How to fly Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant without getting hit with surprise fees.
Budget airlines can save you 40 to 70 percent on airfare compared to legacy carriers, but they work differently. Understanding their fee structure and policies before you book is the difference between a great deal and an expensive lesson.
Ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant sell base fares at or near cost, then make their margins on add-ons. The flight itself is cheap; everything attached to it has a price. This is not deceptive, it is a different pricing model that rewards travelers who travel light and plan ahead.
Spirit flies to 80+ US destinations including many smaller markets that legacy carriers have abandoned. Base fares are often the cheapest available, but Spirit charges for nearly everything: carry-on bags, seat selection, printing a boarding pass at the airport, and even water in some cases. The "Big Front Seat" upgrade is available but not marketed as first class.
Best for: Short domestic trips where you travel with only a personal item. Spirit's network is strong in the Southeast, Southwest, and Latin America.
Frontier is similar to Spirit in structure but has made some moves toward more inclusive fares with its "UpFront Plus" and bundled options. Their route network focuses heavily on leisure destinations. Frontier's "Go Wild" all-you-can-fly pass occasionally goes on sale and is one of the most interesting products in US aviation for frequent leisure travelers.
Best for: Flexible leisure travelers and those who can pack a personal item only. The Go Wild pass is worth monitoring if you travel multiple times a year.
Allegiant connects smaller US cities directly to leisure destinations like Las Vegas, Orlando, and Florida beaches, often with no legacy carrier competition on the route. The experience is no-frills and the schedule may include only a few flights per week, but the prices are frequently remarkable. Allegiant also operates vacation packages that bundle flights and hotels at solid rates.
Best for: Travelers in smaller markets who want direct access to leisure destinations without connecting through a hub.
Budget carriers offer their best value on: short haul routes where discomfort is minimal, trips where you travel with only a personal item, routes where the legacy carrier charges a premium due to limited competition, and leisure destinations like beach cities and tourist hubs where budget carriers focus their networks.
Choose a legacy airline for long flights where comfort matters, trips requiring checked luggage, situations where flight change flexibility is important, and routes where the all-in price difference is less than $40 per person.