Low-cost vs Full Service Traditional airlines: what’s actually cheaper these days?

Low-cost airlines have been around for decades, but when Ryanair really took off in the 1980s it kicked off a boom and completely changed air travel. Fares dropped, quick weekends away became a realistic option, and flying felt far more accessible than it had before.

But the “cheap flight” idea has evolved. Fuel costs have risen, and airlines have become very good at “unbundling” fares and moving to an add-on pricing structure. Where a low-cost fare used to include a hand luggage allowance that was perfectly fine for a short break,  airlines now charge extra for things like bags, seats and priority boarding. Those extras are a big part of the business model, and a big part of where profit comes from.

And here’s the thing: full-service traditional airlines have changed too. Some now charge for bags and seat selection in a similar way, so it’s not as simple as “low-cost airline = cheaper” and “full-service/traditional airline = expensive” anymore.

So what’s the best choice?

Before you compare prices, it helps to ask yourself:

• Are you travelling with just a small under-seat bag, or will you have a standard cabin bag too?
• Do you need checked luggage?
• Do you care where you sit, or are you happy with any seat?
• Which airport is easiest (and cheapest) for you to get to and from?
• What flight times work best?

If you’re doing a 2–3 night city break with a small bag, low-cost carriers can be perfect. But if you’re adding luggage and paying for seats anyway, a traditional full-service airline can suddenly look like really good value.

What’s included?

Based on prices published on airline websites in December 2025, here’s a quick comparison of the UK’s two major low-cost carriers (Ryanair and easyJet) and the national carrier (British Airways).

How do they compare like-for-like?

I did a “like-for-like” comparison using the same basic extras most people want. I didn’t factor in airport convenience or flight times, just the total price based on available fares on each airline's website on 12 Dec 2025.  At that time none of the airlines were offering any sale fares so all were the airlines standard fares.

Search:

• London (all airports) → Barcelona
• Depart: Thu 05 March 2026
• Return: Sun 08 March 2026
• Included: small personal item + 10kg cabin bag + cheapest preselected seat

Total prices:

• British Airways: £132.05 (Heathrow – Barcelona return)
• Ryanair: £103.49 (Stansted – Barcelona return)
• easyJet: £166.96 (Gatwick – Barcelona return)

So in this snapshot, Ryanair came out cheapest, but BA wasn’t far behind once you compared like-for-like, and airport/flight times could easily tip the balance the other way for a lot of travellers

My quick “don’t-get-caught-out” checklist

When you’re choosing between any airfare, compare:

• Total cost including any add-ons (eg bags + seats)
• Airport location (a “cheap” flight can get expensive if it means a pricey airport transfer)
• Flight times (especially on a short break, timings can make or break the trip a add to the trip expense if an airport hotel, parking or expensive taxi is needed)
• Baggage rules (sizes are strict, and that’s where surprise costs often appear)
• Flexibility (change/refund fee can be very different depending on fare type)

Bottom line

There’s definitely a place for the “pay for what you use” model, but low-cost doesn’t always mean the cheapest or the best value. The key is to compare like-for-like (bags, seats, airport and flight times) and book the option that genuinely works best for you.

Get in touch here:

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📧 E: margaret.ryan@travelcounsellors.com
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