Among European airline passengers, some 71% of respondents to a survey commissioned by Expedia Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) said they have flown on a low-cost carrier (LCC) in the past two years and their main reason for doing so is — wait for it — low fares. Among the 1,500 fliers in the survey, 36% gave low fares as their primary reason for flying on an LCC.

The European market for LCCs has grown from 14% in 2003 to nearly 40% in June of 2014, and EasyJet and Ryanair Holdings PLC (NASDAQ: RYAAY) are the two most popular low-cost carriers. In the past two years, a full 99% of Irish travelers have flown on either Ryanair or Aer Lingus, both of which are based in Ireland.

When the survey asked which features passengers would give up in exchange for lower fares, the first to go was in-flight entertainment, with an average of 65% across all countries. Legroom ranked just third from the top, with 16% willing to give up legroom, compared with 14% willing to give up bathroom privileges (!) and 12% willing to give up carry-on luggage.

In a display of hardiness unmatched by other respondents, a full 29% of Spanish passengers would give up bathroom privileges.

Only 11% of German passengers would be willing to give up more legroom for cheaper fares.

The duration of the flight plays a large role as well. On flights of three hours or less, 45% of travelers would consider a low-cost carrier. On flights up to five hours, that figure drops to 23%, and on flights of up to eight hours it drops to 3%. Only 1% of passengers would take a low-cost carrier on a flight of up to 12 hours.

Ryanair, which flies only Boeing Co.’s (NYSE: BA) 737 aircraft, recently ordered 100 of new 737 MAX 8 aircraft and took an option on another 100. Boeing has squeezed an additional 11 seats into the passenger cabin, bringing the available total to 200 seats. Ryanair is expected to put 199 seats in the cabin because that one more seat would require an additional flight attendant. Starting in 2019, when first deliveries for the new planes are scheduled to begin, Ryanair’s passengers can expect even less legroom than they get now.

Expedia’s survey was conducted by Northstar and included 1,500 adults aged 18 years and older who live in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland and Spain and who have flown in the past two years.

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