You know, on the subject of cheap fares, a couple of years ago I decided to take my wife (then g/f) to Prague to watch her favourite opera. I actually found BA to be cheaper than EasyJet all in - OK, I did book a month or two in advance, but given the choice I much prefer flag carriers - even here in NZ now with no frills competition. Just Google Jetstar to get an idea of ANZ's "competition" :(

the ipod is great, but dies after a two hour movie not so great;P

You know, on the subject of cheap fares, a couple of years ago I decided to take my wife (then g/f) to Prague to watch her favourite opera. I actually found BA to be cheaper than EasyJet all in - OK, I did book a month or two in advance, but given the choice I much prefer flag carriers - even here in NZ now with no frills competition. Just Google Jetstar to get an idea of ANZ's "competition" :(

Do you think that BA's fares would be so low if there wasn't competition from RyanAir and EasyJet?

Do you think that BA's fares would be so low if there wasn't competition from RyanAir and EasyJet?

No, probably not - before the no frills came along, they were very expensive. All I am pointing out is that, with this competition, you get (IMO) a better service for the SAME or LESS money than the no frills competition via the flag carrier. That has got to be good for the passenger?

No, probably not - before the no frills came along, they were very expensive. All I am pointing out is that, with this competition, you get (IMO) a better service for the SAME or LESS money than the no frills competition via the flag carrier. That has got to be good for the passenger?

True - but BA is not a fllag carrier. It's a privatised airline.

True - but BA is not a fllag carrier. It's a privatised airline.

Equally true, in the strict legal definition. However, in a layman's sense of the definition "flag carrier", I think you could accept that it is so - particularly given its history and previous state ownership. I am sure a straw poll in the UK would bear this out.My point is, nonetheless, that the no frills airlines are not necessarily always the cheapest to get from point A to point B, and that the traditionally "frills" airlines can be equally competitively priced. Also, often not factored in is the extra cost you incur arriving at the airport - you can fork out whatever saving you percieved making with the low cost carrier in taxi fares getting you from the remote airport to the actual city you were supposed to arrive at!

Equally true, in the strict legal definition. However, in a layman's sense of the definition "flag carrier", I think you could accept that it is so - particularly given its history and previous state ownership. I am sure a straw poll in the UK would bear this out.My point is, nonetheless, that the no frills airlines are not necessarily always the cheapest to get from point A to point B, and that the traditionally "frills" airlines can be equally competitively priced. Also, often not factored in is the extra cost you incur arriving at the airport - you can fork out whatever saving you percieved making with the low cost carrier in taxi fares getting you from the remote airport to the actual city you were supposed to arrive at!

BA lost

As a follow up, BA pilots' average salary is

Here is some new Ryanair stuff to laugh or "cry" over. :( :(http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/world/eu...mp;ref=businessRoger

“Will we give you a refund on a nonrefundable ticket because your granny died unexpectedly?” he asked. “No! Go away. We’re not interested in your sob stories! What part of ‘no refund’ do you not understand?”

Absolutely crude and insensitive.It would probably have benefitted him to remember the other side of this - that when somebody dies, the relatives usually rush to buy tickets to the location of the funeral, and usually they are full fare. These people would probably be swayed to buy even more expensive tickets with another carrier just to avoid this airline after that remark.