I've been flying ultra-low-cost airlines for years and have never been charged extra — these are my 4 tips for avoiding fees

21.06.2024 - 10:31 / insider.com

Ultra-low-cost carriers, or ULCCs, were a saving grace in college when I had limited fun money. I didn't care about the barebones planes or stuffing everything into a personal item so long as I could travel cheaply.

My limited budget meant I was careful to follow the rules to a T, as I knew the add-on fees would pile up if I got to the airport unprepared.

While I largely avoid ULCCs like Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines these days due to their worsening value and customer experience, there are times when the price is too good to pass up.

However, I see people forking over hundreds of dollars for luggage, seats, snacks, and other add-ons every time because they ignored or misunderstood the a-la-carte business model.

The recent controversy involving Frontier reportedly charging people for bags within the size limits and then taking a commission has not helped the confusion.

The a-la-carte rules of ULCCs are relatively simple: the base fare gets you an unassigned seat and a personal item, but everything else — including even a cup of water — costs extra.

This means parties will only be guaranteed to sit together if they pay for each seat, and I recommend bringing your own snacks and drinks if you don't want to pay for the overpriced options on board.

But I think what surprises new flyers the most is how strict the bag size and weight limits are.

Frontier and Spirit require personal items to be 18 x 14 x 8 inches or smaller and don't allow checked bags bigger than 62 linear inches.

One important detail: Frontier's checked bag weight limit is 40 pounds compared to Spirit's 50 pounds — something I've seen trip people up when the ping-pong between the two carriers.

Further, the carry-on bag restrictions vary slightly at 24 x 16 x 10 inches and 22 x 18 x 10 inches, respectively. These rules are found on the airline's websites, and the same goes for other global ULCCs like Ryanair and Allegiant Air.

The rules may be annoying, but luggage is a lucrative ancillary revenue stream for the company. In 2023, global airlines raked in some $33 billion in bag revenue alone.

If you inadvertently show up at the airport with luggage that is too big or heavy, I recommend downsizing if you have time or taking the loss because gate agents are required to charge you — and arguing likely won't change their minds.

Frontier and Spirit allow customers to book flights on third-party websites like Priceline or Booking.com. While the base fare is sometimes cheaper, I'd recommend against this.

These websites don't always let you add bags at booking, possibly misleading travelers into thinking some luggage is included. Plus, some charge an extra fee to charge for a bag.

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