Low Cost Airlines: When Budget Flights Are Worth It
A bargain airfare is a wonderful thing—until your suitcase discovers it needs a ticket of its own.
I am all for spending less on getting there and more on being there. The trick is knowing which savings survive the checkout.
The quick answer
Low cost airlines can save you money when the full fare fits your needs. Compare baggage, seats, airport transfers, flight times and ticket conditions before booking. A cheap headline is only the beginning: the useful question is whether the complete journey costs less and still works for you.
What are low-cost airlines?
Low-cost airlines usually sell a basic flight and charge separately for some extras. That can work beautifully when you need little more than a seat and a small bag. It becomes less attractive when you need luggage, specific seating, flexibility and an airport transfer that costs more than lunch.
The dividing line is not neat. Traditional airlines also sell restrictive economy fares, while budget carriers offer bundles. Compare the ticket in front of you, rather than assuming the airline’s label tells you what is included.
For finding the fare itself, use my guide to finding cheap flights. This article helps you decide whether that budget-airline offer is worth buying.
The extras that change the price
Start with the price for every passenger and every flight. Then add what your actual journey needs. A return trip has two directions; the cheerful headline sometimes seems to have forgotten that.
| Cost | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Baggage | Personal item, overhead bag and checked bag are different allowances. Check dimensions, weight and each flight. |
| Seating | Add selection if a particular seat or seating arrangement matters. Read the airline’s family-seating policy where relevant. |
| Airport access | Check the airport code, transfer price and transport times in both directions. |
| Check-in | Check online check-in deadlines, boarding-pass requirements and any airport service fees. |
| Flight timing | Include an extra night or taxi if the schedule makes one necessary. |
| Changes | Read change fees, fare differences, cancellation conditions and no-show rules. |
Paid extras are not automatically a trick. The problem is comparing one airline’s bare fare with another ticket that already includes what you need. Use the same shopping list for both.
Baggage: small print, large consequences
“Cabin baggage included” needs a follow-up question: which bag? An under-seat personal item is not the same as a wheeled suitcase for the overhead locker. Measure the bag with its handles, wheels and bulging pockets. A manufacturer’s “airline approved” label is not a universal boarding pass.
For two current examples, Ryanair’s bag rules include a small personal bag up to 40 × 30 × 20cm in all fares. easyJet’s cabin-bag guidance allows one free small under-seat bag up to 45 × 36 × 20cm, including handles and wheels. Larger bags depend on the allowance bought or included.
These examples were checked on 17 October 2026. Recheck the rules for your booking; do not apply either airline’s dimensions to someone else. When a bag is necessary, compare adding it separately with the relevant fare bundle.
Finally, keep documents, essential medication and valuables accessible if your cabin bag has to go into the hold. Ask the airline about any special equipment or assistance before booking.
Do the full-trip calculation
I like a simple comparison more than an impressive discount percentage. The numbers below are invented, in euros, for one person travelling one way. They illustrate the method; they are not fare quotes.
| Required cost | Budget option | Alternative ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Flight | €55 | €115 |
| Bag required for this trip | €30 | Included |
| Airport transfer | €28 | €10 |
| Seat selection required by this traveller | €12 | Included |
| Total | €125 | €125 |
If you need neither the extra bag nor seat selection, remove them: the budget option becomes €83. That is the point. Value depends on your needs, not my luggage habits.
Also compare arrival time and journey length. A few euros saved may be worthwhile on a relaxed weekend. The same saving may look unimpressive when it consumes your only afternoon in a city. Build the full spending plan with How to Travel Cheap.
Airports and connections deserve their own check
Read the airport code, not just the city name. An airport marketed for a destination may be some distance from where you want to stay. Look up the real transfer, including the last service of the evening. A late arrival and a missed bus are quite capable of holding a small budget hostage.
Then inspect the flight frequency and your alternatives if something changes. A route operating only on selected days may give you fewer convenient options than one with several daily services. More flights are not a guarantee of immediate rebooking; they are simply useful context.
Be especially careful when combining separate tickets. You may need to collect baggage, pass immigration and check in again. Google’s separate-ticket guidance explains that baggage rules can differ and a delay can cause you to miss the next flight. Do not assume a single checkout creates a protected connection.
For a cruise departure or another fixed event, I would value a sensible arrival buffer over a small saving. Check any transit permissions through the Visas & Entry Requirements guide, and use Travel Logistics & Transit to join up the journey.
Are low-cost airlines safe?
A low fare is not a safety rating. Neither is an expensive ticket. I would not use the price, cabin refreshments or lack of a reclining seat to judge an airline’s safety.
Check the actual operating carrier and reliable regulatory information. The European Commission’s EU Air Safety List identifies carriers subject to operating bans or restrictions because of safety concerns. It also explains country-wide restrictions where oversight is inadequate. Absence from that list should not be treated as a personal safety guarantee.
Comfort is a separate question. Check legroom, boarding arrangements and assistance against your needs. At my height, a cheap seat can become a surprisingly intimate introduction to my own knees. Paying for more space may be sensible; it does not mean you have failed at budget travel.
Where to start looking by region
These are starting points for comparing low-cost services, not a ranking or an exhaustive directory. Search your actual route and dates on the official website. Airlines, schedules and fare products change.
| Region | Starting points | Your next check |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | FlySafair · Jambojet | Which airports and routes are available for your dates? |
| Europe | Ryanair · easyJet | Which bag and transfer does the fare require? |
| Americas | Frontier | What does the selected fare include? |
| Asia | AirAsia | Who operates each flight, and how is the connection ticketed? |
| Middle East | Air Arabia · Pegasus | Are bags, transit requirements and onward travel clear? |
| Oceania | Jetstar | Does the complete itinerary work with the baggage allowance? |
Start with your destination and a workable route. A familiar airline name is useful, but a suitable journey matters more. Browse the Destinations guide if you are still deciding where to go.
When I would choose a budget airline
I would happily consider a low-cost flight when the route is direct, the timing works, the airport is practical and the final saving is meaningful. Travelling light helps, provided you are genuinely travelling light rather than negotiating with an overfilled bag at the gate.
I would compare alternatives more closely when I need checked luggage, extra legroom, flexibility or a dependable arrival plan for an important event. A bundle may solve the problem. Sometimes another airline is better value.
Before paying, confirm five things: the full price; exact airports; baggage allowance; change conditions; and who will help if the journey is disrupted. Then save the booking and check-in instructions somewhere accessible. Our air travel tips cover the next stage, while the Air Travel Guide brings the whole subject together.
The aim is more money and energy for the holiday. If the bargain makes the journey work harder than you do, it deserves another look.
Questions about low cost airlines
Are low cost airlines always cheaper?
No. Compare the full price with the bags, seating and ground transport you need. A budget fare can be excellent value, but a higher headline fare may include useful extras.
Does a budget ticket include a cabin suitcase?
Do not assume so. Some basic fares include only an under-seat personal item. Check the dimensions, weight and number of bags allowed on your specific booking.
Are low cost airlines less safe?
The fare alone does not tell you. Check the operating airline and relevant regulatory information, rather than judging safety by the service or ticket price.
Should I buy a bundle or add extras separately?
Price both options with the same requirements. A bundle is useful when you need its contents; unused benefits do not become savings simply because they are bundled.
Can I combine two budget flights on separate tickets?
You can, but the connection may be your responsibility. Check baggage collection, entry permissions, check-in deadlines and what happens if the first flight is late.
Did your budget flight stay a bargain?
Which extra caught you out—or which low-cost flight was excellent value? Share what made the difference. Your lesson may save someone else a rather expensive surprise.