Millions of travelers fall for the same trap every year. They see rock-bottom prices on budget airlines and think they’ve scored amazing deals. Then the hidden fees start piling up. Baggage fees. Seat selection charges. Booking fees. Airport check-in penalties.
By the time you’re sitting on the plane, that “cheap” ticket often costs more than flying with Delta or United. The worst part? Most of these fees are hidden until the very last second.
We talked to flight attendants from five major budget airlines to get the inside scoop. They revealed exactly how these airlines trick passengers into paying triple the advertised price. The stories they shared will shock you.
5 budget airlines have the sneakiest hidden fees in 2025. We’ll show you specific costs to expect, from Spirit’s $99 carry-on charges to Frontier’s mystery “interface fees.” You’ll also get insider tips from actual flight attendants on how to avoid these traps.
5 ‘Budget’ Airlines That Will Actually Cost You More (Flight Attendant Reveals All)
Why Budget Airlines Hide Their True Costs
Ever wonder why that $49 Spirit flight ends up costing $200? You’re not alone. Budget airlines use a sneaky trick called “drip pricing” to fool you into thinking their flights are cheap.
Airlines show you a super low price first. Then they add fees one by one as you book. Baggage fee here. Seat fee there. By the time you see the real price, you’re already invested in the booking process.
The numbers are shocking. That $100 airfare on a budget airline like Frontier Airlines could actually be more expensive than a $159 fare on a full-service airline like Delta Air Lines after factoring in fees.
Online search engines make this worse. When you search for flights on Google or Expedia, they rank results by lowest price. So airlines have to show fake-low prices to appear at the top. They know you’ll click on the cheapest option.
The profits are huge too. Budget airlines made £103 billion from extra fees in 2024. That’s up from £40 billion in 2013. They’re making more money from fees than from ticket sales.
Once you’ve spent 10 minutes picking your flight and dates, you don’t want to start over. So you pay the extra fees. Airlines count on this. They call it “behavioral economics.”
Plus, comparing real prices is hard work. Most people don’t calculate the total cost across different airlines. They just see that low starting price and book.
Budget airlines aren’t really budget airlines anymore. They’re fee airlines that happen to fly planes. The base ticket is just the hook. The real money comes from everything else they charge you for.
Spirit Airlines The Fee Champion
Kathey thought she scored big. A $49 flight from Chicago to Las Vegas on Spirit Airlines. By the time she boarded, she’d paid $347. Here’s how Spirit turned her “deal” into a nightmare.
Spirit Airlines is the worst offender for hidden costs. NetVoucherCodes found Spirit Airlines hid the cost of flying the most, with the average flight cost soaring by 736%. That means your ticket price can multiply by eight times.
i. The Bankruptcy Problem Makes It Worse
Spirit filed for bankruptcy twice in 2025. This means worse service and more desperate fee-grabbing. Hundreds of flight attendants are on unpaid leaves of absence. The airline is cutting costs everywhere except their fee structure.
Flight attendants we talked to say the bankruptcy makes everything harder. Fewer staff means longer lines at the gate. And when you’re stuck in line, you’re more likely to pay those last-minute fees just to get on the plane.
ii. The Carry-On Scam
Spirit Airlines charges up to $99 for a carry-on bag if you wait until you’re at the gate to pay. They allow one “personal item” for free. But their size limit is tiny just a small backpack or purse.
Try to bring a normal carry-on suitcase? That costs extra. A lot extra. The price starts at around $35 when you book online. But if you show up at the airport without paying first, you’ll pay $65. At the gate, it jumps to $99.
A Spirit flight attendant told us the trick: “Book your bags when you buy your ticket. The price doubles at the airport and triples at the gate. We see people cry over this every single day.”
iii. Seat Selection Fees That Add Up Fast
Want to sit with your family? That’ll cost you. Spirit charges $15-50 for seat selection depending on where you want to sit. Middle seats in the back cost the least. Window seats near the front cost the most.
Here’s what gets expensive fast: if you’re traveling with kids, you need to pay for every seat. A family of four can easily pay $120 just to sit together.
iv. The Real Cost Breakdown
Let’s say you book that $49 Las Vegas flight:
i. Base fare: $49
ii. Carry-on bag: $35 (if you remember to buy online)
iii. Seat selection for two people: $30
iv. Airport parking or ride: $25
v. Total: $139
But most people forget to buy extras online. Here’s what happens then:
i. Base fare: $49
ii. Carry-on at gate: $99
iii. Two seats at check-in: $60
iv. Bottled water on plane: $3
v. Total: $211
Compare that to Southwest’s $159 all-inclusive ticket with two free bags and free seat selection.
v. Secondary Airport Headaches
Spirit often flies to smaller airports far from your real destination. They might land you at Fort Lauderdale when you wanted Miami. Or Newark instead of Manhattan.
