Finding those extraordinarily cheap flight deals from budget airlines feels like you’ve hit the jackpot. It’s natural to start dreaming of all the extra souvenirs or fancy dinners your savings will get you! But before you start planning how to spend that extra cash, it’s worth looking at what you’re actually signing up for. Those initial savings are quite misleading! Here are thirteen ways that budget airlines cost you a lot more in the long run. They’ll take more than just money from you.
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Baggage Fees Add Up
Packing a week’s worth of stuff into a tiny carry-on is certainly no fun—budget airlines know this. They charge you for every bag you check. What started as a great deal on a flight quickly turned into you handing over your hard-earned cash just to bring your clothes along. That just seems utterly pointless.
Stricter Baggage Policies
Not only do you have to pay to check your bags, but you also have to make sure they fit within the strict limits. Otherwise, you’re looking at more fees. Don’t be surprised if you have several stressful moments at the check-in counter or gate, where you’re suddenly repacking your bags or wearing three layers of clothing to avoid an overweight bag fee.
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Seat Selection Costs
Making sure you sit next to your friend or loved one is a privilege you’ll have to pay for. Even if you just really need that window seat, you’re going to pay extra for that. It’s rather annoying. Your cheap ticket doesn’t look so cheap anymore when you’re forking out the big bucks to not sit next to strangers. Is it really worth all that?
Limited Direct Flights
Budget airlines usually don’t fly directly to your destination and that means layovers & more time spent traveling. This massively eats into your vacation time. Worse still, those long layovers may make you spend more on food—or possibly even a place to crash for the night. Dealing with multiple airports is more stressful than it should be.
High Change and Cancellation Fees
Plans change but if you’re flying with a budget airline, you better be sure about your trip. Changing your flight costs a small fortune. In fact, it might even be cheaper just to book a new flight altogether—so much for flexibility! This rigidity is no good when emergencies happen since you’ll have to make a tough decision.
Paying for Extras
Everything from printing your boarding pass at the airport to getting a snack on the plane comes with a price tag on budget airlines. These little costs add up quickly. Suddenly, the money you thought you saved on your ticket is being nickel-and-dimed away on things you took for granted with other airlines. You might as well just pay the full price.
Less Comfortable Flights
To save money, budget airlines cram as many seats as they can into their planes. As such, you have less legroom—yet a more cramped space. It’s not the most comfortable way to start your vacation! It’ll have you arriving at your destination feeling more worn out than when you left which is not exactly the ideal start to any trip. You may even need to pay for professional treatment to work out those kinks in your legs!
Fewer Amenities
Forget about in-flight entertainment or Wi-Fi when you’re flying on a budget. If you want any sort of entertainment or comfort, you’ll need to bring it yourself—or be prepared to pay for it. Your flight becomes a DIY entertainment center. You’re the one responsible for keeping boredom at bay and this often means packing your carry-on with extra gadgets.
Secondary Airports
Sometimes budget airlines fly out of airports that are way out of town. This means you’ll spend more money getting to and from the airport through cab fares or shuttle services. Don’t get us started on all that wasted time, too! It’s a lot of work for something that could’ve been solved by spending more on a closer flight.
Less Frequent Flights
With fewer flights available, you don’t have much flexibility in when you can fly. If your flight gets canceled or delayed, you’ll be stuck waiting much longer for the next available flight. Such a lack of options turns a minor inconvenience into a major disruption. You might even miss out on pre-booked activities or accommodation—nobody wants that.
Early Check-In Requirements
To avoid extra fees, you’ll need to check in online & print your boarding pass before you get to the airport. It’s one more thing to remember—forgetting will cost you. It makes your pre-trip preparations even more stressful and especially if you’re not near a printer or if you’re trying to deal with a group.
Loyalty Programs Are Less Rewarding
Anyone who loves racking up miles might find the rewards from budget airlines rather underwhelming. The perks aren’t as great—and there are fewer options for redeeming your points. As such, it’s a lot harder to justify brand loyalty when the rewards don’t match those offered by traditional airlines. For frequent flyers, this is a major drawback.
Customer Service Can Be Hit or Miss
When things go well, you might not think twice about the customer service on a budget airline. But when there are issues, getting them resolved is a real pain because budget airlines often have smaller customer service teams. You can expect a lot of long wait times on the phone or slow responses to your queries—if they ever answer them. Be prepared to pay out of pocket for any problems.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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