Have you ever thought that the airline ticket that you got at a low price may eventually cost you more than a full -class flight? In 2025, the rules of air travel changed, as economic airlines became adopting new policies.
The tempting price at first hides a series of additional drawings imposed on everything, including free handbags! Even the seats designed for a semi -standing situation appeared to pay less! In this article, we take you behind the scenes of the low -cost flying world, which creates every day a new way to reduce the apparent price and increase the real cost of the traveler.
Definition of economic aviation
The low -cost airline model – or what is known as economic flight – depends on a clear equation: very low ticket prices, in exchange for giving up many of the traditional services that we are used to in air travel.
This model arose in the United States, before finding its way to Europe in the early nineties, and from it spread to the rest of the world.
This shift was a milestone in the aviation industry, as it presented an “economic” alternative that relies on reducing operational expenditures to the lowest extent possible, as these companies managed to reduce their expenses significantly, which allowed them to compete with major traditional airlines, although this was at the expense of passenger comfort.
In the Arab world, the concept of economic aviation is still relatively new compared to other regions in the world.
Economic aviation features
Economic aviation is a suitable option for travelers who want to save money, as it provides tickets at much lower prices compared to traditional airlines. One of its most important advantages is flexibility, as the traveler can choose the services he needs and pays for them only, such as additional luggage or seat selection, which gives him greater control of his budget and reduces the cost of the trip in general.
In addition, economic aviation provides access to a wide network of destinations, including secondary cities that may not be served by major airlines, which opens the way for more exploration and adventure opportunities.
The presence of economic airlines in the market enhances competition, and forces traditional companies to improve their services and provide more attractive prices.
Although this type of aviation is suitable for a certain group of travelers who are looking for the lowest price in exchange for reducing services to the lowest extent, it allowed a wide segment, especially Arab youth, to visit many destinations in Europe that they could not visit had it not been for economic aviation.
Economic aviation disadvantages
Despite its many advantages, travelers face some difficulties with economic aviation. The seats are often narrow and uncomfortable, especially in long trips, and spaces like the area of additional legs are limited.
Aircraft may lack the usual entertainment, so travel is similar to using a general transportation in the air. Most companies impose additional fees on luggage, and do not allow the selection of seats for free, food and drink are not included in the ticket price and are required to pay for their price.
In addition to the previous defects, flight dates are often at unwanted times of the day or night, either late or very early, and its plane lands in small airports and far from the main cities.
The most important thing that should be drew is that economic airline tickets are usually flexible, and the change or cancellation of the ticket is with high fees.
Finally, the economic flight booking is only via the Internet, through their websites or their own applications, to provide the costs of employing reservation staff, which means that support when problems will be limited and difficult.
Manual luggage fee
Until recently, low -cost airlines allowed travelers to carry a small handbag for free (usually no more than 7 kilograms and specific sizes vary according to the company).
But recently, this free service began to disappear gradually, as the Irish company “Ryan Air”, for example, angered many after imposing high fees on the small handbags that was previously allowed for free, and in some cases these fees reached 75 euros.
The stories of angry travelers who felt that they were suddenly “punished” suddenly and without warning. The problem is not in the same rules, which illustrate the bags of the bag on the official website, but rather in the way it is applied that seems unfair.
Some passengers allow them to pass their bag while others are required to pay fees, despite the similarity of cases, which prompted some to describe the application of fees as “arbitrary” and “insulting”.
This new policy expresses a greater change in the philosophy of economic airlines. Instead of the promise to transport passengers at the lowest cost, it began to impose an additional additional fee often discovered when reservations or even when going up to the plane.
In light of the high costs of travel and the increase in prices, these fees turn into a physical and psychological burden, and the feeling of loss of confidence increases in what is marketed as “economic travel”.
Angry reactions
The new luggage fees sparked widespread anger that prompted some European Parliament representatives to demand the opening of official investigations into what they described as “passenger mistreatment”. Although Ryan Air asserts that the conditions are clear, the passengers complain of an unfair application of fees when going up to the plane.
The anger was not limited to individuals only, but more than 14 European organizations have moved to consumer protection against these fees, and filed an official complaint with the European Commission against seven low -cost airlines, most notably “Ryan Air”, “Easy Gate” and “Wizer”.
