Has shrinkflation affected your favourite airline? How carriers - from British Airways to Ryanair - are cutting costs by quietly phasing out perks

During the golden age of air travel, even a standard plane ticket offered passengers a premium experience – with spacious seating, complimentary meals and cocktails, and generous luggage allowances all included in the price.

For flight passengers in 2026, such perks have all but evaporated (unless, of course, you can afford to pay to turn left when boarding). 

Airlines have steadily removed elements of their service to save money, with turbulent aviation fuel prices since the Middle East war broke out in February making cost-cutting measures even more likely. 

Indeed, a number of budget airlines have even cut flights from their upcoming winter schedule as a result – among them easyJet removing 1.4 million seats and Ryanair.

'Most people don’t miss the in-flight magazine. What gets to them is the feeling of being nickel-and-dimed,' Anton Radchenko, chief executive of AirAdvisor, told the Daily Mail.

'You find a cheap flight, you’re pleased with yourself, and then it’s £30 for a bag, £15 to sit with your partner, £4 for a coffee. By the time you board, that bargain doesn’t feel like one anymore.

'We get why airlines are doing it. Costs have gone up, and everyone books on price, so the airline with the lowest number on the screen wins. Stripping things out is how they keep that number low. But passengers feel it. They’re paying the same, sometimes more, and getting less, and nobody likes that.'

Read on to discover which features and services have disappeared from domestic and international flights over the years – and why... 

It's (not) on the house...

Today, it's commonplace to board a short-haul flight and be asked to pay for a drink or snack, while long-haul carriers have also trimmed the fat, removing free meals and extras.

Complimentary beverages and snacks are generally not offered on flights under four hours at all. 

From this month, for instance, Dutch airline KLM has announced it will no longer provide free cheese sandwiches, beer, wine or soft drinks. 

Some airlines might offer water, but everything else – from fizzy drinks to alcohol – often comes at an extra charge, even on routes where they were previously included. 

On other airlines, wine, beer and cocktails that were once standard may now require payment – with standard 200ml bottles of wine costing up to £6.60, and 330ml cans of beer £5.60 on easyJet, as reported by the Mirror.

TUI has confirmed that, as of November 1 this year, free alcoholic drinks will be scrapped for all economy passengers on board long-haul flights. 

Even on international flights, complimentary alcoholic beverages have been scaled back or removed on some carriers. 

Headrest covers? A thing of the past

Even small details such as cloth headrest covers are being phased out, with British Airways announcing earlier this year that it would remove the comfort item from their Club Europe seats. 

According to the airline, the move is to support operational efficiency, improve turnaround times, and aligns with sustainability goals, as reported by Head for Points.

It said the removal of headrest covers will also reduce cleaning time and replacement requirements between flights, effectively simplifying cabin adjustments across different aircraft layouts.

While minor, it's another example of how airlines are streamlining service in ways passengers now notice. 

Now what do we read on the plane? 

Printed newspapers and magazines were once an enjoyable and familiar part of the flying experience for many passengers, as they added an extra layer of entertainment on long journeys.  

Today, many airlines have removed these complimentary reading materials, replacing them with digital apps or seatback entertainment systems and shopping guides.

British Airways' High Life magazine is no longer handed out to all passengers – while still available in print, particularly in airport lounges and for Club members, it has transitioned into a digital-first publication. 

Passengers based in the US mourn the loss of magazines such as American Way and SkyMall, once offered on popular carriers such as United Airlines, Southwest and Delta. 

For passengers who prefer physical copies  – especially on short flights without screens – the difference is clear, as they're now encouraged to bring their own reading material or download content in advance. 

Lie back and relax – oh wait... 

Ryanair eliminated reclining seats in 2004 as part of its cost-saving model, inspiring other airlines to follow suit in their own ways, even if they don't scrap reclining in full.

Seat shrinking is rife – reports have suggested the average seat has dropped from 35in during the 1970s to 31in today, according to Simple Flying.

Some airlines even offer arrangements just 28in wide. 

Combined with minimal padding, this creates a more rigid experience designed for efficiency rather than comfort – and while it helps keep fares low for airlines, it shows a clear trade-off in passenger experience. 

Less dramatically, seat comfort has still gradually changed over the years, with design now prioritising durability and weight reduction rather than cushioning. 

While modern seats are efficient and easier to maintain, passengers report they can feel firmer – especially on long journeys and on seats where legroom varies by aircraft.

Additionally, airlines such as easyJet and Wizz Air have reduced flexibility around seat selection across many fare types, meaning passengers may need to pay extra to sit together or secure preferred spots.

