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European flight prices really are insanely cheap
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Per passenger airport facility costs in the USA are significantly higher in the USA than the rest of the world because our airports are government run. When you fly between well run and low cost airports in the USA the costs per mile get to similar levels.
These measures by the german government are a joke and nothing huge. Just a meaningless gesture to reduce pressure from the FFF protestors.
To get people to switch from flight to train travel you probably have to double current flight prices while cutting prices for train travel in half.
Gate fees are still relatively small component of the overall cost. Profits are at an all time high across all major US airliners. If you observe the income statements for these companies their expenses as a % of revenues did not drastically drop post-merger meaning these companies did not recognize significant efficiencies gained. Rather increased profits is coming from top live revenue growth which is because prices have increased or stagnated. Read The Great Reversal as it documents the last two decades extremely well in this industry and shows why airlines are the key example of how the US governments increasing willingness to not object to mega mergers and acquisitions is hurting our economy in relative terms to the European Union.
One of the best things about living in Europe, indeed. I remember one time I wanted to go to Italy (living in Madrid) and I booked tickets for Madrid - Rome - Venice - Rome - Madrid and in total it costed me 160 euros.
Now living in Asia, flights can be cheap too, but distances are much longer and even "cheap" flights will cost so much more than in Europe.
Now living in Asia, flights can be cheap too, but distances are much longer and even "cheap" flights will cost so much more than in Europe.
Will read the recommendation, thanks. But remember the airlines are getting record profits after going through bankruptcy.
And europe is heavily consolidated as well to three major airlines, Lufthansa (and subs), IAG (and subs), Air France-KLM. You do have comparable non-legacy airlines as well, Southwest-Ryan Air, Jet Blue-Norwegian, Wow-Alaskan, etc... Every coastal market is competitive with at least four carriers flying into them, but landing, gate, services, fuel, and then passenger direct fees at JFK are 3 to 4 times higher than LHR I vaguely remember hearing.
Really to that one time i accidentally booked a flight for the Beauvais Paris airport and ended up with a 1h30 bus ride to the city center.
That was harrowing.
Milan's airport is also pretty stupid.
but yeah, everything else is fine. it's mainly thar ryanair has the stupidest airports (Beauvais in Paris, Ciampino in Rome, etc), so their 15€ prices can be deceptive
You can still afford to fly even with a significant tax on the fuel. That's not a problem. But if a single country implement such a tax, other countries can get more market share, that's why everyone wants cheap kerosene.
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Same. I'd much rather take train trips.
Are the prices here that high? Don't have much context with other countries.
Ryanair sucks, though. You need to pay for priority boarding if you want carry-on luggage, otherwise you're stuck with a small bag.
But it's true, our politicians should actively be working to make train travel cheaper, but they're all too chickenshit. It's cheaper to fly from Brussels to Amsterdam than it is to take the Thalys. That's absolutely ridiculous.
But it's true, our politicians should actively be working to make train travel cheaper, but they're all too chickenshit. It's cheaper to fly from Brussels to Amsterdam than it is to take the Thalys. That's absolutely ridiculous.
It's not doable for every country in Europe but starting this year, public transportation is free for everybody in the country I live in.
Domestic flights in Canada are insanely priced because we got this huge-ass motherfuckin' country and nobody lives here. Shit sucks.
Yeah I'd rather we worked on making other modes of transport cheaper so it's a viable option
Last year they made rules evw worse, but hey 20 euro return are still a thing. Cannot pretend much more. Just pay a bit of attention, never paid a extra on Ryan Air in my life.
Plus one of few airlines that don't overbook.
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Yeah here's the extra stuff you'd need to pay for. I think the airport checkin is checking in at the actual airport instead of online before hand or something?
Yup, airtravel in Europe and even outbound flights from Europe to Canada, for ex, is crazy cheap compared to 10 - 15 years ago. Train travel however, it's almost becoming too overpriced to even consider. I do not understand why they're not trying to make trains more attractive pocket wise. Paying from Vienna to Salzburg by train is comparable to paying from Vienna to Marseille by plane (with a low cost company but who cares). Crazy
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Despite the insanely cheap plane I still might train to Vienna instead just because I want to try the nightjet private sleeper car once lol.
I got a return trip from London to Rome for £20 last year. Mental how low prices can be, taxi to the airport cost more than that.
Yup, it's way too cheap. They should invest in rail a lot more.
That said; sometimes the tickets look cheap, but those pricefighters often fly on secondary airports; so with all the extras that you often 'need' to buy and the transportation; sometimes they aren't cheaper at all compared to more expensive airlines. Also, in general, you spend a few extra hours as well.
That said; sometimes the tickets look cheap, but those pricefighters often fly on secondary airports; so with all the extras that you often 'need' to buy and the transportation; sometimes they aren't cheaper at all compared to more expensive airlines. Also, in general, you spend a few extra hours as well.
Cool! I've seen them and they look great and comfy. If you like the magic of night time track travel then I bet you won't be disappointed
I think the main problem with inter country trains in Europe is that nothing is standardized. Everybody runs different voltages and countries like France and the UK for some reason even have different standards within the country. Meanwhile the Iberian peninsula has incompatible train tracks with the rest of Western Europe and I think central Europe has a different track width as well.
