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by throwaway2037 45 days ago
I like the EU model. The regulators set a "bare minimum" set of requirements. They have much better minimums that North America, and the fares are (still) cheaper per kilometer travelled. Also, I love the penalty system when flights are late.
2 comments
extraduder_ire 45 days ago
Some of that lower cost in Europe is down to jet fuel being tax free, as well as the US having multiple mandatory taxes on plane tickets.

The cost of EU passenger rights payouts is vanishingly small on the average ticket if almost all of them arrive as advertised.

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wallst07 45 days ago
"They have much better minimums that North America"

Can you enumerate these? As far as I'm aware Ryan Air is basically more "Spirit" than Spirit Airlines.

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throwaway2037 45 days ago
For one, the penalty system for late arrivals. It is such a big business now, that there are whole businesses setup to advise you and do the work for the cut of the penalty paid. And that penalty system applies for trains too.

Also, look at Ryan Air (and Wizz Air) fares. They are consistently the lowest cost per kilometer travelled anywhere in Europe. Sure, it is like a flying bus, but it gets the job done, much cheaper than anything the US.

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