Flight tips
Low-cost airlines: what the fare does not include
With low-cost airlines the fare is a starting number. The real price depends on what you end up having to add to the figure on screen.
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The low-cost model rests on one idea: make the fare look as low as possible and turn everything else into an option. The model is not a bad deal — if you fly with a small bag and no seat selection you really do travel cheaply. The problem is that most of what a typical passenger needs is chargeable.
The only fair comparison is total cost, not fare: bag plus seat plus airport transfer plus, if needed, a night's accommodation. Once that total is worked out, plenty of cheap tickets turn out to cost more than a full-service fare.
What sits outside the fare
| Item | Typical fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin bag (overhead size) | €10-30 | Only a small under-seat bag is free |
| Checked bag (20 kg) | €20-60 | Paying at the gate costs two to three times more |
| Seat selection | €5-20 | Without it, groups get split up |
| Airport check-in | €30-55 | Charged if you skip online check-in |
| Printing a boarding pass at the airport | €20-55 | Still applies at some airlines |
| Name correction / change | €40-100 | Even a small typo is chargeable |
The secondary airport question
A good share of cheap tickets land at secondary airports well outside the city. These are often 40-90 km away, and the transfer costs both time and money.
- Count the transfer both ways: at most secondary airports the bus is €8-20 each way.
- Add the transfer time to the flight time; a one-hour flight can become four hours door to door.
- For late arrivals, check whether the transfer still runs; a missed last bus turns into a taxi fare that erases the saving.
- Not every airport named after a city is in that city — search the airport code on a map before booking.
Why are cabin bag rules so strict?
A noticeable share of low-cost revenue comes from bags. That is why the dimensions are smaller than at full-service carriers and why gate checks with a sizing frame are common. Your free allowance is usually only a small bag that fits under the seat.
- Check that airline's current dimensions before booking; every carrier differs and the rules change often.
- Measure your bag including wheels and handle — the sizer covers those too.
- Paying at the gate is always the most expensive route; adding the bag when you book is the cheapest.
- Weigh the bag at home; paying for one extra kilo at the airport is a common mistake.
- When in doubt, add the bag in advance — cancelling for a refund is easier than paying a gate penalty.
When is it genuinely cheap, and when not?
| Scenario | Low-cost | Full service | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bag only, main airport | €35 | €90 | Low-cost |
| Cabin bag + seat | 35 + 25 = €60 | €90 | Low-cost |
| Checked bag + seat + secondary airport transfer | 35 + 45 + 25 + 30 = €135 | €110 | Full service |
| Connecting on separate tickets | €60 (risk on you) | €130 (single-ticket protection) | Full service |
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
Do low-cost airlines charge for cabin bags?
Most of them do. The free allowance is usually only a small bag that fits under the seat; a cabin-sized case for the overhead bin is chargeable, and two to three times more at the gate.
What happens if I skip online check-in?
At many low-cost carriers the airport check-in fee is €30-55, and at some it exceeds the fare. Add the check-in opening date to your calendar on the day you book.
Is flying into a secondary airport worth it?
Only if it is still cheaper once you count the transfer both ways in time and money. Airports 40-90 km out mean €20-40 of transfers and two to three extra hours.
Is connecting on separate tickets risky?
Yes. Low-cost carriers do not guarantee connections, so a delay on the first flight costs you the second ticket. Leave at least three hours, or book a single ticket.