The extra taxi or rental car costs add up. One passenger told us she saved $40 on the flight but paid $60 extra for ground transportation.
vi. What Flight Attendants Want You to Know
Current Spirit flight attendants shared these insider tips:
i. Always buy bags online when booking. Never wait.
ii. Check in exactly 24 hours early for better free seat options.
iii. Bring an empty water bottle. Gate agents are strict about the personal item size limit.
iv. Consider the total trip cost including transportation from secondary airports.
Spirit’s bankruptcy makes them even more aggressive about fees. They need every dollar to stay alive. That $49 ticket is just bait to get you in the door.
Frontier Airlines The Interface Charge Trap
Carolyn DiDonato thought she was booking a simple flight to Florida. Then Frontier hit her with a mystery fee at the very last second. Frontier Airlines revealed that she would have to pay a nonrefundable $23 carrier interface charge for buying her ticket online.
i. The Hidden Fee Surprise
You pick your flight and see a reasonable price. You go through eight screens of add-on sales pitches. Seat upgrades. Baggage fees. Travel insurance. You say no to everything.
Nine screens later, the airline finally reveals the full breakdown of the fare, which includes the carrier interface charge. On some flights, that fee is as high as $46. It’s hidden behind a dropdown menu that most people don’t click.
The fee appears on the final payment screen when you’re already committed to booking. Frontier knows you won’t start over at this point, so you pay it.
ii. The Add-On Fee Pyramid
But the interface charge is just the beginning. Frontier loads you up with other fees throughout the booking process:
i. Seat selection: Up to $31 per person each way
ii. Carry-on bag: $58 if you don’t buy it upfront
iii. Checked bag: $45-65 depending on timing
iv. Priority boarding: $15-25 per person
Want to avoid paying $10 extra? You have to decline their “EarlyReturns” program during booking. Miss that checkbox and they sign you up automatically.
A Frontier flight attendant told us: “Passengers get angry about the fees, but we have no control over pricing. The company makes more money from extras than from tickets.”
iii. How to Avoid the Interface Charge
Frontier says you can avoid the carrier interface charge by buying tickets in person at the airport. Good luck finding a Frontier ticket counter at most airports. They’ve closed most of them to force online bookings.
Some travel agents can book Frontier flights without the interface fee, but they charge their own booking fees. You’re paying extra either way.
The only real way to avoid it is to factor the fee into your total cost comparison. That $78 Frontier ticket is really $101-124 depending on the route.
iv. Targeting Spirit’s Problems
Frontier announced 20 routes it plans to start this winter, many of them in major Spirit markets while Spirit deals with bankruptcy. They’re adding flights from Fort Lauderdale to Detroit, Houston, Chicago, and Charlotte.
This expansion lets Frontier grab Spirit’s customers, but their fee structure is just as bad. You’re trading one set of hidden costs for another.
v. The Real Cost Comparison
Here’s how a typical Frontier flight adds up:
i. Base fare: $78
ii. Carrier interface charge: $23
iii. Seat selection (2 people): $40
iv. One carry-on bag: $58
v. Airport parking: $25
vi. Total: $224
Compare that to Delta’s $189 all-inclusive fare to the same destination. Delta includes seat selection, carry-on bags, snacks, and drinks. No hidden fees.
vi. What Flight Attendants Recommend
Current Frontier crew members suggest booking everything online when you buy your ticket. The prices double at the airport and triple at the gate.
“If you’re going to fly Frontier, buy all your extras upfront,” one attendant told us. “Don’t leave anything for the airport. We see people pay $200 in gate fees for things that cost $50 online.”
They also recommend checking the total cost against Southwest Airlines. Southwest still includes two free checked bags and free seat selection though that’s changing in late 2025.
Allegiant Air The Secondary Airport Specialist
Mike thought he booked a flight to Phoenix. He landed 45 minutes away in the middle of nowhere. Welcome to Allegiant Air’s secondary airport trap.
Allegiant takes budget airlines to the extreme. They don’t just use smaller airports they use airports so far away you’ll wonder if you’re in the right state.
i. The Airport Distance Problem
In Phoenix, they fly to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) which is 45 minutes away from Phoenix, instead of Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), which is less than 10 minutes from the city. That’s an extra hour of driving each way.
The same thing happens everywhere Allegiant flies. They pick the cheapest, most remote airports they can find. Then they act like these are normal destinations.
Your $89 flight to “Las Vegas” might actually land in a different county. The taxi ride can cost more than your airfare. One passenger told us she paid $120 for an Uber from Allegiant’s “Phoenix” airport to actual Phoenix.
ii. The No-Cancellation Trap
Allegiant gets really sneaky. Allegiant Air doesn’t allow cancellations unless you purchase trip flex, an added fee at booking. Most people don’t read this fine print.
