Low-Cost Airfares May Not Be the Deal They Appear to Be

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Flight Attendant Renee Schexnaildre demonstrates the overhead baggage area during a media preview of the newest addition to its fleet, Boeing 737-800 jets Monday, April 13, 2009, at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine, Texas.

Image: Donna McWilliam/Associated Press

By Jessica Plautz2014-04-30 03:57:59 UTC

Unbundled airline fares are becoming the new norm.

Frontier Airlines announced a new, "simplified" airfare structure on Monday, offering lower initial fares while completely unbundling flight options. While the Denver-based carrier said the change enables customers "to truly customize their flight," what this means in practice is there will be a fee for everything from bringing a carry-on bag to requesting a seat assignment.

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Most travelers are by now familiar with unbundled flight pricing; paying to check a bag is common on major airlines. But more practices of ultra low-cost carriers — including Frontier, Ryanair and Spirit — could soon be adopted by all airlines. Flights on these airlines are cheap, sometimes even as low as $1, but additional fees bring the cost up quickly.

For Frontier, unbundling has enabled the airline to offer lower initial fares; non-stop routes were reduced by an average of 12%, according to a release. Under the new structure, fees for carry-on bags range from $20 to $50, and specific seat assignments with more legroom cost between $15 and $50.

George Hobica, president of AirfareWatchdog.com, said unbundling provides more incentive for travelers to pack light.

"Most people don’t need to pack more than about 20% of what they actually bring," Hobica told Mashable. "You can pack light; it’s a beautiful thing if you can accomplish it."

Hobica added that the move is not just about revenue.

“It’s not just a money grab; it really does make boarding easier," he said. "Ask any flight attendant, and they’ll say the most stressful part is fitting everyone’s carry-ons.”

Hobica said "underseat" bags, specifically designed to fit in front of you, are a great way to make sure you never have to fight for overhead bin space. For flyers truly dedicated to saving time, he recommends mailing items ahead to your destination.

“You get on the plane with a book or an iPad, and you don’t worry about the airline policies,” he said.

Frontier's announcement comes on the heels of another potential challenge to consumers looking for the best airfares.

Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would take unbundling even further, allowing airlines to advertise prices that do not include mandatory taxes and fees.

"The Transparent Airfares Act would effectively void a Department of Transportation regulation called the full-fare advertising rule, which is supported by consumer groups and airline passengers and has been upheld by the courts," Christopher Elliott wrote in the Washington Post .

“It’s flat-out misleading and deceptive. It’s legalized bait-and-switch advertising,” Charlie Leocha, director of Travelers United, an advocacy organization for U.S. travelers, told the Post.

Whether or not the Transparent Airfares Act becomes law, travelers should research all possible fees ahead of booking their flights.

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Topics: airfares, flight, frontier, Lifestyle, smartertravel, travel, Travel & Leisure, Work & Play