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Don't expect logic on the part of the eco fascists. They have a cause and pursue it blindly, regardless of the facts.
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They are an industry fighting for market share. That is why the ecomessage changes so often. And of course its captains want their perks, "green" weekends in exotic places.

Andrew Fanner, Cowplain, UK

Cheap internal flights are NOT a luxury.

Our country is so fragmented with some regions rediculously isolated from eachother due to poor infrastructure investment.

Without these entire areas of the country become inaccessible to others. It's not about luxury but social and national cohesion!

Nathan, Cambridge, UK

When did we redefine a necessity as being something that someone would "really, REALLY like?" We are becoming a culture of infants. I NEED a new car. I NEED a new mobile phone. I NEED a trip to another country. I DESERVE some more... Whose parents failed to tell them that wants are not needs?

Andie, Durham, Co Durham

"David Cameron now prefers frolicking in the waves in Cornwall, Gordon Brown has rolled up his trousers to test the water at Walberswick in Suffolk"

Since when are these 2 the bellwether for fashionable holiday destinations? Give me Spain or the west coast of Scotland any time!

Nobby Clark, Perth, UK

About time someone called attention to the hypocrisy of the 'eco-senstive' jetsetter. As usual, the wealthy are jumping on the eco bandwagon while refusing to cut their carbon footprint and blaming those poorer for every eco-ill. A good look at the use and abuse of business class is long overdue

Damian, London,

The tree huggers hate progress, they would hammer us all back to the stone age. A big question mark still hangs over the reason for global warming, yes it could be man made but far more likely part of a natural cycle. Not a good reason for denying our part in human progress wherever that may take us

mike gee, bournemouth, uk

There is a point when cheaper means no frills safety.

ian cheese, london, uk

Easyjet from Bristol has taken our family including our daughter (who is studying German as her first language) to Berlin several times,Prague twice,Portugal three times.-liberating ! Without these flights and living in the West Country I would not have been able or afford to do so.

George, Exeter, UK

Right on! There are people out there who can afford to use the more expensive airlines but they also take two or three holidays a year. Most working class people like myself go on holiday once every other year or so. Those who say it's not our RIGHT are ignoring the widening gap between rich an poor

char, london, uk

Clearly we need to concrete Dorset with Mediterranean-style apartments so that us plebs can holiday in the UK cheaply. At the very least we must revitalise our existing dreary tatty resorts - even Benidorm is more appealing than Blackpool!

Andrew Montgomery, Oxford, UK

Lets just plant lots more trees, then we can deal with all the man made carbon emissions and some of the natural occurring ones, more forest less eco enforced guilt. Everyones a winner.

Adam, York,

I have just booked my fifth flight this year. No eco chips on my shoulder!

PS 40% of the cost was taxes/charges.

Tom W, Cheshire,

What we don't need is the amount of business travel, in the era of videoconferencing, skype etc its a waste of time as well as money and fuel. Its good now to be able to take the moral high ground when telling my employer I am not getting on any more flights for them. Holidays are a different matter

Dave, Liverpool,

If flights get expensive because of the price of oil that is unfortunate reality. When it is expensive because of carbon tax based on Eco scientists inability to model a simple system correctly by electronics industry computer modelling standards, let alone ecosystems, that is unacceptable fraud.

David Cage, Highworth, UK

Man made carbon dioxide emissions contribute less then one small earthquake. and we have several of these every year
Cheap flights allow millions to recuperate from the unpleasantness of modern life
Environmentalists have got it wrong, but have created jobs for themselves being disapproving

Antony Perry, London, UK

It doesnt matter if climate change exists or not. Oil is a finite resource & we cant just waste it on trips to sit in the sun

People must change their lifestyles, & as far as im concerned budget airlines are the first thing to go. Im all in favour of alternatives but they dont exist currently!

martin, York,

Great article making some good points. On another note, I have just set up my own business having left a large company that flew us business class everywhere. Now, low cost airlines actually enable me to do business and compete with larger firms - I have met many fellow travellers with similar view

SS, Edinburgh,

Maybe if more people holidayed in the UK then resort towns wouldn't need to charge so much. Supply and demand, innit.

No global warming? World's flat anyway, like, that's want I want to believe so 2500 scientists ain't gonna change my view.

M Chen, Huddersfield, UK

'Need'? You mean like I need a Bentley and a country house?

Eric Skelton, Cardiff, Wales

Were we ever known for producing Freya Stark??

Amos, London,

Surely this is a piece of satire! The article does not even contain any facts or statistical evidence.With a heat wave in the UK whats the point of flying to Spain.Isnt it better to spend the money in the UK to help our own local trourist spots.Or does Ms Thompson think they are too downmarket!

Raj Singh, London, UK

Thanks Alice for pointing out some basic facts. There must be a difference in environmental terms between an Easyjet and a traditional business class passenger. Business could often be done by phone / video conferencing leaving budget holidaymakers as those with the best claim to a right to travel!

mike, athens,

The world has grown cooler since 1998. These means the theory was wrong.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

I must have missed the meeting where "Climate Change" was finally proven once and for all.

J.Wilkes, Gloucester,

Actually, the majority passengers flying on Ryanair between Stansted and various regional airports in Europe for most of the year, are foreigners flying IN to the UK, contributing to the economy as tourists or as part of the labour force

Richard, Bexhill, UK

Once again, the harumphing mass of over-indulged middle class complainers get to sound off about their poor widdle declining standards and loss of 'rights'.

A survey showed that the majority of budget airline users earn over £80,000pa.

