The Real Cost of a Cheap Flight: 9 Extra Charges to Check Before You Book
The cheapest fare in your search results isn't always the cheapest trip. Here are 9 extra costs that can push up the price, from bags and seats to payment fees and remote airports, and how to work out the real price before you pay.
You find a great fare, but by the time you reach the payment page the total has crept up: a bag, then a seat, then a payment fee. This isn't necessarily a trick. It's a common way of pricing flights, especially among low-cost airlines: a low base fare, with everything else charged separately.
The problem is that it makes comparing fares unfair. A $96 ticket can end up costing you more than a $158 ticket that already includes everything you need. This guide brings together the costs to add up before you decide.
Why the cheapest fare isn't always the cheapest
Airlines sell the same seat in several fare types, with names like Basic, Light, Standard or Flex. The cheapest one includes the fewest services, and you pay for anything you add. Sometimes the next fare up, which includes a bag for example, costs less than buying the bag on its own.
Flight search engines, including TravelFlow, show the fare as the seller offers it. So look at the baggage information when it's shown with an offer, and check the details on the seller's website before you pay.
9 extra costs to check before you book
1. Checked bags
The most common extra charge. Many airlines' cheapest fares don't include a checked bag, and on short flights the bag fee can come close to the price of the ticket itself. If you need one, add it online when you book, as airport fees are usually higher. And remember that you'll pay for it twice: on the way out and on the way back.
2. Cabin bag size
Some of the cheapest fares only allow a small bag that fits under the seat, such as a backpack, and charge extra for a larger bag in the overhead bin. Measure your bag against the allowed size, because an oversized bag can cost you a lot more at the gate.
3. Seat selection
On the cheapest fares, your seat is assigned at random when you check in, and choosing one in advance costs extra. If you're traveling alone you may not need it, but if you're flying with family, factor in the cost of sitting together before you compare prices.
4. Checking in at the airport
Some low-cost airlines charge a fee if you check in at the airport instead of online, or if you ask for your boarding pass to be printed there. Check in on the airline's website or app within the window it sets.
5. Payment fees
Some sellers add a fee depending on how you pay, and it often only appears at the last step. Compare the final price after choosing your payment method, not the price you first saw. In the EU and the UK, surcharges for paying with a personal card are generally not allowed.
6. Currency conversion
If a website charges in a different currency from your card's, your bank may add a foreign transaction fee. And if the site offers to convert the amount into your home currency, the exchange rate is often worse than your bank's. Know your card's fees, and compare the amount in both currencies before you choose.
7. Changes and cancellations
The cheapest fares are usually non-refundable, and changing them, where it's possible at all, costs a fee on top of any fare difference. If your plans aren't certain, compare the price with a more flexible fare: a small difference today could save you buying a whole new ticket later.
8. Getting to and from the airport
Some cheap flights land at airports a long way from the city. Paris Beauvais, used by some low-cost airlines for their "Paris" flights, is about 85 km from the French capital, for example. Add the cost of the bus or taxi, and the travel time, to the price of the ticket. When a city has several airports, compare the full journey, not just the fare.
9. Long layovers and separate tickets
The cheapest connecting flight can hide other costs: meals at the airport, a hotel if the layover runs overnight, or a transit visa if you have to leave the airport. And if the two flights are on separate tickets, you may pay for bags twice and carry the risk of missing the second flight yourself.
Example: when the cheaper ticket costs more
Here's an illustrative example, with made-up numbers, for a round trip with one checked bag. Option 1 lands at an airport far from the city, while option 2 uses one close by:
| Option 1: low-cost airline | Option 2: full-service airline | |
|---|---|---|
| Fare | $96 | $158 |
| Checked bag, both ways | $70 | Included |
| Getting to and from the airport | $36 | $12 |
| Real price | $202 | $170 |
Option 1 looked $62 cheaper but ended up costing $32 more. Real figures vary by airline and route, but the method is the same: add what you actually need to each fare, then compare.
Checklist before you pay
- Does the ticket include the bags you need, both ways?
- Is your cabin bag within the allowed size?
- Do you need a particular seat, and how much does it cost?
- Do you know when online check-in opens?
- What's the final price after choosing your payment method, and in which currency will you pay?
- What are the change and cancellation rules?
- Where is the airport, and how much will it cost to get there and back?
- Is there a long layover, or are the flights on separate tickets?
- Are there any extras in the booking summary that you didn't ask for?
Compare this way and you'll choose the trip that really is cheapest, not just the ticket that looks cheapest. And if you're torn between a round trip and two one-way tickets, read our comparison of 13 routes.
Frequently asked questions
Is the price in the search results the final price?
It's the fare as the seller offers it, but it may not include extras such as a checked bag or seat selection. Always check the final price, and what it includes, on the seller's website before you pay.
Do low-cost airline tickets include a bag?
Their cheapest fares usually include only a small bag that fits under the seat. A larger cabin bag and checked bags cost extra. Policies vary from airline to airline, so read the conditions of your ticket.
When is it cheapest to add a bag?
Usually when you add it online, either when you book or before your flight, rather than at the airport. Many airlines charge more for bags paid for at the airport.
Should I pay in my own currency or the website's currency?
If a website or card terminal offers to convert the amount into your home currency, the exchange rate is often worse than your bank's. Compare both, and check what your card charges for foreign-currency payments.
Is the cheapest ticket refundable?
Usually not. The cheapest fare types are normally non-refundable, and changes can cost a fee on top of any fare difference. If your plans aren't fixed, compare the price with a more flexible fare.
