Cheap flights and savings don't equate to low quality of service or lack of safety. Low-cost airlines that cater to the budgets of the ordinary public do not sacrifice quality of service in reducing the cost of operation.

Safety and Customer Service

Airlines must maintain value of service. If high quality and value are compromised in favor of low price, the airline will not profit. The airlines require consumer approval to remain in operation and the airline that doesn't satisfy customers will not succeed.

Accordingly, the airlines that advertise cheap flights and that seek to attract customers must maintain a high standard of safety. Customers will avoid unsafe airlines, and low prices cannot compensate for low quality of service and lack of safety.

Value at Low Price

Airlines that remain in business, therefore, engage in the best business practices and operate at the lowest possible cost. How does an airline lower cost and provide cheap flights without compromising value?

Various airlines that provide air travel at bargain prices have adopted a variety of practices to save money and reduce costs. Several cost-cutting stratagems are employed and most of the successful bargain travel airlines use all of them.

Equipment Costs

By eliminating the necessity of providing training for service, maintenance and repair of several different types of aircraft, the bargain travel airlines decrease the costs of operation.

Using several different types of aircraft requires the training of personnel in the use of each type of aircraft and the equipment. The airline company must also make arrangements to purchase several different types of repair parts and replacement parts.

By using one type of high performance aircraft for airline travel, the bargain travel airline makes low-cost travel possible. The airlines utilize the savings to lower ticket costs and attract customers searching for low airfares.

Personnel and Cheap Flights

Most passengers bring luggage with them, and bargain travel airlines benefit by adding charges for handling the luggage of passengers and by limiting flights and the necessity of baggage handling.

A flight without stops and transfers is a flight that eliminates additional baggage handling. The bargain-price airline that employs this cost-cutting strategy reduces the labor of baggage handlers who will not have to transfer luggage between flights.

More Airline Savings

Cheap flights are also made possible by the airlines utilizing airports that are smaller and less expensive for aircraft landings. The smaller airports are often conveniently located and passengers reach their destination via a less expensive plane ticket.

Fuel is another expense that affects ticket price. The price of fuel is not constant and may vary considerably. Airlines try to arrange contracts and negotiate for fuel prices that maintain a steady fixed price.

Fixed Price and Airline Fuel

To ensure a fixed price for a certain amount of time, airlines and their fuel supplier determine the price that the airline will pay for fuel and the price remains fixed. If the price goes up the airlines saves money.

If the price of fuel goes down, the fuel corporation benefits from the airlines paying the higher fixed price. The bargain travel airline must try to predict the rise and fall in fuel prices and plan accordingly.

First Class Seating

Bargain price airlines provide economy seating and often eliminate first class and business class seating altogether. The elimination of first class seating and the elimination of the attendant maintenance costs help to reduce the overall cost of flight.

Cheap flights are made possible by anticipating fuel costs, appealing to customers, meeting high standards, utilizing direct flights and minimizing baggage handling. The bargain price airline uses all these strategies to provide cheap flights with value.