How Not to Get Nickel-and-Dimed When Flying Low-Cost Airlines
Low-cost airlines often throw in ridiculous extra fees — but travelers can get around them. (Photo: Getty Images)
By George Hobica
There’s no question about it: Airfares are higher than they’ve been in years. But there are still three domestic airlines that can truly be called “low cost”: Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant (four if you count the soon-to-relaunch PEOPLExpress) sometimes offer fares that are 50 or even 80 percent less than what the big carriers charge.
The drawback? These low fares come with ridiculous fees: for checked bags, for carry-on bags, for advance seat assignments. They even charge, in some cases, for issuing a boarding pass at the airport and for paying with a credit card rather than cash.
Here’s how to get around those pesky fees and get the most out of your next low-cost airline flight.
Always pay for baggage in advance. If you pay at the airport, or even worse, at the gate, you’ll get soaked big time. A carry-on bag paid for on Spirit.com costs $21, and a checked bag is $26, but pay for either at the gate and it’s $100! Frontier charges $25 for carry-on bags on most fares if booked on-line, but $50 if paid for at the gate.
Related: Seriously? Spirit Airlines Raises Bag Fees For Holiday Travelers
Pack light. You won’t get charged for a bag that fits under the seat in front of you, just for using the overhead bin. Several manufacturers make “fits under the seat” bags or wheeled models. Or just wear all your clothes on the plane in layers (kidding, sort of, but people have done this). Note that Spirit charges for “overweight” checked bags starting at 41 pounds whereas most airlines charge after 51 pounds.
You will pay extra to put your bag in the overhead bin, so try to keep it under the seat. (Photo: Thinkstock)
Prepare to squeeze. Spirit’s planes are notorious for spacing seat rows close together: They’re 28 inches apart compared with 30-31 on most airlines. That said, Spirit does offer much roomier and wider seats at the front of their planes that still cost less than what the other airlines charge on competing routes.
Related: Airfare Report: The Person Next to Me is Paying What?!?
Avoid various fees. If flying on Spirit or Allegiant, be sure to print your boarding pass before leaving home; otherwise you’ll be charged to print it at the airport. Spirit charges $9 to $17 and Allegiant charges $10 for booking on-line (you can avoid this by buying your ticket at the airport). For an advance seat assignment, Spirit charges up to $50 (there’s no fee if you take the seat they give you). For $8 to $20 per reservation, Allegiant will offers something called “Trip Flex,” which allows you to cancel or change your reservation without penalty, and if you pay with a debit card rather than a credit card for an Allegiant ticket, you’ll get a slight discount.
Related: US Airfares on the Rise, Outpacing Inflation
Look for promo codes. Although these airlines are notorious for fees, they do mitigate them by offering frequent promo code discounts. Frontier offers them almost weekly (typically 14 percent off) as does Spirit ($24, $33, $42 off). You can find them by signing up for the airlines’ e-mails or by doing web searches (airline + promo code).
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