The Low-Cost Dilemma
We all use them. We all hate them. But are we finally ready for something different?
Ask any digital nomad and they’ll admit it: budget airlines are like fast food. Cheap, always there when you need them, but rarely satisfying.
We all use them. We all curse them. From carry-on baggage anxiety to 4 a.m. boarding calls, we've built an entire lifestyle around squeezing freedom into a 45x36x20 cm bag. They’ve enabled spontaneous escapes, remote work stints across continents, and endless “why not?” trips.
But now, something's changing. Slowly. Quietly. Maybe even irreversibly.
The cracks beneath the surface
The headlines come and go: “End of the low-cost era,” “Budget airlines in crisis,” “Is cheap flying dead?” And while those claims often feel exaggerated (the planes are still full, after all), the signs are real.
Post-pandemic travel habits have shifted. People are flying less frequently—but expecting more comfort. The obsession with "just get me there" is giving way to a new mindset: "how I get there matters."
And airlines are starting to notice.
When even Southwest rethinks the model
In a twist of poetic irony, it’s the godmother of low-cost itself—Southwest Airlines—that’s now publicly questioning its future. U.S. travelers, the company admits, are asking for more than barebones seats and snack-free cabins. They want long-haul options, premium lounges, better onboard service.
The low-cost formula that once revolutionized flying might now be... too basic.
Low-cost long-haul: the failed experiment
Let’s not sugarcoat it—budget long-haul is a graveyard of good intentions. From WOW Air to Norwegian, and most recently the Icelandic carrier Play (which pulled all U.S. routes this fall), the dream of flying transatlantic on the cheap keeps crashing.
Why? Because flying across oceans is expensive. And if you strip down too much, people simply stop buying.
Rising costs, falling profits
Even the European giants, Ryanair and Wizz Air, are feeling the heat. Profits are slipping, despite high passenger volumes. Delayed aircraft deliveries, grounded planes, and rising maintenance costs are cutting deep.
The margins that made the low-cost model work? They're getting thinner by the day.
The majors strike back
Meanwhile, legacy carriers are rethinking their game. Emirates president Sir Tim Clark recently hinted at revamping economy—not just first and business. Why? Because travelers are tired of being treated like cattle. And if the budget carriers won't upgrade, the majors will happily poach their frustrated flyers.
So where does that leave us?
For digital nomads, low-cost airlines have been both a blessing and a headache. They made location independence possible—but often at the cost of comfort, time, and dignity.
Personally?
I tolerate Ryanair. I try to enjoy EasyJet. I occasionally fall for Vueling’s charm. But nothing beats the familiar sting of paying 50 euros for a bag and boarding last like a guilty child.
Love them? No.
Need them? Still.
But maybe, just maybe, we’re nearing a shift. A future where travel is redefined—not by how cheap it is, but by how meaningful it feels.
Maybe we’ll fly less, but better.
Maybe we’ll stop choosing airlines like we choose discount cereal.
Until then, we’ll keep booking.
Keep roaming.
And keep hoping the seat next to us stays empty.