You have all seen them, advertisments which advertise flights for incredibly low prices. My daughter just phoned me to ask if I was planning to visit my mother soon as an airline which flies between here and Southampton is advertising that tickets start at 99p one way, so about $1.65 US ($2.20 Candian, $2.40 Australian) - yes, but no one actually GETS one do they, it is a come-on, isn't it?

I am here to tell you that the fares exist! I have managed to get a ticket to Southampton for an incredible £13.85 and the return ticket from Southampton for 99p, return fare of £14.84, plus taxes of course. My mother is delighted as this means she gets to see me on her birthday as I return home on the first flight out the Monday morning which is her birthday.

I am still bemused, I really never expected to even meet a person who managed to get the bargain fare, not alone get it myself.

For five years I lived in Belgium, and visited my family in Ireland at least 4 times a year, with my kids in tow. A costly business under normal circumstances, but thanks to deals like your experience I have never paid more than €100 in total (taxes included) for between 3 and 5 tickets. My family, likewise, have taken advantage of these low fare airlines. There are no backup services if things go wrong, and there is no in flight service, but at the price you are paying, who cares? If you are flexible about departure dates and times it's often possible to get flights for less than the cost of a couple of pints in the local.

Now I'm wiating for the longhaul companies to start something similar - perhaps Australia for € 50 all-in? Sounds good to me

The actual seats on these bargain flights are extra, unless you want to be lashed to a wing. If they issue goggles, you know where you are going to sit

I always fancied a spot of 'wing walking' fjohn.