These associations accuse companies of imposing unjustified fees on handbags, despite a previous ruling of the European Court of Justice in 2014 stipulating that the handy luggage of reasonable size should not be imposed on additional fees, as long as they are committed to the security conditions and the required size.
The great difference in the definition of the size of the luggage between companies has imposed different fees ranging between 23 and 43 euros, and sometimes reaches 280 euros, which makes it difficult for passengers to understand the prices and compare them.
Therefore, European consumer protection societies demand to unify mobile luggage rules, and to set clear criteria for what is included in the basic ticket, in order to ensure more transparency and justice for both travelers and companies.
Profit in detail
Why does economic airlines add fees to everything? Low -cost airlines depend on a very low ticket price offer, sometimes not exceeding 20 euros on some short flights, but these prices alone are not enough to cover costs.
Therefore, companies compensate for the difference by imposing additional fees on almost every service that exceeds the “basic transfer fee”, such as seat choice, luggage registration, food on board, and even printing the boarding card or the Boarding Pass.
The goal is not only to achieve profits, but also reduce operational costs. For example, fees are imposed on those who are not registered electronically to reduce dependence on service offices and airport employees.
This model, although it allows the provision of cheap tickets, but it transmits the burden of choosing services and pushing it to the traveler himself, in exchange for greater flexibility in determining his needs and level of comfort.
With the increasing controversy over manual luggage fees, consumer rights defenders are demanding rules that guarantee a minimum of services in the ticket price, such as a free handbag, and compete with companies to completely disclose all fees from the beginning.
But these demands may push companies to raise basic prices, which are ticket prices, which rethinks the concept of “economic trips” as we know them. The problem is no longer in a handbag, but rather in a broader struggle between the traveler looking for transparency and the provision of money and the airlines looking for profit.
The travel offer is standing
In its endeavor to reduce costs and increase the number of passengers, some economic airlines offer a bold and unprecedented idea. It recently proposed to provide the option of “traveling” with less expensive tickets and to be for short trips.
This experience, which was previously a fantasy, began to actually be embodied after developing vertical seats known as “Sky Ryder” from the Italian company “Outemters”.
These seats depend on a bike seat -like design, which allows the passenger to a relatively comfortable position, allowing the plane to carry a larger number of passengers by up to 20%.
Some companies are planning to adopt this model on short trips that do not exceed two hours, starting in 2026, in the hope of attracting new travelers through low -priced tickets, even at the expense of comfort.
But this economic ambition did not pass without arousing controversy, as widespread questions were raised about comfort, safety, and health risks, especially during air bumps or emergency situations.
Although manufacturers confirm that these seats meet international safety standards, and that they will only be devoted to specific and specific trips, the controversy is still intense, and it is noteworthy that the “travel” model sparked a wave of rejection and mockery in the Arab world, after the Al -Jazeera Documentary channel published a report on the idea on its official Facebook page.
The comments were filled with “the degree of standing”, and many considered it a reflection of the greed of airlines, while others questioned the feasibility of practical application, accusing the idea of ”a heavy joke.”
Doubts about safety
Although the new seats – equipped with safety belts and are limited to short trips that do not exceed an hour and a half – are in line with international safety standards, doubts still exist about the safety of this model in emergency situations or weather disturbances.
Until the moment, none of the airlines in the Arab region have shown an intention to try this model, unlike European and other companies in South America and Asia preparing to actually test it.
Thus, “travel standing” remains a test of a test, between those who see it as a smart economic step, and who fears it as an indication of a future that empties travel from its human meaning.
Ultimately, it appears that the concept of economic aviation will witness radical transformations; On the one hand, the door opens to a wide segment of people to test the pleasure of traveling at reasonable prices, but on the other hand it carries the cost of each small detail that was one day part of the basics of a flight.
Between luggage, narrow seats, and “standing degree” that looms on the horizon, an unannounced agreement is formed: a lower price for a lower comfort.
But the most important question remains: to what extent we can sacrifice the human aspects in order to reduce costs? Will this trend towards reducing services will, in turn, reach economic airlines in the Arab world, to change what we are accustomed to from the basic comfort and services standards?