Airfare costs stress out many travelers when planning a trip. With hotel stays, meals, and attractions, expenses can stack up fast, leading people to spend hours online searching for airline and travel deals. Fares change every day, making it hard to snag good deals, and frustratingly, the listed price often goes up before booking is done. However, the initial cost of a flight ticket is just the start. Airlines have gotten better at tacking on fees for seemingly small things, making the final price a lot higher than anticipated. These "hidden" fees can quickly drain your travel budget, turning a once-affordable trip into an expensive one. From baggage fees to seat selection charges and even convenience fees, these sneaky extras can pile up fast. Here are 6 sneaky airline fees you might encounter – but you can steer clear of them if you know what to look out for. So, let's dive in and get to the point now!
So how to avoid sneaky airline fees?
Luggage
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Traveling light is essential for frequent flyers, especially given the stringent baggage policies of many airlines. Overweight or oversized bags can quickly become a costly burden. It's crucial to note that many budget airline tickets and even some basic economy fares on full-service carriers don't include a carry-on bag. Always double-check this before making a purchase, as fares that include a carry-on might ultimately offer better value.
If you're flying with a budget airline, pre-paying for your bag online is highly recommended. Airport baggage fees are typically much higher. Moreover, pay close attention to carry-on size and weight restrictions. These vary significantly across airlines, ranging from a mere 15 pounds to as much as 50 pounds. Exceeding these limits can result in hefty fees, sometimes reaching $100 or more at the check-in counter.
If you're concerned about your carry-on exceeding size limits, consider checking your bag instead. In many cases, checking a bag can be more cost-effective due to the generally more relaxed weight and size restrictions (though it's crucial to verify these limits beforehand). Moreover, if cabin space is limited and you're among the last boarding groups, gate agents or flight attendants may insist that you gate-check your carry-on bag regardless.
Don't overlook the importance of personal items. While some airlines permit backpacks as personal items, others may only allow small handbags, briefcases, or purses. Failing to adhere to your airline's packing guidelines could result in additional fees for oversized personal items at the gate. However, if your airline allows backpacks as personal items, you might find that a carry-on bag becomes unnecessary.
Choosing your seat
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Most airlines assign seats automatically when you purchase the cheapest fares. If you crave a window seat or prefer an aisle, you'll likely need to pay an extra fee to choose your seat in advance. These fees can vary significantly, ranging from a modest $5 to a hefty sum exceeding $50 per flight.
So, how can you avoid these seat selection charges and secure a preferable seat? One straightforward strategy is to fly with an airline that offers lower or no seat selection fees. Southwest Airlines, for example, allows passengers to choose their seats during boarding based on their check-in order. Other airlines, such as Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, and United Airlines, typically charge more reasonable fees, usually under $10.
If you're flexible with your seating preference, you can simply forgo seat selection altogether. If the flight isn't full, you might be pleasantly surprised to find yourself assigned a window seat or another desirable location.
Boarding tickets
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Gone are the times when every traveler got a free paper ticket with their flight details. If you want something physical to help you get through the airport, you might need to pay extra depending on the airline. Breeze Airways charges $3 to print a boarding pass, while Allegiant Air charges $5. Even worse, airlines like Spirit and Frontier can take up to $25 for this piece of paper. Avoid this sneaky fee by printing your boarding pass at home or downloading airline apps for a digital boarding pass with a QR code.
Easy booking charge
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You might have noticed a convenience fee if you've bought concert tickets online, but did you know this fee can come up when buying a flight? Some airlines, especially budget ones, hit travelers with convenience fees for using a credit card at checkout or for the "convenience" of buying tickets online. If you're keen on dodging extra fees, you can buy your ticket at the airline counter or pay cash. It could be worth it if your airport is nearby.
