The five best low cost airlines in the US: what are their advantages

There are low cost airlines that actually provide passable service and have great reviews. RD.

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Now that most of the pandemic-related travel restrictions have been lifted, Americans are flying in record numbers. And while high demand means some airlines charge premium prices, there's a trick to paying less for airfare: You can buy tickets from budget airlines. Many people view flying as nothing more than a way to get from point A to point B safely and without much inconvenience.

How to get cheap flights?

For starters, forget the myth of shopping on Tuesday or Wednesday. Today, pricing algorithms have become so smart and sophisticated that you can't beat them by buying a ticket on a certain day.

On the subject: The 'cheapest' dates for summer flights

However, there are other tricks that allow you to pay less for air tickets. For example, you can buy an outbound flight with one low cost airline and a return flight with another airline.

And here are some facts about air travel: mid-week travel is often cheaper than other days. Because business travelers are usually willing to pay full fare on Mondays and Fridays, while leisure travelers tend to fly on weekends. The most suitable period for departure is Tuesday-Thursday. Morning flights are also likely to be cheaper (and less prone to delays!), says Lusson Smith, product operations specialist at Scott's Cheap Flights, a membership service that alerts subscribers to discounted flights.

He says it's very good if you can be flexible on at least one of three important things: where you're flying, when you're flying, and when you're booking. If you can't be flexible about the first two - let's say you have a family wedding coming up - at least try to take advantage of the best time to plan your trip. For domestic travel, book at least one to three months in advance; for international travel, the window increases to two to eight months in advance. “If you're traveling during the high season, like Christmas, add a couple more months to that,” Smith says.

Using Google's flight search feature can save travelers some money. Google uses historical rate data to predict whether your rate will be low, medium, or high over a given period of time. This works for all internal routes.

What is the cheapest airline?

It does not happen that one airline is always the cheapest. This varies from market to market. The one exception, according to Smith, is newcomer Breeze Airways, which launched less than a year ago. “If Breeze suits you, it will be the cheapest,” he says.

However, competition may drive prices down for other airlines. “When Spirit or Frontier comes in, they have to compete with each other, so they will fight for you,” he says.

Determining the best low cost airline for your travel needs may require a bit of math on your part. “On average, [super-low cost] airlines like Spirit and Frontier are the cheapest in terms of fares,” says Zach Griff, senior reporter for The Points Guy. But the prices each airline charges for various amenities (like food, pillows and blankets, and Wi-Fi) vary, so it's worth using a calculator.

Which airline is considered low cost?

There is no strict definition of a budget airline, but experts agree that the basic condition is the most obvious: they charge a lower base fare than traditional airlines. In a model known as sharing, low-cost airlines add fees for most of the perks that are included in traditional airline fares: seat selection, hand luggage, checked luggage, snacks and drinks, and more.

“Since 2000, the Big Three have been losing market share more and more to these low-cost airlines,” Smith says. As a result, he said, these legacy airlines have introduced "basic economies" to compete.

But price isn't the only difference between traditional and low-cost airlines. Griff says the structure of airline networks is also different. “Low-cost carriers typically don't have hubs,” he says. “They fly mostly point-to-point.”

They are usually found in secondary markets, where airline business costs are lower and airports are easier and faster for travelers to navigate. Many low cost airlines also only offer one class of service, excluding first, business and coach models.

In addition, low-cost carriers often have only one type of aircraft in their fleet, which makes their maintenance and crew training less costly. This often means that their fleet is more modern than traditional airlines.

Budget airlines are "compacting" their planes, Griff says. If you have ever flown with one of these carriers, you know how to save money. The airline packs so many people that the cost of a flight per seat is much lower, but so is the comfort factor.

In addition, there is some debate about what counts as a budget airline. Smith acknowledges that Southwest and JetBlue "started out as low-cost airlines, but now they're sort of the flagship companies in the field."

Are low cost airlines good?

If saving money is your top priority, then low cost airlines can be a great option. “They open up travel opportunities for people who might not otherwise be able to travel,” says Griff. But if you don't intend to sit in a narrow chair for several hours, or don't want to take food on board with you, this might not be the best choice for you.

