Low cost airlines are pleased with their low prices for flights to anywhere in the world. But is always low cost consistent with poor quality? Let's try to figure out what a low-cost is. This is what they call low-cost airlines, which reduced operating costs for their passengers, which led to a decrease in the price of an air ticket.
The first company to offer this option for passenger air travel was in America. There are currently more than 110 low-cost airlines or discounters in the world who offer their services at a low price.
How does the airline save?
The biggest misconception is that low cost airlines save on their planes. In most cases, discounters prefer to use carriers with new planes, as this is the most significant savings for the airline. Such equipment breaks very rarely, therefore, the costs of its maintenance or repair are minimal. Savings from low-cost airlines are at the expense of everything that is possible, except for the safety of their passengers.
The peculiarity is that they do not have a separation between the business and economy classes, and this makes it possible to accommodate more seats. In addition, separately paid baggage minimizes costs for movers. Free carry-on baggage of a certain size.
The described companies always give preference to small airports, servicing at which is much cheaper than at large ones. The runway in them is small, which leads to less fuel consumption. And the airport load is minimal, which allows you to quickly take passengers on board without a long wait for permission to take off. The lack of free food on board the aircraft reduces the cost of cleaning the cabin after the flight.
Fleet
There are many discounters, but we will dwell in more detail on the Turkish airline Pegasus. Its main base is located near Istanbul. A company with 28 years of history has earned the trust of passengers, thanks to a reasonable balance between price and quality in the field of passenger transportation.
Now in the fleet of Pegasus Airlines there are 66 active aircraft. Most of it consists of the Boeing 737-800 (there are 55 of them) and the Airbus A320 (24 units). Since 2018, it was decided to purchase 50 units of the Airbus A320 neo. This updated and more economical version of the previous generation of European Airbus aircraft will replace the 50 active units of the Boeing 737-800.
Airline Directions
Pegasus is a low-cost company that transports to more than 40 countries and 110 active destinations. The resumption of work in the Russian Federation from 2016 allows you to make flights from Moscow ( Domodedovo Airport) to Russian cities and abroad. The most popular direction of the airline "Pegasus": Moscow - Tbilisi. In second place is the flight Moscow - Istanbul. Flights to the Turkish capital are also made from Omsk, Mineralnye Vody and Krasnodar. The third most popular flight: Moscow - Krasnodar.
Baggage Allowance
Like all discounters, Pegasus Airlines forces you to pay for baggage separately. Passengers in reviews recommend packing it as compactly as possible and providing it as hand luggage, which is carried free of charge.
Hand luggage is a bag or backpack that you can take with you on board an airplane. Its dimensions should not exceed 20 x 40 x 55 cm, and the maximum weight - 8 kg. Hand luggage also implies some items that are allowed separately:
- an umbrella (without a sharp tip);
- cane;
- a book, magazine or any paper literature;
- a small camcorder or camera;
- a laptop;
- baby carriage;
- purchase from duty free in a package;
- folding wheelchair;
- handbag or briefcase;
- outerwear or plaid;
- a pair of crutches.
Baggage can be paid through the official website (in Russian) of Pegasus Airlines or directly at the airport.
Rules for transporting liquids
Going on a trip with only hand luggage, you need to be aware of the rules for transporting liquids. So, the total volume of liquid in hand luggage should not exceed 1000 ml. Each pack is a maximum of 100 ml. All liquid in the tanks must be put in a transparent bag. One passenger - one package. Packaging is demonstrated separately to the security service at the control.
Company Rates
Pegasus Airlines has several fares when buying tickets, which offer the traveler options for carrying baggage and additional benefits during the flight:
- Basic is the easiest. When choosing his hand luggage is allowed for free, luggage - for a fee. Moreover, the payment of baggage depends on the date of purchase of tickets. The earlier the purchase, the cheaper the payment for baggage will be. Meals on board will be paid - from 8 to 12 dollars.
- Essentials includes carry-on baggage plus free baggage allowance up to 20 kg. Also in this tariff there is no free food on board.
- Advantage When choosing such a fare, passengers are allowed to carry hand luggage up to 8 kg, luggage - up to 20 kg and the choice of seat. This rate provides a 50% discount on all additional services on board the aircraft (for food, drinks) and a free sandwich during the flight.
- Business Flex allows the carry-on of baggage up to 12 kg on board an airplane, baggage - up to 20 kg, the choice of the best seat, as well as the free cancellation of a ticket purchase or change of departure date at no extra charge.
Pegasus Airlines: reviews and reality of service
The described airline claims to be worried about its passengers, about their safety and comfort. And judging by the reviews, this is so - the planes are new, the crew is qualified. Comfort is also provided to the maximum and depends on your additional wishes and income.
Company valuation can be divided by criteria. We offer some of them:
- The lowest point in the reviews was given for entertainment during the flight (lack of wi-fi or movies). Passengers using the services of the company are advised not to expect anything more than just a flight.
- Criticism was also caused by the peculiarities of food on board. According to reviews, food is paid, but you can pay for it only by credit card or in cash, payment through the air does not go through a debit card.
- Passengers also reacted negatively to the convenience of seats and the service on board, arguing that using the services of Pegasus is tolerable if the flight takes no more than 2-3 hours. It can be tiring longer.
The highest rating was given for value for money and registration. However, in the reviews it was noted that at the airport during check-in, hand luggage is also weighed, so you need to be careful when collecting. Passengers were advised to count a little more time when flying with a dock, because flight delay in this direction is common, Pegasus airline is no exception. Tickets, by the way, are cheaper at the beginning of the week than at the end.
As mentioned earlier, you should not expect from low cost airlines what you are used to getting for big money. And in its class of low-cost airlines, Pegasus Airlines has shown itself to be a company that is ready to provide safe air travel at a relatively low cost.