7 Hidden Costs of Budget Airlines

In recent years, we have witnessed the rising popularity of Budget Airlines. The travelers are offered surprisingly low fares to fly around the world. After surfing the net, you might have also found a real bargain. Securing a great deal on airfare is the perfect start to a great vacation. But before you click “buy now,” take some time to confirm whether it is truly the cheapest option. Budget airlines often use tactics to inflate ticket prices discreetly. The hidden costs and tricky price traps are usually buried in the fine print. There is a significant gap between the prices you see and the amount you actually pay for your trip. Let’s have a look at these potential ‘extra’ fees that may inflate the actual cost of your airline tickets.

What exactly is a Budget Airline?

Budget Airlines, also called Low-cost Airlines and No-frills Carriers, offer flights at significantly lower prices than traditional carriers. There is no business class, and economy seats are narrow with little legroom. Their primary aim is to keep ticket prices low. Ow-cost carriers strip flights down to the basics and upsell several extras – meals, pre-assigned seats, in-flight entertainment, and other passenger services. The passenger is required to pay for in-flight meals and drinks, seat reservations, printing boarding passes, checked baggage, credit card charges, and other fees.

No-frills carriers also reduce costs in other, less obvious ways for passengers. Use smaller, outer-layer airports and offer odd flight times to avoid hefty user fees. The airstrips used by such carriers are often very far from the terminal, and you might have to spend 15-20 minutes on the bus to reach the terminal after landing. These savings are then passed on to the consumers. Some of the most popular budget airlines include Ryanair, EasyJet, Indigo, Jetstar, AirAsia, Tigerair, Wizz, FlyZoom, Southwest, JetBlue, and Spirit. To get an idea about the hidden costs, check this. 

Hidden Costs of Low-Cost Airlines

1) Luggage

Luggage is the primary factor driving your airfare, as permitted baggage allowances have fallen sharply in recent years. Many airlines have begun restricting hand luggage to small bags, and you must pay for carry-ons. Low-cost carriers mostly charge for checked bags and sometimes carry-ons. If your baggage is even slightly over the permitted allowance, you will incur exorbitant charges. The additional costs may be significant if you are traveling with heavy bags. When comparing fares, don’t forget to check the baggage weight and size restrictions, as these fees vary widely among airlines.

2)Meals and Beverages

One of the most common traps is the extras that you are tempted to buy during flights  Y u end up spending a few hours getting to the airport and completing all the formalities  M als and beverages are things that you might need on the flights  S ch services are typically included when you fly traditional airlines  B t these freebies aren’t available on low-cost airlines  T  satisfy your hunger, you are forced to buy expensive & crappy food and drinks on flights  Y u have the option to eat something at the airport before you board the plane  I  may still be costly, but the quality would be significantly better  O  you can pack something from home to eat during your journey  F nish your drinks before security; any remaining will be confiscated.

3)  x  and Charges

Typically, full-service airlines include airport taxes and credit card charges in the quoted fare. In contrast, budget airlines may charge them separately  Do ’t be misled by the initial prices  Th t may be the base fare, with additional fees, taxes, and surcharges  Al these extras significantly increase the actual cost of the tickets  By the time you reach the point of purchase, fares will have increased considerably  Av id credit cards and use payment options that don’t incur any additional fees  Be ore processing the final payment, check all the add-ons and the final fare.

4)  Ex as

The tickets have been sold, but the low-cost airlines would try to extort money for little services that you had taken for granted in the past  You have to pay for selecting a seat, checking in at the airport, printing boarding passes, making an offline booking, etc  Don t fall into the trap  Pla to save money  Fre online check-in via budget airlines’ official websites is easy and convenient  Why stand in long queues and pay to get your boarding pass at the airport  Off ine booking incurs a fee because an agent must spend time making your reservations  Lab r is expensive. You may incur an additional cost. Online booking is the way to go. Low-cost carriers may offer free seats in the middle row or at the back of the aircraft. If you prefer window or aisle seats, you will need to pay an additional fee.

5) Cancellations and Refunds

The tickets sold by Low-cost Carriers are mostly non-refundable and non-changeable  For cancellations or changes, no refunds will be issued  The most you will receive is a credit voucher for future travel  Buy a ticket on a budget airline only if you are confident you will catch that flight  Cho se a more flexible option with a full-service airline if you are not 100% sure about your trip  If he airline delays, cancels, or reroutes the flight, you won’t get any compensation, alternative travel arrangements, or hotel accommodation  Eve if it’s the fault of the airlines, you are left to fend for yourselves  Mor over, they follow stringent timelines  If ou are even slightly late for check-in or boarding, your ticket will be forfeited, and you won’t be eligible for any refund or credit.

6) Destination/Departure Airports

Nowadays, it is common practice to have multiple terminals. The main terminal is dedicated to full-service airlines. At the same time, the other serves budget airlines  Low cost carrier terminals may have fewer amenities, minimal passenger services, limited parking, and be farther from the city  All this adds up to the cost  Man cities have two airports, and budget airlines are typically assigned to the secondary airport  You might depart/arrive at an airport that is in the middle of nowhere with no public transport or airport shuttle service  For example, most Low-cost carriers fly to and from Gatwick Airport, London, and not the main Heathrow Airport  It s challenging and expensive to reach Gatwick Airport  Che k the cost and frequency/availability of public transport from these secondary airports before making your reservations.

7) Flight Timings and Routes

Low-cost carriers try to save operational costs by running flights at odd times – early morning, late evening, or night flights  Bef re booking the ticket, pause and consider other logistics  Wou d you be able to find a to-and-fro public transport at such bizarre times  Are you paying for an extra hotel night by arriving late at your destination  If ou are forced to use a taxi or book an additional night, any savings that you may have made while booking tickets on a Budget Airline would go for a toss  Low cost carriers have limited coverage, so you may be required to make one or two stopovers to reach your destination  Wei h the potential inconvenience and the other costs involved before opting for a ‘cheaper fare’.

Budget Airlines keep coming up with tricks and deceptive ways to compensate for cheap ticket prices  The will try to sell you products you don’t need  You may be tempted to buy a $20-dollar flight to your dream destination, but slowly realize that the fare has tripled or more as hidden costs mount up  Do our research, plan, stay vigilant, and calculate costs before you buy anything.