Are Low-Cost Air Carriers Worth The Headaches? [Flightmares Survey]

ACROSS AMERICA — Budget air carriers such as JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit and Southwest shave enough off ticket prices and fly to enough vacation destinations that they’re an affordable option that makes it possible for many families to travel.

Budget carriers regularly offer promotions that can lower ticket prices more if travelers are willing to work around blackout dates during certain days and weeks.

But it’s typically a no-frills experience. The beverage trays may be flimsy, and there’s no seatback entertainment system. The seats may be iffy and, although budget carriers are held to the same Federal Aviation Administration standards as full-price carriers, the airplane may be old.

Perks, such as priority boarding, seat selection and flight flexibility come at a price. Charges for checked baggage are standard across the industry, but low-cost carriers also often charge for a full-size carry-on bag. Beverages and snacks may cost more, and there may be no in-flight Wi-Fi.

One of the biggest things people give up when they fly discount carriers is the peace of mind that comes with knowing the airline has multiple ways to get them to their destinations if something goes wrong. How long are you willing to wait for another flight? Does a cancellation or delay mean you’ll miss an important event?

Are low-cost carriers worth the headaches? We’re asking for Flightmares, an exclusive, reader-sourced Patch feature on flight etiquette and other air travel issues.

Just fill out the survey below. And don’t worry, we don’t collect email addresses.

Editor’s note: This survey closed on April 18.

About Flightmares

Flightmares is an exclusive Patch feature on flight etiquette — and readers provide the answers. It appears monthly on Patch. If you have a topic you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with “Flightmares” as the subject line.

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