Dif. between Charters and Low Cost
 

Hello

I am trying to understand the differences (sp) between charter airlines and low cost.

Besides the fact that the flights are chartered by a tour operator while a low co airline is selling the seats alone what are the other differences? Route structure, fleet etc...



Rwy in Sight

Low cost airlines operate to a published time table.

Charter airlines operate to the tour operators time table but his can and does change.

If you fly with a low cost ,or indeed any scheduled carrier, they are perfectly to cancel or combine flights so long as they offer you a seat on the route you booked at some time. A charter carrier has a contractual obligation with the charterer and has to operate the flight. Hence if a charter airline has technical or operational problems they have to find a way around the problem either substituting another aircraft or subchartering.
Charter flights operated by tour operators also have to be bonded so if the airline or tour operator goes bust you either get your money back or if you are on your holidays the bond pays for the hotel and your repatriation.