Flying vs Train - Which one is cheaper

For many travellers in the UK, there’s still something surprising—almost backwards—about discovering that hopping on a plane can often be cheaper than catching a train. After all, aviation is far more harmful to the planet, and rail travel is publicly subsidised. So why does a domestic flight from London to Edinburgh sometimes cost less than a Pret sandwich, while the train fare can make your eyes water?

The truth is a mix of economics, consumer behaviour, government policy, and good old-fashioned supply and demand. And while flights can be cheaper on paper, the real cost of convenience can be quite different.

Flying vs Rail: When the Skies Beat the Tracks on Price

Personal finance researchers have repeatedly found that UK domestic flights can undercut train fares—sometimes dramatically. Finder’s summer research showed that flying within the UK was the cheapest option more often than not. Travellers themselves were baffled, with many saying it “felt wrong” for planes to be cheaper than public transport.

And the numbers can indeed be eye-opening.

Take a random Thursday in October:

• London → Edinburgh: Train from £77.10. Plane from £15.

• Glasgow → Bristol: Train from £56.50. Plane from £15.

• Newquay → Manchester: Train from £113. Flights from £53.

Factor in dynamic pricing, advance tickets, and the timing of your journey, and things get even more unpredictable. But clearly, the fare differences aren’t simply based on the cost of running the service.

Why Trains Cost So Much in the UK

Running a train isn’t cheap. Operators must pay for:

• Leasing rolling stock (often for decades)

• Staff wages

• Track access and maintenance

• Fuel (diesel taxed at 5% VAT; electricity at 20%)

• Business overheads

These account for about 85% of overall costs. Tickets often reflect an intricate balance between funding gaps, subsidies, and attempts to manage overcrowding.

And despite eye-watering ticket prices, rail services are subsidised. In the year to March 2024, the government pumped £4.1bn into British rail.

Yet rail companies still lean heavily on peak pricing—and passengers notice.

Why Flights Stay Cheap (Even When They Shouldn’t)

Airlines face many similar costs—aircraft leasing, staff, airport slots—but one big advantage stands out:

Aviation fuel is not taxed. At all.

While drivers and rail operators face VAT and fuel duty, airlines bypass both. A 2022 Campaign for Better Transport report estimated that taxing aviation fuel at the same rate as petrol could raise £1.5bn annually. That’s a giant discount airlines currently enjoy.

There’s also Air Passenger Duty (APD)—£7 for domestic trips—but it barely dents the price gap.

The real magic, of course, is in the airlines’ business model.

Low headline fares… and pricey add-ons

Ryanair’s financials reveal that while the average fare is £41, passengers actually spend closer to £70 after extras. Seat selection, priority boarding, and luggage fees stack up quickly.

Trains, in contrast, include far more for “free”:

• Seat reservations (usually)

• Multiple bags

• Bikes (with reservation)

Want to take a bike on a plane? That’ll cost you around £60—often more than your seat.

But What About the “True Cost” of Your Journey?

Flying might save money at checkout, but what about the journey before and after?

Airports aren’t exactly central

Compare arrival points:

• London to Edinburgh by train: King’s Cross → Edinburgh Waverley (city centre to city centre)

• By plane: Usually Stansted → Edinburgh Airport, followed by additional transfers

A late-night arrival at an airport can mean a painfully expensive taxi or limited public transport options. With trains, you're stepping off exactly where you likely need to be.

So while a flight may cost £15, your airport transfers can double or triple the total cost.

The Environmental Elephant in the Room

Environmentally, there’s no contest.

Research by Which? suggests a London–Edinburgh flight emits more than double the CO₂ of the equivalent train journey. Ryanair disputes this, but independent research consistently backs the trains.

If you're trying to make greener travel choices in the UK, rail wins hands down.

So… Are Cheap Flights Really Worth It?

When airlines sell £15 domestic flights, they’re often doing so as loss leaders—better a filled seat with potential add-on purchases than an empty one.

But once you add:

• Luggage fees

• Seat selection

• Airport transfers

• Late-night taxi costs

…the “cheap flight” begins to look a little less miraculous.

For many travellers—especially those heading directly to a city centre—rail remains the better value when factoring in convenience, comfort, and true door-to-door cost.

But if you're flexible, travelling light, and happy to schlep to Stansted or Luton at dawn? The skies may still have a bargain waiting.