How to Know When to Fly on Budget Airlines

How to Know When to Fly on Budget Airlines

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With soaring prices, it's tempting to eschew the full-service experience on traditional airlines and save by flying with budget carriers like Spirit and Frontier. But the cost savings don't always outweigh the frustrations of navigating their convoluted fees and "bundles," which can add up quickly. And knowing when to opt for a budget airline can be tricky, even for seasoned travelers.

As a general rule, budget airlines offer extremely low base fares that show up in search results—which is how you know you're seeing deals—before slamming you with a long list of additional charges during checkout. To avoid being fooled, use a flight-search tool that includes all potential charges (like Google Flights) and compare prices across multiple airlines to get a real sense of the price you'll actually pay.

Another way to distinguish budget airlines from traditional airlines is by their business model. Budget airlines generally don't include basic services like seat selection or in-flight snacks, while their legacy competitors offer a wide array of free amenities on every flight.

In addition, budget airlines typically fly to smaller airports, which are less expensive than hub airports, and they focus on fewer routes. Both of these factors reduce their operating costs and give them more bargaining power with airports. They also tend to operate only one type of plane—as opposed to the first-, business-, and coach-class models that many legacy airlines offer. This makes their fleets easier to train staff on, and it streamlines their maintenance needs.

A few legacy airlines, including Delta and United, have dabbled in the low-cost airline space by launching or acquiring existing budget subsidiaries, but these are typically short-lived ventures. However, stand-alone budget airlines like Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, and Ryanair exist and thrive in today's crowded and confusing marketplace.

Although a few budget airlines are Budget Airlines experimenting with more premium offerings—like Delta's new Mint class and American's upcoming purchase of two Airbus A321s for flights to Hawaii--most remain committed to a strict no-frills model. But that doesn't mean they don't still offer low fares and competitive rates, especially when you factor in the added benefits of their premium offerings.

While a bare-bones airline may not provide the most luxurious travel experience, it can open up travel for many people who couldn't afford to fly otherwise, and it's worth paying the extra money for an upgraded ticket if you're comfortable sitting in a narrow seat for hours and don't mind skipping a meal or two in flight.

But for most, a better option is to stick with a more traditional carrier if you want to avoid the hassle of dealing with an airline that charges for everything and has you screaming at your laptop while trying to navigate their fee structure. As the pandemic ends, consumers will be able to choose what's right for them: saving money by booking with a budget airline, or paying slightly more for a more traditional experience. Either way, with the right research and a clear understanding of your own priorities, it's possible to find a great deal on a flight to anywhere in the world.

 

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