Some of the most common traveler complaints about budget airlines are last-minute delays or outright cancellations with little or no notice, and difficulty getting refunds for unused tickets.

“Low-cost airlines have very reduced flight schedules,” explains Smith. “If a flight is cancelled, they are required to put you on a new flight, but if that doesn’t happen until Monday morning, you’re effectively stuck there until then.” In contrast, if a flight from one of the Big Three is cancelled, the airline likely has another flight available on the same day.

It may come as a surprise to some travelers that security is not an issue for low cost carriers, at least in the United States. All airlines must adhere to the same federal safety regulations.

Top Low Cost Airlines

Breeze Airways

Breeze Airways is one of the best. It is a low-cost airline founded by David Nieleman, former CEO of JetBlue,” says Smith. Notably, Neeleman also founded or co-founded Morris Air, WestJet and Azul Brazilian Airlines. “What sets Breeze apart from the rest is its commitment to only non-stop low cost routes and its extensive and growing network of routes to underserved markets while slowly adding larger cities,” he explains.

Like most low-cost airlines, Breeze charges for checked baggage at the lowest tiers, though one personal item is free for all tiers. There is no in-flight entertainment, but paid Wi-Fi is coming soon.

The airline offers a few nice touches: AC power and USB ports in every seat, large windows, and even LED decorative lighting. Best of all, however, is the lack of connecting flights.

Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines, like Breeze, kicked off during the pandemic, making its first flight in April 2021. A year later, the extra-budget carrier was highly praised. Avelo's flights do not cross the continent, but fly to 12 western and 13 eastern cities from headquarters on each coast (one in Burbank, California and the other in New Haven, Connecticut).

Most flights last less than two hours, making the cramped seats and tiny tables (too small for a laptop, according to one reviewer) bearable. Fees for carry-on and checked baggage are reported to be lower than other airlines, and the company does not charge for cancellations or changes. You can even go the old route and order by phone at no extra charge.

Spirit Airlines

“Everyone wants to hate them, but they shut down after last year’s crash,” Griff says, referring to an 11-day period last summer when the airline canceled more than 2800 flights, leaving passengers stranded for several days. That's not all. Frequent travelers have historically complained about lost luggage, poor customer service, and flight cancellations.

But Griff says the low-cost airline has invested in a new fleet, expanded its network (it now flies to 41 destinations from its base in Las Vegas), improved reliability and now offers in-flight Wi-Fi at a very low cost. “They deserve the award for the best low cost airline,” he says.

Earlier this year, Frontier announced the purchase of Spirit, which is guaranteed to shake up the budget travel category. But Griff says JetBlue has since also made an offer to buy Spirit, so "there's a lot of change in the air" and one can only guess which airline will win.

Southwest

The seat spacing (or legroom) is the same as in economy class on a traditional airline, plus two free checked bags, free hand luggage, and free snacks and drinks—not bad for a budget airline. But be aware that Southwest assigns passengers to boarding groups based on when they checked in online; those in the first group have access to any seat on the plane, and those in subsequent groups choose what's left when they board. You will not find outlets in any of these places.

However, its loyalty program scores highly for its lack of blackout dates. It has partnerships with some hotels and car rental companies. The airline is also known for the humor its flight attendants put into safety presentations and remains a favorite among frequent flyers, earning 4,5 out of five stars from Tripadvisor reviewers. The infrequent complaints are related to rescheduling and flight cancellations, which Smith said are currently causing problems for the airline.

JetBlue

Once a favorite among budget travelers, JetBlue, which Griff describes as a hybrid between a true budget carrier and a full-service airline, left several dissatisfied travelers last year. The Wall Street Journal's annual ranking of domestic airlines ranked JetBlue last in 2021 with the highest level of extreme delays. She had the second-to-last place in terms of the number of arrivals on time, and only Allegiant Air fared worse. It also ranked second in terms of customer complaints, with only Spirit airline faring worse.

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However, many reviewers still rate it highly for food and drink (those free blue Terra chips are still enjoyed by customers), in-flight entertainment (free Wi-Fi and seat-back TVs), and seat comfort. Its loyalty program is also popular for its ability to pool points with friends and family, Smith says.

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