Over the past couple of decades, air travel has been transformed by the arrival of budget airlines. The idea that flying could be very cheap and cheerful was a new thing when the likes of easyJet and Ryanair came along.
It opened up air travel to the masses even more so than before, with the promise of tickets in the tens of pounds rather than the hundreds. Indeed, sometimes offers would make it pretty much free.
While costs are maybe not quite as tempting as they once were when flights were on offer for pennies on occasion, it's still possible to jump on a plane for as little as £20, maybe even less. If you can keep your luggage to a minimum, budget air travel can see you jetting off for less than a train ticket to the next town.
But it's also fair to say that reviews of the experience offered can vary massively. There can be complaints about extra fees or poor service.
Amy Fenton from LancsLive has delved deeper. Explaining that she'd been lucky enough to go on dozens of flights ranging from British Airways business class to the likes of the now defunct budget airline Monarch, she said she'd been fortunate enough to fly, and go on holiday, to some of the most remote and luxurious parts of the world such as Hawaii, Cape Verde and Mexico.
She picks up the story: "I've also been on countless short-haul flights where it can often feel as if you're about to land as soon as the plane's wheels have left the runway. But being treated like royalty in business class is a rarity for the vast majority of us and when we set off on a family holiday it's far more likely that we'll fly with a budget airline such as easyJet or Ryanair.
"The runways at Manchester Airport are dominated by their unmistakeable orange and blue liveries which have become part and parcel of a trip abroad. Budget airlines like easyJet and Ryanair have much in common. Gone are the days when families are automatically seated together; now you have to pay extra to pick your seats and it's seemingly a luxury to want to take a suitcase on holiday with some airlines charging as much as £70 for the privilege.
"One of my earliest flying memories is when I was invited into the cockpit, mid-air en route to America, when I was around six. I remember being blinded by the bright sun as the pilots smiled and pointed out the various controls. Nowadays such an experience would never be allowed; as is smoking on a plane, even though many still bear the ashtrays in the armrest.
"Anyone who lived through the Covid lockdowns will more than likely share the overwhelming desire I had to go abroad on holiday as soon as restrictions were lifted and recently I've been lucky enough to go away to Rhodes and Mallorca. On both holidays I flew with easyJet and Ryanair and while the budget airlines might share many similarities my experiences couldn't have been more different.
"At the end of August I flew to Rhodes, from Manchester Airport, with Ryanair. I'd opted for the meet and greet parking options which, let me tell you, is AMAZING, before making my way upstairs at Terminal 3 to check in.
"As I'd also treated myself to a pass to Escape Lounge (another experience I'll always add to a holiday from now on) I had left plenty of time - or so I thought - to drop off my suitcase. But as I got off the lift I was met with what can only be described as a scene of utter chaos.
"Hundreds of holidaymakers were gathered in illogical and seemingly endless queues to perform tasks which were once carried out by airline staff. The first queue reached a row of self-service bag weighing terminals before you then joined yet another winding queue to drop off your suitcases. And there was just ONE Ryanair employee on a check-in desk.
"It took me around 90 minutes to get from the terminal entrance to security, where everyone was voicing their frustration at the delay to what should have been a smooth and seamless start to their holiday. The flight itself was, fortunately, without incident and I had a lovely time in Rhodes.
"On my return to the UK, our Ryanair flight was delayed by about two hours, which was particularly annoying at midnight when you face paying £10 for two slices of bread and a minuscule sliver of cheese. After take-off, I went to the toilet and was forced to refrain from washing my hands after spotting what I can only assume was vomit clogging up the plughole. After I got home I complained to Ryanair, but gave up after receiving a reply which stated 'we are having trouble classifying your support request reason'.
"Then last week, during half-term, I went on a five-day break to Mallorca. I had been dreading checking in at Manchester Airport, but was pleasantly surprised to discover that easyJet's check-in desks were sufficiently manned and I was through to security in less than 15 minutes.
"While we might lump the likes of easyJet and Ryanair in the same 'dreaded budget airline' basket my recent flights with both airlines were worlds apart. OK, so both leave even the shortest of passengers with such little legroom that your knees are constantly pinned against the seat in front, but my experiences couldn't have been more different."
