* a single passenger class
* a single type of aeroplane (commonly the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737), reducing training and servicing costs
* a minimum set of optional equipment on the aeroplane, often excluding modern conveniences such as ACARS, further reducing costs of acquisition and maintenance
* a simple fare scheme, such as charging one-way tickets half that of round-trips (typically fares increase as the plane fills up, which rewards early reservations)
* unreserved seating (encouraging passengers to board early and quickly)
* flying to cheaper, less congested secondary airports[1] and flying early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid air traffic delays and take advantage of lower landing fees
* fast turnaround times (allowing maximum utilization of aircraft)
* simplified routes, emphasizing point-to-point transit instead of transfers at hubs (again enhancing aircraft utilization and eliminating disruption due to delayed passengers or luggage missing connecting flights)
* encourage the use of direct flights. Luggage is not automatically transferred from one flight to another, even if both flights are with the same company.
* generation of ancillary revenue from a variety of activities, such as a la carte features and commission-based products
* emphasis on direct sales of tickets, especially over the Internet (avoiding fees and commissions paid to travel agents and computer reservations systems)
* employees working in multiple roles, for instance flight attendants also cleaning the aircraft or working as gate agents (limiting personnel costs)
* a disinclination to handle Special Service passengers, for instance by placing a higher age limit on unaccompanied minors than full service carriers
* Aggressive fuel hedging programs