EasyJet, for instance, revealed its new slimline seats – set to be fitted from 2028 – with two extra inches of legroom. But you still can't recline them. 

Goodbye, TV screens 

Seatback entertainment screens are becoming less common, particularly on short-haul and domestic aircraft, and on flights that are under six hours. 

Many airlines now expect passengers to rely on their own devices, sometimes supported by onboard streaming services or wifi. 

However, limited connectivity and battery life can restrict options, and passengers are forced to allocate extra time to download movies, shows and games in advance. 

In August 2025, British Airways even trialled a new system that could change how passengers watch movies and shows on long flights. 

The trial, named 'Bring Your Own Device', allowed passengers to stream all the usual in-flight entertainment from their seat-back screens straight to their phones, tablets, or laptops.

The trial took place on selected long-haul flights out of London Heathrow, specifically on BA's A380s, Boeing 787-9s, and the older 777-200s. 

For now, however, there are no plans to roll it out on short-haul flights, so passengers flying closer to home will still want to download their entertainment before they board.

Seating woes 

Once included as an option for most flights and ticket types, seat selection is now treated as a paid extra. 

Budget airlines easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have reduced what's included in standard fares, meaning passengers often need to fork out extra to choose where they sit – especially those travelling as a pair or group, or prefer certain seats. 

This adds another layer of decision-making – and cost – to the booking process, with passengers forced to shell out as much as £30 on Virgin flights to select their preferred economy seat. 

But the situation is changing. 

Airlines charging parents to sit with their children is perhaps the most controversial fee – and has been the subject of great debate this summer, after Ryanair was investigated over charging parents to sit with their children on flights.

But following a recent Government decision to scrap child seating fees and unnecessary administrative costs, holidaymakers could look to save this money on their next family trip. 

Airlines will be required to seat children under the age of 14 with a parent or accompanying adult free of charge, under new Government plans announced at the start of this month. 

The age-old suitcase debate 

New EU rules that mean airlines can no longer charge extra for cabin bags on top of the price of a standard flight ticket will come into force in October 2027, European Parliament officials revealed.

It comes as a welcome response to the current situation – complimentary checked luggage has become increasingly rare, even among full-service carriers such as British Airways and Lufthansa.

Many airlines charge for the first checked bag, especially on short-haul routes, with passengers expected to pay between £10 and £100 per bag with several carriers.    

Passengers who once packed with little concern over weight and size restrictions must now navigate stricter carry-on limits – or pay extra fees. 

Budget carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet, along with long-haul airline British Airways, strictly enforce carry-on restrictions, with charges often starting around £5 for a larger cabin bag or up to £70 if forced to check them at the gate.

These penalties have made airlines around the globe even richer – with a combined $33billion (£24.3billion) made from oversized baggage fees alone in 2023, as reported by IdeaWorks.

Although the changes have been designed to rake in extra revenue while encouraging lighter travel, they have added a layer of stress to passengers' travel plans – all while depleting their holiday budgets. 

Next year, travellers will be enthusiastic to see the new EU rules enforced. 

Water waste of plastic

Individual water bottles – once routinely handed out on long-haul flights – are also being quietly removed. 

In June 2025, British Airways began trialling the removal of single-use water bottles in economy on select long-haul routes, a move that came as part of broader sustainability efforts, though also introduced to cut onboard costs and waste. 

However, after strong pushback from customers across select US flights, the airline later scrapped its attempt to remove bottled water, according to Aviation A2Z.

Today, however, passengers travelling with many other carriers are often required to request water from flight attendants directly, or bring their own water bottle which they can refill at the airport. 

Amenity kits – useless or fun luxury?

Socks, eye masks and basic toiletries have largely disappeared from economy cabins on long-haul flights, with many passengers lucky to take home a blanket.

In the 1960s, airlines including Pan-Am would regularly hand out free 'flight bags' to its passengers.

But these are no more. 

Fiji Airways, for instance, scrapped its amenity kits in 2025, citing wasted resources as a key reason.

Passengers in economy in need of refreshing themselves on flights now have little option other than to bring on board their own comfort items, from travel pillows and compression socks, to hygiene essentials such as toothpaste and lip balm.

These extras are now considered a luxury reserved for premium cabins or select long-haul routes, especially on international carriers such as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways – which launched new colourful amenity kits in July, dropping its amenities from The White Company to work with luxury brand anatomē.

It begs the question, though: are these really helpful luxuries – or are they dressed-up perks that allow airlines to justify elevated prices?

That depends on the traveller. Many just want the cheapest way possible to get from A to B – even if that means forgoing free slippers on every flight.