Originally Posted by
senecacaptain
Buy an economy ticket on the Big-3 and you are getting the functional equivalent of LCC anyway. Bag fees, change penalties, cramped seats, no food, board last, etc. For what ? some frequent flier points ?
You obviously don't commute. If you're suggesting that the seat pitch and recline (for starters) on the big 3 and ULCCs are the same, you haven't ridden on both products. There's a reason why ULCCs' CASM is lower than the big 3 - seat density. Shove 3 or 4 more rows of seats on a plane and you instantly lower CASM.
The last boarding group for the big 3 is basic economy; as close an equivalent to an ULCC offering the big 3 have, except even basic economy gets free drinks and snacks on the big 3.
Big 3 and ULCCs do not deliver the same product. Even basic economy on the big 3 is more comfortable than F9 and NK.