Surprising Hidden Costs When Traveling With Low-Cost Airlines

Airport
Photo by Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash

Traveling with low-cost airlines has its perks—starting with tickets as cheap as $10—but the list of their pros usually ends there. Budget airlines can afford to offer such cheap tickets because they come with many hidden costs that you should keep in mind.

Check-In

If you booked a flight with a low-cost airline, don’t head to the airport before checking in online. They can charge you as high as $30 for check-in, so it’s always a good idea to do it beforehand.

Carry-On

When low-cost airlines were first introduced, most of them allowed you to take carry-on luggage free of charge, but that’s no longer the case. With most of them, including WizzAir and Ryanair, you only get to bring a backpack of a certain size, while carry-on will cost you extra.

Seat Selection

If you’re traveling with your friends and family and want to sit together during the flight, be ready to spend some money. Seat selection will cost you a few extra bucks if you don’t want to be separated during your flight.

Food and Water

With most reputable airlines, you’ll at least get some snacks and drinks for free, but don’t expect this kind of luxury when booking low-cost flights because you’ll be charged for everything—even water.