As Ricardo was flying from Lima to Medellin on a flight he purchased for 90$ on Viva Air (an airline that no longer exist), he began to get charged along the way for additional fees. The total cost of his one way? 230$. Is is easy to fall for each fee. Low-cost airlines rely on the lack of knowledge from passengers to get more money than what is advertised. Here are some tips to avoid those extra fees:
Read the Fine Prints
I cannot emphasize this enough. Make sure you are aware of your purchase. Airline employees sometimes will try to charge you additional fees. This often happens due to the lack of knowledge from the passenger. If at any point you find that you did everything right and the airline is still charging you, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation here:
https://secure.dot.gov/air-travel-complaint
I have used this form in two opportunities with positive results. An airline would rather wave a fee than be penalized with something greater from the Department of Transportation. Before a reservation is made, you would be able to see what you can bring to the plane. Most of the time, low-cost airlines will only allow a personal bag with limited weight and dimensions.
Punctuality matters
Some airlines have a long line at the ticket counter, so be sure to arrive early. Remember to not pack liquids greater than 3 oz unless you are planning on checkin-in your belongings.
Make sure to check-in 24 hours before the flight and avoid checking in at the airport as this might also carry a charge. To do this, use the airline’s website or thru the airline’s app which would generate a QR code. This serves as a ticket and thus you would save time by going directly to the security checkpoint and onto the boarding gate.
Bring snacks/food
Make sure to eat before the flight and pack snacks to eat on the plane. TSA will not allow you to pass thru security if you carry liquids over 3 oz. This means that you cannot bring soup or drinks to the gate. One way to get around this, is to freeze your drink before the flight if there is a liquid you wish to take but do not want to pay the check-in fee.
I recently flew on Spirit Airlines and payed 8$ for a cup of noodle which would normally cost 1$ at any convenient store. My best advice is to bring solid food in a ziplock bag that and can be consumed at room temperature.
Be courteous
There is no penalty in asking for a courtesy drink or snack. Flight attendants are in charge of distributing products/meals on the plane. I have received food/drinks as complementary while onboard on low-cost airlines.
Lastly, be courteous to all employees. In my experience, low-cost airlines are more prone to technical issues such as delayed flights/cancelations/overbooking. If you are not able to make your flight, do not be angry at the gate agents. This is out of their control and screaming will only make matters worse. However, in case your flight is rebooked, Airline employees do have the authority to give you priority on the next available flight. Displaying anger towards airline employees might even get a passenger to be accommodated last.
As always, my inputs are solely based on anecdotal evidence as there are many loopholes in the travel industry. Happy Travels!
