19 Oct Budget Airlines: The Good, the Bad and How to Make Your Flight Bearable

Two weeks ago I had an interesting flight experience. I flew on a budget airline. You guys know I’m all about doing everything on a dime, but I refuse to sacrifice fun, style or comfort. Well, this was one of those experiences where “you get what you pay for.”

If you’ve ever been curious about a budget airline like Spirit or Frontier, keep reading to see the pros, cons and how to fly as comfortably as possible if you do go this route.

I recently went on a business trip and on the return flight, I was flown back on Frontier. I had honestly never even heard of the airline, but I’m so glad I Googled them a few hours before my departure. Frontier is a “low-cost” carrier based in Denver and they charge for carry-on bags. Yes, they charge for carry-ons! I immediately knew I was in for an interesting ride. I have no idea how much the flight was, as I didn’t pay for the ticket, but I could only imagine the fare was super low, since the airline was trying to recoup costs in other ways. Needless to say, I was not happy and the ride was not enjoyable.

Like anything, there were pros and cons.

Pros:
saving on your flight will free up the rest of your travel budget
great if you’re flying less than two or three hours

Cons:
you may arrive at your destination unrested and annoyed
your “cheap” flight may not be so cheap once you factor in other fees

Here are some tips if you choose to fly a low-cost carrier.

Check Your Bags
Y’all know I’m not about that checked baggage life, but if you’re flying a low-cost carrier, checking your bag might be your best bet. Below you can see how much Frontier charged for a carry-on if you checked it at the gate. Um, $60?! Instead, I chose to consolidate two bags into one and pay the $30 fee. I still hated paying a fee, but this was the cheaper option and had less of a size restriction. So just bite the bullet and cram your stuff into one bag {as long as it isn’t over the size limit}.

Bring Snacks
You know how most airlines offer a complimentary cup of juice, soda, coffee, etc.? Yeah, well that doesn’t happen on budget airlines. The only thing that was free was water {I think!}. I usually try to bring a small snack regardless of the airline I’m traveling on, but especially in a case like this, a little something to drink is essential. I always bring an empty water bottle with me and fill it up at a fountain near my gate.

Make Yourself as Comfortable as Possible
Some people always fly with a small travel pillow or blanket, and if you’re flying a budget carrier, you will need one or both of these. The Frontier seats were beyond uncomfortable and cramped and had limited leg room {see my leg room and small tray below!}. Maintain a slight bit of comfort with a pillow to support your neck or lower back. I travel with this Fold ‘n Go Blanket & Case from Cabeau, which takes up little space and is super comfortable. Also, you can’t really do anything about the cramped leg room, but you can get up and walk a bit to stretch your legs to get the circulation flowing.

Read the Fine Print, Before You Buy
If you’re new to the airline, check out their refund policies before you book. And certainly read up on the additional fees you might incur. As stated, I didn’t know Frontier charged for carry-on, so thankfully I checked their site the night before my flight. Otherwise, I would have shown up with a carry-on bag at the gate and be forced to pay $60.

[bctt tweet=”Do’s and Don’ts of Flying on a Budget Airline”]

Of course I know not all low-cost carriers are created equally {I actually like Southwest!}, so it’s all about doing your research. And if you do choose to go the budget route, be prepared and okay with sacrificing some of the “perks” you might be used to.

Have you ever traveled on a low-cost carrier? What was your experience? What tips do you have for a comfortable journey? 

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