Onboard features
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Even if you've already paid for a bit more legroom and that window seat, it's tempting to fork out for in-flight goodies like blankets, earphones, entertainment, Wi-Fi, and other extras. Many low-cost airlines don't even serve free snacks or drinks, so check your airline's services before asking for that cup of water or bag of pretzels. When packing, bring plenty of snacks, a reusable water bottle to fill up before boarding, your own headphones, and plenty of reading materials. The onboard Wi-Fi probably isn't worth the cost if it's a quick flight.
Trip insurance
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Another thing you might see during checkout is travel insurance. It'll be one of the last questions you face when buying a ticket, and many airlines automatically set it to yes, unless you change it. You should think about your own situation, but often travel insurance from the airline isn't worth it – especially if you booked with a travel rewards credit card. Cards like the CapitalOne Venture, Chase Sapphire Preferred, and others provide travel insurance as a part of their perks, so if your flight is canceled, delayed, or something else messes up your plans, you'll still have coverage.
Conclusion
By knowing these hidden fees and using tips to dodge them, travelers can cut down their total travel costs. Don't forget to pack lightly, pick airlines with reasonable baggage policies, and look into online check-in and in-flight entertainment choices. Being aware of these extra costs helps you make the most of your travel budget for a more enjoyable and budget-friendly trip. Have fun traveling!
Your guide to affordable airport parking: search and book with ParkingNearAirports.io!
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Have you ever heard something about off-site parking? If not, we recommend you take a closer look at this part of the article, as this information will be handy for those who prefer to travel by air and get to the airport by their own car.
Most people suppose that parking at the airport is the fastest and most convenient option for them. However, it's not actually true. We'll explain to you why.
To be true, being in a terminal parking lot isn't convenient at all. Although on-site airport parking is the nearest place where you can leave your vehicle for the period of a trip, you can face the following difficulties:
- You will need to find a spot in a crowded lot,
- You will need to carry the luggage all the way through the parking lot,
- You must pay expensive fees without great service.
Sounds not good, right? However, we found an excellent solution for you – in this case, off-site parking can become a savior for you. So if you're trying to find a parking spot with great service nearby the airport you're flying from and don't want to leave there the most significant part of your budget, pay attention to this option.
How does it work?
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Obviously, people who chose a car as a way to get to the airport want to leave their vehicle safely while traveling and not to face the problems we described above. So what can off-site airport parking offer its customers?
Although a few miles usually separate such parking from the airport, you shouldn't worry about this. Off-site parking provides free shuttles going back and forth between the parking lot and the airport. Thanks to this, it removes any worries about getting stuck in traffic on the way to the airport during peak times. So all you need to do is choose the best time for you and inform the parking lot staff.
How does it work? Actually, everything is straightforward: when you come to the entrance, the staff will remove your luggage from your car and load it onto the shuttle, which will take you and your bags to the terminal. Then, the vehicle will be parked securely.
In addition, this type of parking is much cheaper, and this is good news, as nobody wants to waste money. Therefore, off-site parking is the perfect option to receive excellent service and save money at the same time.
Want to find some great offers? You don't need to go somewhere – just find it right here!
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We're glad to inform you that you can find this solution right here. Our booking platform, ParkingNearAirports.io, offers the best prices on airport car parking and bundles hotel and parking packages. Besides, we provide the services for top cruise ports in Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas.
Our platform allows you to make an airport parking reservation through a few clicks within the application. As a result, customers receive a booking confirmation and a guaranteed parking spot upon arrival at the off-airport lot. Besides, if plans change, you can cancel hassle-free and receive a refund.
To understand it better, we would like to give you an example. Let's imagine that you're planning a trip to a popular destination. Regardless of your departure point, you can find convenient and affordable parking near airport you're flying from. Also, ParkingNearAirports.io offers its customers special airport parking coupons. With the help of these coupons, you can make the price for parking even two times less. So don't forget to use them to save as much money as possible.
You can find all the necessary and helpful information connected with the off-site airport parking on our official website. Enjoy traveling!