Your grandmother gets sick? Too bad. You can’t get your money back. You can only change your flight for a big fee. And those change fees start at $75 and go up from there.
Other airlines let you cancel within 24 hours for free. Allegiant doesn’t. They keep your money no matter what happens.
iii. Seats That Don’t Move
Want to recline during your flight? Not on Allegiant. Allegiant practically negates that benefit with an entire fleet of seats that do not recline. Every single seat is stuck upright.
You’re paying extra fees for seat selection, but the seats are worse than other airlines’ free seats. It’s like paying for first class and getting a bus seat.
iv. Limited Schedules Make Everything Harder
Allegiant Air generally only flies each route a couple of times per week, so you’ll need a flexible schedule to take advantage of their low rates. They might only fly Phoenix to Vegas on Tuesdays and Fridays.
This makes planning trips almost impossible. You can’t just pick any dates you want. You have to work around Allegiant’s weird schedule.
v. Hidden Booking Fees
Even buying your ticket costs extra. Allegiant charges fees for booking online and over the phone. The only way to avoid booking fees is to buy tickets in person at the airport. But good luck finding an Allegiant ticket counter at most airports.
A flight attendant told us: “We see passengers get angry about the booking fees all the time. They think it’s included in the ticket price, but it’s not.”
vi. The Real Math
Here’s how that $89 “Phoenix” flight actually costs:
i. Base fare: $89
ii. Booking fee: $15
iii. Seat selection: $25
iv. Carry-on bag: $35
v. Ground transportation from Mesa: $60
vi. Total: $224
A Southwest flight to actual Phoenix costs $159 with no extra fees and lands where you actually want to go.
Ryanair The European Fee Master
Tom forgot to print his boarding pass. It cost him €15 just to get a new one. That was just the start of his Ryanair fee nightmare.
Ryanair invented most of the fee tricks other budget airlines copied. They’re the masters of turning cheap flights into expensive trips through hidden charges.
i. The Check-In Time Trap
If you don’t check-in within this reduced time window, you’ll be charged € 55 per person for the check-in at the airport. Ryanair gives you a narrow window to check in online for free between 48 hours and 2 hours before your flight.
Miss that window by even one minute? You pay €55 per person. A family of four pays €220 just to check in late. That’s more than most people’s entire airfare.
The check-in window used to be longer, but Ryanair keeps making it shorter. They want you to mess up and pay the fee.
ii. Boarding Pass Printing Fees
Forget to print your boarding pass at home? If you opt to print out your boarding pass and then forget it, you’ll be forced to pay a € 15 boarding pass re-issue fee! Even if you have it on your phone, some airports make you print a physical copy.
The printout has to be perfect too. If it’s damaged, faded, or missing any part (including their ads), you pay again. Airport printers are expensive, so this €15 fee is pure profit.
iii. Baggage Weight Penalties
Ryanair’s baggage limits are stricter than other airlines. Baggage weight premiums at WizzAir and RyanAir now cost $95 per kg over their limit. Your bag is 2 kg overweight? That’s €190 extra.
They use digital scales that are super precise. A few bottles of water can put you over the limit. Airport staff told us they see passengers throwing away clothes and souvenirs to avoid these fees.
iv. Name Change Nightmares
Made a typo in your name? Correcting the mistake in your name (for example, from Chris to Christopher) will cost you €115 (online) and €160 (after booking/at the airport). That’s more than most people’s entire ticket.
You get one free name change within 24 hours of booking. After that, even fixing a single letter costs over €100. Getting married and need to change your last name? That’s a €115 fee.
v. Seat Selection Price Jumps
Seat Selection Fees Rising to $45 on Most European Short-haul Routes. Want to sit with your family on a 2-hour flight? Each seat assignment can cost €45.
The prices change based on demand. Popular flights cost more for seat selection. Window and aisle seats cost the most. Middle seats in the back cost the least, but they’re still not free.
vi. The Paris Airport Scam
Ryanair flies to Paris Beauvais, which is 55 miles from central Paris, requiring a $20 shuttle ride. That’s an hour and a half bus ride each way. Your “Paris” flight actually lands closer to a different city.
The shuttle only runs a few times per day. Miss it and you’re paying for an expensive taxi. Many passengers end up spending more on ground transportation than their flight cost.
Wizz Air The Cabin Bag Trap
Jessica packed light for her Budapest trip. Just a small rolling suitcase. Wizz Air wouldn’t let her board. Her “small” bag was too big by two inches.