Get over yourselves, there are people with real problems.

B Cooke, London,

The thing that passes people by is the fact that sea freight causes a significantly larger amount of pollution than all the air travel put together. No activists jumping up and down over that one. Too closely linked to the oil industry for anyone to want to penalise that one methinks.

Darren, Norwich, UK

Flying is actually a necessity, as are rail, road and other forms of travel. I fly at least once a month on both 'low cost' and conventional airlines. Most people on the flights, travel because they have to for family or work reasons. Attacking air travelers is just the envy of the class warriors

Findlay, Lanarak,

Does anyone seriously thing that as a global community we will stop burning carbon fuels before they are all gone? If we don't do it then the Chinese certainly will. Just use it, there wont be enough left for the planes by the time the Heathrow expansion is finished anyway.

Andy, Leeds, UK

The eco-crusaders all have the same attitude: no, you can't have a car, you can't fly anywhere, you can't breathe out, because you're killing the planet. Where's the national campaign by them to bring on alternative methods of powering cars and planes instead of their negativity and denial?

Chris, Derby,

I think the author has missed the point. The objection is not to enabling the poor to travel, its about the price needing to reflect reality.

How can it be defensible for the cost of a return flight halfway across Europe to be less than the cost of the taxi fare for 20 miles to the airport?

David Garfield, London, UK

Oh thank you. My job is tourist-dependent and much as I despise the behaviour and attitudes of many (not just) British holidaymakers, I don't begrudge them being here. Why should the wealthy and the eco-mob carve the world up for themselves?
Can you make oil out of cold-pressed eco-puritans?

Paul M, Puerto, Spain

This has all come about because of Thatcher dogma that favourtised her BA mate Lord King.

A dogma that subsidises air travel and leaves railways in the hands of private companies.

It is shameful that we live in a country where it is cheaper to fly Londoto to Manchester than to take the train.

Peter GODDARD, Epsom, England, EU

Amazing the justifications people make about their selfish flying habits. Never mind global warming or the inevitable exhaustion of our oil supplies it just makes me mad having to put up with the noise and pollution being dumped on my head. Tax aviation fuel to provide compensaton to non flyers!

Clive Stringer, Eggesford, England

No flying is not a right but living on an island nine by five sometimes a necessity for healthcare provision, visiting mainland family and preservation of sanity! I am dependent on low cost eco friendly supportive carriers such as Flybe and get heartily tired of the flak responsible airlines receive

J Andrews, St Helier, Jersey

I haven't had a real "holiday" in ages, but I do fly a fair amount as I live such a long way from my family. If flights go up too much I will no longer be able to stay in contact with people and my son won't be able to come home from University during the holidays. Island life has it's drawbacks.

Frankie, Shetland,

"a return to hard times beckons and the uk's spoilt population aren't going to like it."

Miserable, elitist attitude. In hard times the rich sacrifice nothing whatsoever and the poor are made to sacrifice everything they have. Take holidays from them too - the rich will not give them up.

Jack, Northamton, UK

It's about time eco-warriors stopped using tourist air travel as an easy target. The majority of users of budget airlines are ordinary people taking a well-deserved break. So-called business travellers could use more facilities like video-link conferences etc instead of flying "business" class?

Sally, Bath, UK

I am sorry, I will not shed a tear for the demise of cheap flights. Flying is not a right, it is a luxury. Why should people be able to fly all over the place for ridiculously low prices?. The damage done by these flights is not being priced in until 2011 when the join the EU ETS.

simon, london, london

No, the world cannot afford every tom,dick and harry jetting off willy-nilly. a return to hard times beckons and the uk's spoilt population aren't going to like it.

vic k, sheffield, uk

Budget airlines should price tickets based on total weight of the passenger plus bags. This is totally logical as each kilo transported uses correspondingly more fuel. It is already applied to airfreight, so why not for passengers as well?

Ron, OXON,

Don't expect logic on the part of the eco fascists. They have a cause and pursue it blindly, regardless of the facts.

When man made global warming turns out to be nonsense will they apologise? Of course not. They get off on disapproving and shaming. They're the new puritans but a lot less fun.

Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK

In Estonia I was ashamed to see drunk Brit "men" on stag nights brawling & openly excited to find & exploit local women. They are worthless to most local businesses. Only those who respect local people/culture should travel. How will we attract top foreign talent if they all hold us in contempt?

Elizabeth, London,

Very well said. But it is not just holidays that budget airlines are good at. My children have been flying between UK airports for the past six years, in order to spend some quality time with their dad. The cost of this has been consistently cheaper than rail or car, and has proved 100% reliable.

Jack Bloxam, Edinburgh,

Well said Alice! The hypocrisy of politicians who swan round the world on meaningless junkets far outstrip the passengers on low flights. We all need holidays and spend according to our budget. The ordinary person contributes far less to Carbon emissions than big business and their fat cats.

Stephen Yates, East Barnet,

Flying is not a right! It's the "because I'm worth it" culture. I'm sorry but cast your mind back 20 years and hardly anyone was flying.
We've used a lot of crude because of this "NEED" for cheap flights etc.
If you think it's expensive now, keep an eye on the oil price, you ain't seen nothing yet!

Scott, Aberdeen,

I have walked on parts of the Camino de Santiago, a Christian pilgrim route in northern Spain, in 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. The reason for the gap? Before 2004, travel was by rail and expensive. Cheap flights are a God-send for pilgrims and locals, both of whom benefit in all sorts of ways.

philip wren, Liverpool,