Learn how to avoid extra fees when booking flights with budget airlines by purchasing tickets in person
To save some cash, just head to the airline’s ticket counter at the airport. Chat with an agent, and they can help you skip those annoying fees. Just bring your ID and know where and when you want to fly.
This little trick can save you nearly $50 on round-trip flights. But keep in mind, some airlines have limited hours for their ticket counters, so plan accordingly.
Let’s break down some of the fees you might encounter. For instance, Sun Country Airlines has a “Passenger Interface Charge” that’s $22 per passenger for each flight segment. A segment is just one leg of your trip. So, if you’re flying nonstop from Las Vegas to Chicago, that’s one segment. But if you have a layover, it counts as two.
Other airlines like Allegiant, Frontier, Spirit, and Breeze have similar fees. Allegiant calls it an “Electronic Carrier Usage Charge,” and it’s also $22 per passenger per segment. Interestingly, not many people know they can avoid this fee by buying tickets at the airport.
Frontier Airlines has a “Carrier Interface Charge” that can go up to $23 per passenger per segment. Spirit Airlines has a “Passenger Usage Charge” that varies from $3.99 to $22.99, depending on how you book. Breeze Airways has a “Technology Development Charge,” but they also allow you to save by booking at the airport.
So, if you want to keep your travel costs down, consider booking your tickets in person. It might take a little extra time, but the savings can be worth it.
