Sydney2K

I'm looking to perhaps book an intra-Europe flight, and I wanted to know what budget airlines there are there? Now, I am not looking at independent airlines, such as Ryanair, I am more interested in the low cost airlines established by the major airlines to compete with the likes of Ryanair. Can anyone give me some names I can do a search for?

Thanks in Advance.

qwovadis

www.skyscanner.net

www.whichbudget.com

lists them all both excellent comp sites for econos.

booking sales way in advance and travel light www.onebag.com

can save a tonne.

alanRow

Is there a reason why you *must* have a low costs established by a major airline as if you do the only person you will hurt is you.

travelgourmet

The only such airline I can think of is Transavia. I see no reason to choose them over most of the other LCCs.

janisj

"<i>I am not looking at independent airlines, such as Ryanair, I am more interested in the low cost airlines established by the major airlines to compete with the likes of Ryanair.</i>"

Maybe tell us why that is important to you, or even a consideration. Otherwise, it really doesn't make a huge amount of sense.

Sydney2K

I've heard about the price gouging and cost cutting that outfits like Ryanair do. I also know that a few full service airlines have introduced low cost or budget carriers in an attempt to compete. I think that the fact that these carriers are backed by major airlines may be more reliable in terms of promptness, service and the parent airline itself.

travelgourmet

<i>I think that the fact that these carriers are backed by major airlines may be more reliable in terms of promptness, service and the parent airline itself.</i>

I have never discerned a significant difference between Transavia and the other LCCs, save Ryanair.

<i>I've heard about the price gouging and cost cutting that outfits like Ryanair do.</i>

Just read the websites. Most of them spell out what you must pay extra for and what it costs.

alanRow

"I've heard about the price gouging and cost cutting that outfits like Ryanair do. I also know that a few full service airlines have introduced low cost or budget carriers in an attempt to compete. I think that the fact that these carriers are backed by major airlines may be more reliable in terms of promptness, service and the parent airline itself."

Quite a few did introduce their own low costs subsidiaries - most of them went bust or sold out a decade ago. I also doubt that they'd treat a passenger any better because they have a "grown up" owning them. And I seriously doubt if they are more reliable in terms of promptness, service either. Indeed an airline like Ryanair is more likely to be prompt than a legacy airline as they keep their aircraft in the air longer each day and so time is money to them.

Sorry but you are fixating on something that to most people who use low costs is simply not a problem.

Sydney2K

I can't understand why saying that airline X has low cost subsiduary Y is so hard to do? Please, just answer the question.

travelgourmet

<I>I can't understand why saying that airline X has low cost subsiduary Y is so hard to do? Please, just answer the question.</I>

Germanwings (Lufthansa) and Transavia (Air France). I think that is it.

But, I don't see anything wrong with pointing out that they are unlikely to differ from the independent LCCs. Ryanair, for example, has a pretty good on-time record.

janisj

"<i>I can't understand why saying that airline X has low cost subsiduary Y is so hard to do? Please, just answer the question.</i>"

I personally think you are coming in w/ totally wrong assumptions about European airlines. But if you just want an answer -- google is your friend . . .

alanRow

"I can't understand why saying that airline X has low cost subsiduary Y is so hard to do?"

1) because there aren't many (add BMIBaby to the list)
2) because it drastically limits your options
3) because your assumptions are wrong

Sydney2K

Thank you travelgourmet.

Please, I hope that whenever any of you want a straight answer that you get it, and not go through the same process I went through. Life is too short.

janisj

"<i>Thank you travelgourmet.

Please, I hope that whenever any of you want a straight answer that you get it, and not go through the same process I went through. Life is too short.</i>"

Interesting take on things since Travelgourmet knocked you about a bit too.

You want to know something that 1) mostly doesn't exist, and 2) even if there were all these legacy babies- they would probably be worse than regular, run-of-the-mill low cost carriers (except maybe for BMIbaby)

You ask a question -- get pretty clear responses- and shoot the messengers . . . weird . . .

alanRow

"Please, I hope that whenever any of you want a straight answer that you get it, and not go through the same process I went through. Life is too short."

Too right, several people have given you valuable advice which you have chosen to dismiss. It's pointless dealing with people like you as they don't want to learn

travelgourmet

I should note that the history of ownership of some of the airlines 'affiliated' with the legacies can be convoluted. Neither Germanwings nor Transavia, for example, were founded by their current owners. And it isn't clear how much autonomy they have in setting their own policies, procedures, etc.

Also, remember that these airlines are separate from the legacy airline for a reason. They are intended to compete on the LCC turf, which can mean odd schedules, high aircraft utilization, lots of add-on costs, tight seating, etc. They aren't intended to offer the same product as the legacy carrier and they, generally don't.

Finally, I would note that the standards of the legacy carriers' short-haul coach product often leaves a lot to be desired and even booking with one of them is no guarantee that the experience will be without unpleasant surprises.

flanneruk

" I think that the fact that these carriers are backed by major airlines may be more reliable in terms of promptness, service and the parent airline itself."

Ryanair IS a major airline. It flies more people on international flights than any other airline, anywhere in the world, has ever done. Easyjet handles more passengers in Britain than any other airline.

By all means have a preference for small, insular, airlines and their amateurly-run subsidiaries. But don't start pontificating when it's pointed out to you that such a preference is utterly unfounded.