Understanding Budget Airlines: The Truth Revealed

With the recent news of Frontier and Spirit Airlines planning to merge, it's a great time to highlight the advantages of budget airlines—if you know how to navigate them effectively.

What qualifies an airline as “budget”? The label of “budget” primarily relates to the perks offered. These low-cost airlines typically have much lower fares compared to major carriers, achieved by reducing their operational costs. As a result, you often receive only the essentials, with extras like carry-on baggage, beverages, and snacks incurring additional charges.

They also cut costs in various other ways. By focusing on short-haul flights and limiting the number of routes or operating days, airlines can minimize fuel and staffing expenses. Additionally, flying from smaller airports usually results in lower fees compared to larger international hubs. Many budget airlines also operate a single type or model of aircraft, which helps keep maintenance costs down.

Are budget airlines less safe? Not at all—despite the humorous memes circulating on social media, these airlines maintain safety standards comparable to their larger counterparts. Industry regulations and safety protocols, along with a shared understanding that ensuring passenger safety is crucial for business, contribute to a similar level of safety across the board.

What sets this apart from basic economy? Basic economy is a result of major airlines 'unbundling' their fare classes, largely due to competition from budget carriers and the profits they were generating. The key distinction is that basic economy flights generally offer the option to upgrade. You have to intentionally select the no-frills option when booking, while with budget airlines, no-frills is simply the standard.

What benefits come with flying budget airlines? Aside from the potential for significant savings, there are additional perks to opting for budget airlines. For instance, they usually operate from smaller airports. So if you're traveling from Newburgh, NY, to Punta Gorda, FL, this no-frills method might be a smart choice given their proximity to your ultimate destination.

Low-cost carriers are also perfect for those spontaneous, short-haul trips—ideal for when you need to get from point A to point B with just a couple of changes of clothes in tow.

They can also streamline the boarding process. Without priority boarding or waiting for first-class passengers to settle in, the boarding can sometimes proceed more quickly, especially when avoiding the chaos of overhead luggage mishaps.

They can even provide a little space if you want to take a break from your travel companion for a few hours (‘Sorry, sitting together costs extra! Enjoy the back—see you at the terminal’). Just a joke, of course...

What should you be cautious about? With budget airlines, 'no frills' truly means just that. You'll need to shell out extra for every little comfort—from bringing a bag on board to in-flight refreshments. Before the pandemic, options like 'no change fees' were rarely available, though some budget airlines now offer this... for an added fee, of course. Additionally, many fleets lack WiFi or in-flight entertainment systems, so if your device runs out of battery, you're out of luck.

Here are some common out-of-pocket expenses you might encounter:

• Choosing your seat
• Carry-on luggage
• Printing your boarding pass at the airport
• Priority boarding (if available)
• Any beverage on the flight
• Any snack during the flight
• Headphones
• A 'passenger usage charge' for booking online instead of at the airport (seriously, who does that??)

While these may not be direct costs, they can definitely test your patience:

• Long lines for baggage drop
• Limited communication options for updates like gate or terminal changes
• No (or minimal) options for extra legroom

Which budget airlines can you find on Dinogo? For travelers in the US, Dinogo scours numerous travel platforms to find low-cost flights, including options from Spirit, Frontier, Breeze Airways, Sun Country, and more.

If your company is registered with Dinogo for Business (it’s free), we can also provide access to Southwest’s corporate rates. Get your team signed up.

The outcome of the proposed merger between Frontier and Spirit is still uncertain and dependent on regulatory approval. However, when planning your next quick getaway, don’t overlook budget airlines—they might be just what you’re looking for.