Travelers eager to finally take those planned trips aren’t thrilled about climbing airfare totals. Although fares rise for major carriers, low-cost airlines also raise prices at times — yet they still frequently offer bargains.
It’s common to find tickets under $100 on carriers like Frontier to hotspots such as Las Vegas and Orlando. Shopping during promotional events — like Amazon Prime Days or Black Friday — can result in steep reductions to base fares.
“Low-cost carriers are one of my go-to ways to find inexpensive travel. I’ve snagged fantastic bargains that way — that’s how I scored a $99 flight to Iceland,” said Jen Ruiz, writer and blogger forJen on aJetPlane.com. “Most people prefer to spend on their destination rather than the journey.”
Budget airlines do provide cheap seats, but you should be mindful of add-on charges and extra expenses tied to flying through the secondary airports they often use.
“Fees for checked luggage, seat selection, and even printing a boarding pass can balloon the cost,” said Scott Keyes, founder ofGoing, a site that hunts flight deals.
Traveling with a low-cost carrier “can be a fantastic bargain for someone packing light and who doesn’t mind not picking a specific seat,” he added.
Need Extra Cash to Cover Your Ticket?
Many of us dream of a big getaway, but the bill can be daunting. Even using discount carriers, travel can be expensive. If “travel more” is on your yearly list, consider some simple ways to earn money and boost your vacation fund.
9 Budget Airlines to Check
Look into these nine budget airlines for more affordable fares. While Southwest is a large carrier, it’s still often classified as a budget airline because it forgoes certain frills like first-class cabins and in-flight meals.
- Allegiant Air
- Avelo Airlines
- Breeze Airways
- Frontier Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JetBlue
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic Airways
What Makes Budget Airlines Different?
The line between discount carriers and traditional airlines like American has blurred over the last decade and a half, Keyes said. Since about 2015, legacy carriers have increasingly offered lower-cost seats and have started charging for preferred seating or checked bags to stay competitive with low-cost rivals.
Here are three main distinctions between budget airlines and legacy carriers:
1. Fees
Discount carriers usually advertise lower fares but tack on charges for seat assignment, extra legroom, food, checked luggage, carry-ons and even boarding passes printed at the airport. Traditional airlines often bundle some of these services into the ticket price.
2. Airports
Budget airlines often operate from smaller, less congested airports where gate fees are lower and operating costs are reduced. For instance, a low-cost carrier might use Hollywood Burbank Airport rather than Los Angeles International, or Concord-Padgett Regional instead of Charlotte Douglas International in North Carolina.
3. Aircraft
Many discount carriers fly the same model jets as legacy airlines. During the COVID-19 downturn, some major airlines sold planes that ended up in low-cost fleets. That said, budget airlines sometimes use smaller or older planes — though Keyes stresses they remain safe.
“Air travel is remarkably safe now. I’m not worried about safety on budget carriers,” he said. “Their planes might be a bit older, a touch more worn, and a little more cramped.”
For short hops, the tighter quarters are manageable, Keyes noted, but they become less pleasant on long-haul journeys.
These are general trends rather than strict rules. For example, Southwest is classed as a discount carrier yet serves many major hubs.
The Real Costs Behind Cheap Fares
Booking a low-cost flight can mean higher ground transport expenses if the airport is far from your accommodation. Budget carriers also frequently charge steeper change fees, and may not serve a destination daily.
All airlines experience cancellations due to weather or low demand, but larger airlines typically provide more rerouting options to help stranded passengers.
Cancellations Can Cost Time and Money
With fewer planes and routes than big legacy airlines, a canceled flight on a discount carrier often leaves fewer immediate alternatives. If weather or mechanical issues force a cancelation, you’re less likely to be rebooked within a couple of hours.
Some low-cost carriers only operate certain routes on specific days, so a canceled return flight might not have a substitute for several days. That could add hundreds or thousands in lodging and car rental extensions. Booking a last-minute flight on another airline to get home can also be very pricey.
Major carriers typically have partners and interline agreements. That network can make it easier to rebook you on a different airline if your plans are disrupted, Keyes said. So while he might avoid discount flights to weather-prone destinations in winter, he’d happily use them for summer trips to places like Las Vegas or Hawaii.
Fees Accumulate Quickly
Consider a $147 round-trip Allegiant ticket from Boston to Sarasota. That fare includes only a personal item; nearly everything else is extra. Checked bags become pricier as departure nears — paying for a checked bag at the airport might cost around $75 each way if you didn’t prepay. Carry-ons can also incur fees — sometimes $75 at the airport — and many low-cost carriers charge for them.
Additional costs for seat selection and ticket flexibility can raise the final price substantially. Bundling these options at booking could tack on about $149.50 per person in extras.
Allegiant allows a full refund if you cancel online or notify them within 24 hours of purchase. Outside that window, without Trip Flex protection, you’d be charged $25 per passenger and refunded only the fare minus cancellation and booking fees.
