets are paid separately.

Flydubai

Flydubai is distinguished by its wide coverage of Russian cities. Flights are carried out through Moscow, Samara, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don. The carrier's principle of cost and additional services is similar to other low-cost airlines.

Other low cost airlines

Germanwings has introduced three tariffs, each with its own cost for baggage, meals and additional services. The Austrian airline Niki offers flights from Moscow to Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck. There is also a division into three tariffs.

Norwegian aircraft fly 2-3 times a week on the route Oslo - St. Petersburg. There are three tariffs in the payment system. Pegasus Airlines is a popular carrier to Turkey. Initially, the company specialized in charters. Today its routes run through Moscow, Mineralnye Vody, Krasnodar, Sochi and Omsk. Tariffs are differentiated into several types.

Czech SmartWings allows you to fly from Moscow to Prague and back. Snacks and drinks are provided on board, luggage includes up to 15 kg per luggage compartment and up to 8 kg hand luggage. The Spanish company Vueling operates flights from resorts in Spain to Moscow and St. Petersburg. You are allowed to carry up to 10 kg of hand luggage free of charge. There are various tariffs, where the cost of certain services varies.

Wizz Air was founded in Hungary and has a branch in Ukraine. The company allows you to fly from Moscow to Budapest. The main emphasis is on the volume of hand luggage. Other manipulations with the place and ticket are paid.