Flying Budget Airlines: Snag the Cheap Ticket, then Duck to Avoid the Fees

Abstract

10 Budget Airlines Check these 10 budget airlines for lower-priced airfare. Aha Allegiant Air Avelo Airlines Breeze Airways Frontier Airlines Hawaiian Airlines JetBlue Southwest Airlines Spirit Airlines Virgin Atlantic Airways Defining Budget Airlines The difference between budget airlines like Allegiant Airlines and legacy carriers such American Airlines has become harder to define in the past 15 years, Keyes said. Since around 2015, legacy airlines have been offering more and more discounted airline tickets and some are charging for preferable seats or checked bags in order to compete with the low-cost airlines. All airlines have flight cancellations due to weather and low sales, but major airlines usually have more options for getting passengers on alternate flights. Canceled Flights Burn Time and Money Low-cost airlines have fewer planes and fly fewer routes compared to major commercial airlines. While many major airlines followed the lead of Southwest Airlines and quit charging for flight changes or cancellations during the height of the pandemic, discount airlines were more hesitant to drop their change fees. Expect More Direct Flights to Fun Places Because bigger airlines offer more flights, they tend to operate on a hub-and-spoke model with multiple legs and connections to get from point A to B to C to D. Discount airlines with fewer planes focus more on just getting from point A to point B, said Keyes.