Which is better: Full service or Low Cost carriers?

 Every time I fly international, I always look for the best prices that airline company can offer. Anticipating seat sales and promotions of every each airlines. But which airline suits your budget? A full service airline or a budget / low cost carrier. In the Philippines, there are a lot of Full service and Low cost airlines that serves the country. Our country have two full service airlines, while 3 carriers are low cost that serves international routes. 

All Nippon Airways Check-in counter in MNL

Full service airlines are airlines that offers complimentary inflight food, selection of onboard entertainment, baggage allowances, and amenities (for Business / First Class or for long haul). If you have extra money your class can be upgraded from economy way up to First class. Low Cost Carriers (LCC) are no frills airline, you are only charged the basics, beyond that you have to pay extra. Seats in LCC are cramped, short legroom, and one class in one aircraft. Filipinos are price sensitive when it comes to air travel. They intend to booked their dream destination during seat sales and travel dates are months prior without too much pain in their wallets (In which I am guilty of). In rare occasions, there are some routes that LCC serves that are more pricey than the Full service.

Air bridge view of parked aircrafts in MNL (2018).

During my international trips, I never tried Low Cost because I just wanted to enjoy my travels without too much hassle and I don't want to worry in regards to my baggage limits (because a buy a lot of things). A friend of mine told me that they had a problem to this Low Cost airline pertaining to bulky baggages. They bought a quite number of Gunplas in Narita Airport, upon check-in, the agent said that they have to flatten the Gunpla boxes. That friend had no choice but to follow instructions however, the Gunpla kits will be vulnerable in breakage, as these parts are brittle and small. As for full service carriers, they have no problems with the luggage as long as the passenger abides with linear dimensions and pieces of luggages with assigned weight per class. 

ANA's Inflight entertainment screen. PAL uses a mobile app to avail its inflight entertainment.

Full service airlines offers frequent fliers mileage to passengers, once hit a certain mileage they can redeem it for free flights or class upgrades. Full service airlines has codeshare partners in which you can earn and redeem miles as well. Normally, LCC doesn't offer such mileage. Nowadays, passengers can accumulate points even you are flying LCC (i.e. Cebu Pacific and AirAsia).

An ANA fragile tag.

It doesn't matter what kind of airline you choose, as long as it fits to your budget and needs.

We are all hoping that this pandemic ends, as of now, all airlines around the globe are suffering from this pandemic and hoping global tourism returns to normalcy.