trans-Pacific flight was around $550

To be fair that ain't half bad. Most the time when my friends go back from Asia to USA, they're coughing up $1,000 give or take.

I've also been looking at some short trip budget things in Europe for a holiday plan and its infuriating. 25 pounds?? Great! carry on bag? That'll be 100 pounds please... So wtf is even budget about it?

The worst thing is that's the only options to fly such short distances. Doesn't seem to be a middle or upper class alternative short of private jets.

I think the main thing at least in Asia that I've been hating is that the budget lines seem to take bottom priority at the airport, so the chances of being delayed are almost 100%, you often have to do that whole bus journey across the airfield after going to the most distant possible gate that requires a train ride to get to, it just makes the whole process stupidly tiring.

Let me pay a bit more for a normal flight!!