Budget Airline Hidden Fees to Check Before Booking

Low-cost carriers are not dishonest, but they do sell a different product from what many travellers assume. The headline fare buys a seat and very little else, and budget airline hidden fees are simply the price of everything that used to be included. Knowing the list in advance lets you compare fairly.

Baggage

The biggest one by far. Policies differ between airlines and change regularly, so check the specific rules for your booking:

• Whether a full-size cabin bag is included or only a small underseat item.
• The size and weight limits, which are enforced more strictly at some airports.
• The cost of adding a cabin bag or a hold bag, per direction.
• Whether adding a bag at the airport costs considerably more than online.

Adding bags in advance is nearly always cheaper than at the gate.

Seat selection

If you are travelling alone and do not mind where you sit, skip it. If you are travelling with children or want to sit with a partner, budget for it, because unallocated seating on a full aircraft frequently splits groups.

Check-in and boarding passes

Most low-cost airlines require online check-in within a set window. Missing it can mean an airport check-in fee that costs more than the seat. Some still charge for printing a boarding pass at the airport. Check in as soon as the window opens and save the pass to your phone.

Payment and booking fees

Card surcharges have been restricted in some markets but not all, and administration fees still appear at the final step. Always read the final total, not the fare shown in search.

Changes, names and cancellations

Change fees on basic fares are typically high, and name corrections often cost as much as a change. If there is any doubt about who is travelling or when, factor that risk in before choosing the cheapest ticket.

Airport location

A low fare into a secondary airport an hour and a half from the city is a different proposition from one into the main airport. Include the transfer cost and time on both ends, particularly if your arrival is late at night when public transport may not run.

Onboard and extras

Food and drink are charged, priority boarding is charged, and travel insurance or car hire may be pre-selected at checkout. None of these are traps if you read the page, but they add up quickly when clicked through in a hurry.

The honest comparison method

Take your top two or three options and, for each, add: bags you need, seat selection if it matters, airport transfer at both ends, and any card fee. Compare those totals. Low-cost carriers still win plenty of these comparisons, and when they do, you can book with confidence rather than suspicion.

Related reading

The wider guide to avoiding overpayment covers the other habits that quietly inflate the cost of a trip.

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