Advantages & Disadvantages of a Budget Airline

Budget carriers offer low prices, but they come with some disadvantages. Still, they provide excellent value and, increasingly, service that is comparable to larger air carriers.

Fares

Budget airlines often sell seats at rock-bottom prices. Spirit Airlines, for example, offers a $9 club through which seats can be purchased for $9 or less each way.

Seats

Many budget airlines allow you to select seats before the flight only at an additional cost. If you arrive late at the airport, you may be separated from your party or be assigned an undesirable seat.

Other Restrictions

Budget airlines often utilize remote airports. That can be inconvenient or offer only once-a-day flights.

Flexibility

Budget airlines offer flights at very low fares at the expense of flexibility. Where standard commercial airlines offer refundable tickets, albeit at much higher prices, tickets with budget airlines are rarely refunded and cancellations often mean the loss of all or most of the ticket cost.

Meal Service

Commercial airlines offer limited refreshments, often just peanuts or a beverage on domestic flights. Budget airlines offer the same fare but for a price. With Transportation Safety Administration restrictions, the days of brown bagging on a flight are over.

Luggage

It used to be that only budget airlines charged for luggage, but this is no longer the case. Some larger airlines now charge for any bag that is checked, making this a non-factor when choosing a flight.

References

• The pros and cons of budget airlines