JetBlue won’t charge a fee for online changes, but modifying or canceling by phone costs $25, and its cheapest fare tier, Blue Basic, carries a $100 cancellation fee.
Southwest famously revised its bag policy. It used to include free checked bags but now charges $35 for the first and $45 for the second checked bag — though it still allows free carry-ons, a perk not all discount airlines offer.
Getting To Remote Airports Can Erode Savings
If you can’t rely on friends or a rental car, rideshare costs from distant airports can eat into your ticket savings.
For instance, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport — served by more discount carriers — is 32 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor. An Uber from Phoenix-Mesa to downtown can be about $50, while from Sky Harbor it’s nearer $7. That $43 delta each way, plus potential surge pricing, can negate your inexpensive airfare.
On the upside, parking at remote airports tends to be cheaper and they are less busy, so flying into them can save time even if not always money.
How to Make the Most of Budget Airlines
To truly land the best bargains with low-cost carriers, subscribe for alerts, act fast when deals appear, and remain open to unexpected destinations. And remember: “no frills” doesn’t prevent you from bringing your own comforts onboard.
Sign Up for Fare Alerts
“Airlines like Allegiant, Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit — they run fare sales every four to six weeks,” travel blogger Ruiz said. “Allegiant often has $19 one-way fares and Southwest posts $50 flights. These sales come up frequently when airlines aim to fill unsold seats.”
Sign up with individual low-cost airlines to receive email notifications about cheap routes, and you can usually filter alerts to the places you want to visit.
Going.com routinely scours for deals to popular destinations. regularly searches for deals to your favorite destinations. Free users receive limited searches, while a $49-per-year subscription unlocks unlimited destination monitoring.
Use Budget Airlines for Regional and International Segments
Numerous European budget carriers make it easy and inexpensive to hop between cities on the continent.
“If I spot a solid fare anywhere near where I want to be, I take it,” Ruiz said.
For example, instead of paying $700–$1,400 for a round-trip from New York to Paris, you might find a $300 round-trip to Barcelona and then travel to Paris more affordably from there.
Flying budget within a country can also be extremely cheap. “I once flew from Athens to Santorini for $9,” Ruiz recalled.
Buy Quickly When You See a Bargain
When Ruiz finds an exceptional international fare, she doesn’t delay planning the rest of the trip. She secures the transatlantic flight first, then books shorter regional flights afterward.
Watch out for deals like Frontier’s GoWild!All-You-Can-Fly Pass, a unique offer that provides “unlimited” flights with some restrictions for about $299. Pass options vary by season and availability, and prices change, but it’s tough to beat if Frontier fits your travel plans.
Expect More Direct Routes to Vacation Spots
Big airlines typically operate hub-and-spoke networks with multiple legs; budget carriers often focus on point-to-point service, which can be quicker depending on the route, Keyes said.
“They can be more direct and save time,” he said. “If I’m heading to Vegas for the weekend, I’d likely spend far more time flying on American.”
Since leisure travelers are more price-sensitive than business flyers, low-cost airlines tend to concentrate on vacation destinations such as Las Vegas, Hawaii, or Fort Lauderdale.
For smart budgeting beyond airfare, also consider checking resources like budget travel 10 smart accommodation options to stretch your travel dollars further.
What to Pack for a Low-Cost Flight
Many discount carriers charge for blankets, headphones and meals. Bring your own snacks and headphones to save money and stay comfortable.
Wearing an extra jacket or sweater that can double as a blanket is wise. Don’t pack it in your carry-on, though — make sure your carry-on space is used for clothes so you can avoid checked baggage fees.
Pros and Cons of Flying Low-Cost
There are clear advantages and disadvantages to booking with a budget airline. Below are some to consider when deciding if they’re right for your trip.
- They can be far cheaper than larger legacy carriers.
- With fewer hubs, they often offer many direct flights to regional airports.
- They operate many of the same aircraft types as major airlines.
- They frequently run sales and special offers.
- Discount carriers often charge more for carry-on luggage, checked bags and seat reservations.
- They commonly use smaller airports that may be an hour from your intended destination.
- Food and beverage options are limited.
- When flights are canceled, alternatives are fewer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Budget Airlines
We’ve compiled answers to common queries travelers have about discount airlines.
Allegiant and Spirit often show the lowest base fares, but they tend to fly to regional airports and may not serve every destination daily. For many travelers, the appeal is both price and avoiding lengthy commutes from major airports when their final stop is in a less populated area.
Travel is typically lightest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, so fares tend to be lower then. Most leisure travelers depart Thursday or Friday and return Sunday or Monday, while business travelers usually fly on Mondays.
No. The best routes and lowest fares are claimed early. If a flight isn’t selling, airlines are more likely to cancel it than to deeply discount it.
Tuesday is often a great day to find deals because airlines usually release new fares on Monday and by Tuesday many carriers are competing on price.
