How Flights Have Changed
These days it's all about finding the cheapest possible flights. There are a variety of ways in which people try to save money on holiday flights. But are we missing something?
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How Flights Have Changed
John Mce writes on a number of subjects including flights from London, flights and holidays.
These days it’s all about finding the cheapest possible flights. Whether it’s flying to and from out-of-town airports like Bournemouth or Manchester, booking during school term times or using last minute bookings, there are a variety of ways in which people try to save money on holiday flights. But are we missing something? As we squeeze onto full aeroplanes of like-minded money savers are we forgetting that the flight itself used to be a luxurious experience to be remembered, rather than a necessary evil?
The golden age of air travel is thought to be in the 1960s and 70s, when old piston-driven machines were replaced with new jet engine aircraft. Flights were prohibitively expensive for most, so many flights flew just half-full. Leg room was plentiful and airlines competed to provide the best service, rather than simply the cheapest.
Of course air travel would have been more of a novelty fifty years ago, and a flight would probably be an exciting event, rather than just another part of a journey. It’s hard to imagine being able to smoke on an aeroplane, but it used to happen!
It wasn’t all good in the good old days though, as there were frequent delays at airports, and aeroplanes had much more trouble with storms and turbulent conditions compared to today’s modern aircrafts. What might have been lost in terms of luxury has been gained in terms of speed, convenience and price. It’s easy to romanticise about the old days, but airline travel has become more efficient ever since.
Should we be mourning the loss of luxury air travel? No. Price is what matters to us, and flying through the air has lost it’s novelty for many. Never have so many people been able to go on foreign holidays, and for that we can thank the budget airlines.
As well as last minute deals, many airlines offer significant discounts if you can book reasonably far in advance, 6 months for example. With the growth in the use of the internet, many flights are now booked online rather than through travel agents shops. Aggregator websites make price comparison easy, so customers can find the cheapest possible fare to the destination of their choice.
If you would prefer to enjoy your flight rather than simply make it as quick and painless as possible, then luxury airlines still exist, but in a market dominated by budget airlines.
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