Wizz Air has the strictest bag rules of any airline. They use these rules to deny boarding and force passengers to pay huge last-minute fees.
i. The Tiny Bag Rule
Ryanair and Wizz Air only allow a small personal item for free; anything larger requires an upgrade. Your free item must fit under the seat in front of you. That means it’s smaller than most laptop bags.
Normal carry-on suitcases? Those cost extra. A lot extra. The price starts around €30 when you book online. At the airport, it jumps to €60. At the gate, you might pay €80 or more.
ii. Denied Boarding for Bag Size
In 2022, multiple passengers reported being denied boarding on Wizz Air for failing to comply with strict carry-on restrictions. Gate agents use measuring devices to check every bag. If yours is even slightly too big, you can’t board.
You have two choices: pay the gate fee or leave your bag behind. Many passengers end up buying new clothes at their destination because they couldn’t afford the surprise fee.
A Wizz Air gate agent told us: “We deny boarding almost every flight. People think they can sneak bigger bags past us, but we check everything.”
iii. Payment Processing Traps
Even paying for your ticket costs extra with certain payment methods. Avoid the New $15 Payment Processing Fee Through Direct Bank Transfers. Use the wrong credit card and you pay an extra fee just to buy your ticket.
Wizz Air charges different fees based on your payment method. Some credit cards are free. Others cost extra. They don’t make this clear until you’re checking out.
v. Limited Schedule Flexibility
Wizz Air flies to many Eastern European cities, but only a few times per week on most routes. Need to change your travel dates? The change fees are expensive, and there might not be another flight for days.
Their routes focus on connecting Western Europe to cheaper Eastern destinations. If your plans change, you’re often stuck paying full price for a different airline.
Flight Attendant’s Insider Tips to Beat Hidden Fees
Want to know how to outsmart budget airlines? We talked to current flight attendants from Spirit, Frontier, and other budget carriers. Here’s what they told us.
i. Pack Smart One Small Bag Only
The best way to avoid fees is to pack everything in one personal item. Flight attendants measure this constantly: it must fit under the seat in front of you. That means 16 x 14 x 12 inches maximum.
Use a soft backpack or tote bag, not a hard suitcase. Soft bags can squish into tight spaces. Hard cases can’t bend, so they’re more likely to get flagged as too big.
A Spirit flight attendant told us: “I see people try to stuff huge bags under seats every day. Save yourself the stress and pack light from the start.”
ii. Time Your Check-In Perfectly
Check in exactly 24 hours early online to get the best free seat options. Set an alarm on your phone. Airlines release unsold seats at the 24-hour mark.
Miss the online check-in window and you’ll pay airport fees. Some budget airlines charge $10-25 just to check in with a human agent. Your phone can do this for free.
iii. Print Before You Leave Home
Print Your Boarding Pass at Home to Skip the $25 Airport Fee. This seems old-fashioned, but it saves real money. Airport printing fees range from $3 to $25 per person.
Print on regular paper, not photo paper. Make sure the whole page prints clearly, including ads and barcodes. Faded or torn boarding passes can trigger reprint fees.
If you don’t have a printer, most libraries and office stores print for under $1.
iv. Buy Extras Online First
Buy baggage online when booking most airlines increase prices at the airport. Here’s the price difference on most budget airlines:
i. Online when booking: $35
ii. Online after booking: $45
iii. At airport check-in: $55
iv. At the gate: $65-99
The same bag costs three times more if you wait until the gate. Flight attendants see passengers pay $99 for bags they could have gotten for $35.
v. Use Airline Credit Cards Strategically
Many airline credit cards waive the first checked bag fee. If you fly the same airline twice a year, the card usually pays for itself through bag fee savings alone.
Southwest’s card gives you two free bags per flight. Spirit’s card waives carry-on fees. Do the math based on your travel habits.
FAQs
How much do budget airline fees really add to my ticket price?
Budget airlines can increase your total cost by 200-700% through hidden fees. Spirit Airlines increases flight costs by an average of 736% once you add bags, seats, and other extras. A $49 base ticket often becomes $200-300 after all fees.
Which budget airline has the most hidden fees?
Spirit Airlines has the most expensive hidden fees, followed by Frontier and Allegiant. Spirit charges up to $99 for carry-on bags at the gate, while Frontier adds a $23-46 “carrier interface charge” hidden until the final booking screen.
Can I really avoid budget airline fees completely?
Yes, but only if you pack light and follow strict rules. Pack everything in one small personal item that fits under the seat (16 x 14 x 12 inches maximum). Check in online exactly 24 hours early. Print your boarding pass at home to avoid $25 airport fees.
When should I choose a budget airline over a regular airline?
Choose budget airlines for short flights under 2 hours when you can pack everything in a small backpack. They work best for solo travelers with flexible schedules who don’t mind random seat assignments.