Of course nobody wants to pick up the tab and budge for the other countries, so until that time planes will remain a lot cheaper.
Of course nobody wants to pick up the tab and budge for the other countries, so until that time planes will remain a lot cheaper.
All true - and all exacerbated by the fact that in-country rail travel in the UK is stupefyingly expensive unless you plan way ahead, so the "home" leg of an English traveller's train journey is going to cost more than the flight, before they even cross the channel.I think the main problem with inter country trains in Europe is that nothing is standardized. Everybody runs different voltages and countries like France and the UK for some reason even have different standards within the country. Meanwhile the Iberian peninsula has incompatible train tracks with the rest of Western Europe and I think central Europe has a different track width as well.
Of course nobody wants to pick up the tab and budge for the other countries, so until that time planes will remain a lot cheaper.
For some added context for US ERA, UK rail fares are high, they just rose another 2.7%, and a good proportion of our operators have terrible track records for actually providing a service.
It says a lot that I'd honestly rather drive to Paris, from Manchester, than get the train.
This issue is already solved by german trains. When they enter the french network they switch to the french voltage.I think the main problem with inter country trains in Europe is that nothing is standardized. Everybody runs different voltages and countries like France and the UK for some reason even have different standards within the country. Meanwhile the Iberian peninsula has incompatible train tracks with the rest of Western Europe and I think central Europe has a different track width as well.
Of course nobody wants to pick up the tab and budge for the other countries, so until that time planes will remain a lot cheaper.
Yeah, I live in styria and flights from graz are really expensive, so we usually take the train from graz to vienna airport and fly from there
Yep, they can be pretty crazy.
Going away in February for a short 6 day trip to Poland and for me and my Girlfriend it's costing us £80 ($105) total for the return flights.
Going away in February for a short 6 day trip to Poland and for me and my Girlfriend it's costing us £80 ($105) total for the return flights.
If it's not during the tourist season you can pretty much travel to any European country you want to for less than 50€ but you get what you pay for.
It's probably better than spending god knows how many hours on a bus, train or boat but don't expect a pleasant experience.
It's probably better than spending god knows how many hours on a bus, train or boat but don't expect a pleasant experience.
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Is there some cheap train trip recommendation service like how skyscanner or google flights or whatever will give you trip options for destination cities? I don't think omio or Trainline or whatever has that. Each country's train service probably does but nothing otherwise?
I'm from Sheffield and I find it funny because trains are stupidly expensive
Look up Interrail - it's a pass you can buy for a set period of time for countries of your choice for free (I believe) travel For the length of the pass + massive discounts on high speed rail.
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Maybe I'll feel the same if I ever have a terrible experience but I feel like only so much can suck for an intercontinental 2 hour flight.
yeah in germany most people travel by train instead of flights already for domestic travel, which as a german myself i have found odd because high speed rail (IC/E) is more expensive than flights. but in europe overall, high speed rail is more expensive than flying. but yeah
but i still prefer the train, i travel within germany, and to france/netherlands/switzerland with rail all the time, i don't like airports and i don't really like experience of flying, so i don't mind paying more. just find high speed rail so much more comfortable/relaxing. doesn't feel like you're moving, seats are comfy, enough room, has a restaurant on board, no air pressure giving me headaches, etc.
what i want is, a high speed rail link into scandinavia from germany, ATM choice is to fly, drive car through denmark and over bridge to sweden, or drive your car to 1 of the ferry routes like from Rostock in Germany then over to Trelleborg in Sweden
but i still prefer the train, i travel within germany, and to france/netherlands/switzerland with rail all the time, i don't like airports and i don't really like experience of flying, so i don't mind paying more. just find high speed rail so much more comfortable/relaxing. doesn't feel like you're moving, seats are comfy, enough room, has a restaurant on board, no air pressure giving me headaches, etc.
what i want is, a high speed rail link into scandinavia from germany, ATM choice is to fly, drive car through denmark and over bridge to sweden, or drive your car to 1 of the ferry routes like from Rostock in Germany then over to Trelleborg in Sweden
Seeing these European flight prices as an Australian makes me weep.
I'm planning a short trip from Melbourne to Brisbane (2.25 hours) and it costs AU$170 return on the most budget airliner.
I'm planning a short trip from Melbourne to Brisbane (2.25 hours) and it costs AU$170 return on the most budget airliner.
Voltage switching is pretty easy. At least everything operates on overhead catenary. More interesting problem is that Spain operates on a different rail gauge.
I've used Ryanair a lot since they used to operate flights to Berlin out of Glasgow. I mean, it's a plane, it gets you there, the seats are just as cramped as anyone else flying anywhere in the world not in business class... I don't quite get all the problems with them. Yeah they're a shitty company but 99% of the time they get you where you want to go for usually pretty cheap fares.
To be fair I flew to Amsterdam with KLM recently and was surprised they handed out free alcohol and you could ask for more. So that was nice. Ryanair charges €5 for a small can of beer!
