Airline money traps

amother

Camellia

Tue, Feb 13 2024, 4:53 pm

amother Blush wrote:

I find airlines to be pretty transparent at booking as to what is or is not included. If you read everything at booking you should be ok.

This is my experience as well and one of the reasons I’ve never flown spirit. Once I add in the costs of choosing seats, luggage and buying drinks in the airport it’s not worth the cost savings. I think people get excited by the initial price (with almost all airlines it’s just but more extreme with the budget ones) and don’t take a minute to see what’s not included in that price.

amother

Ghostwhite

Tue, Feb 13 2024, 5:38 pm

my #1 rule is never fly Frontier or Spirit!

Quote:

3. UNITED AIRLINES basic economy will not allow you to add a carry-on (for any price).. If you arrive at the airport expecting to pay for the carry-on, they will make you check it in if you have a basic economy ticket.

This is also on Jetblue. If you try coming to the gate with a carry on, they will make you pay $65! to check it in.

amother

Ecru

Tue, Feb 13 2024, 6:32 pm

amother Ghostwhite wrote:

my #1 rule is never fly Frontier or Spirit!

Quote:

This is also on Jetblue. If you try coming to the gate with a carry on, they will make you pay $65! to check it in.

Jet blue I take the second tier to be able to choose seats and bring carry on for free.

Ema of 5

Tue, Feb 13 2024, 6:36 pm

amother Starflower wrote:

Maybe it depends on the actual airport. Also was this before security or after? Usually you can print them yourself by the kiosk when you get to the airport.

When we flew frontier in December, their kiosks weren’t working, and there was a whole long line of upset customers who did not want to pay just because their system was down. You need to print it before you go through security because you need to show it to them.

amother

Starflower

Tue, Feb 13 2024, 7:47 pm

wtvr wrote:

It's cheaper to check luggage than to take a carry on on Spirit.
Also, their luggage limit is 40lbs. vs 50 lbs. for other airlines.

Yup. I just take briefcases and one checked luggage. I recently flew spirit. Bought tickets with points. Paid for one checked suitcase each way. We're six ppl.
Bought a drink in the airport. I found them to be much more lenient than united with personal bags. United has given me issues carrying a shopping bag and backpack with a basic economy ticket. Spirit didn't look at all as long as it wasn't a full on carry on.

amother

Trillium

Tue, Feb 13 2024, 8:32 pm

I flew frontier end of January and I don’t think we needed to print anything- we showed them the QR code on our phone.

Also frontier/spirit is good for non Jewish families but for Jewish families who need tznius clothes and Shabbos clothes and kosher food it’s impossible to travel ultra light

Sometimes American comes out cheaper between all the add ons you’ll need to do for the other airlines

Also if you live in NJ and fly from Philly many flights are slightly cheaper (maybe bec less distance flying?) than from Newark

amother

Trillium

Tue, Feb 13 2024, 8:35 pm

amother Starflower wrote:

Whoa! One bag for 6 people! How many days were you away for?
We went away for Thursday - Monday, 5 people, and took one bag, and stuffffeeeed our personal items to the point that they wouldn’t have fit into the baggage size checker but bH tyH they didn’t check

amother

Starflower

Tue, Feb 13 2024, 8:36 pm

amother Trillium wrote:

It really depends on the flight and date of travel. I recently went to Florida. LaGuardia was the cheapest for those days. Newark was a lot more and Philadelphia was more expensive than LaGuardia but cheaper than Newark. My sibling ended up going from Philadelphia- two hours from us and between everything it was cheaper at all. I booked later and did LaGuardia. My parents came back on my flight because it was $50 cheaper than. The Philadelphia one when he booked.

You really need to check every time you fly. It really depends. ...

amother

DarkMagenta

Wed, Feb 14 2024, 9:02 am

We fly United and as long as we aren't traveling for a simcha or a week-long holiday, we can fit each person's items into a backpack (personal item) and we use basic economy, no suitcases or carry ons. Its doable.

amother

Camellia

Wed, Feb 14 2024, 11:33 am

amother DarkMagenta wrote:

Can you share what you're taking? And are you flying with younger kids, mine have a hard enough time walking through the airport carrying just a bag with snacks and things to do on the plane if I added in their clothing etc I can't see how they would manage.