However, this doesn’t mean it will be cheap. The days of turning up at the airport and blagging a cheap seat are gone. From a monetary point of view, it makes sense for the airline to sell empty seats at even little cost because the marginal cost (the extra cost) of carrying a passenger is negligible.
But now, in these heightened security days, it isn’t really worth it for an airline to accept just anyone off the street – there would be little time to run extra security checks (if deemed necessary). And more to the point, offering cheap fares would encourage people to turn up at the customer services desk. That is something all low-costs want to avoid. Taking into this account, discounting has many risks for little reward.
Of course, there always will be the last-minute market. People need to get to places urgently, or missed a connecting flight, for instance. But in these cases, they will make you pay through the nose for it. The rate of which varies from airline to airline.
For example, a flight from Stansted to Malaga tommorow would cost you:
Easyjet: £141.99
Ryanair: £94.96
British Airways: £325.70
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