The $29 Flight That Costs $130
The math is simple. Budget airlines advertise low base fares because they have stripped everything except the seat from the ticket price. Every other element — the bag under your seat, the bag in the overhead bin, choosing a specific seat, checking in at the airport, printing a boarding pass, bringing a wheelchair — is now an individual line item.
This is not inherently wrong. The problem is that the fees are not disclosed clearly at the search result stage, so many passengers discover them only at checkout or, worse, at the gate.
This guide maps every fee, by airline, so you can calculate the true cost before you book.
Ryanair (Europe's Largest Budget Carrier)
Ryanair's fee structure as of 2026:
Cabin bag policy (the most confusing part):
- Free personal item: A small bag must fit under the seat (40 × 20 × 25 cm). This is your only free item.
- Priority + 10kg carry-on: €6–€23 per flight (booked in advance). Allows a 55 × 40 × 20 cm bag in the overhead bin.
- Priority boarding required for overhead bin access — it is bundled with the carry-on fee.
Checked baggage: €10–€40 pre-booked per flight; €30–€60 if added later; €60+ at the airport.
Seat selection: €4–€30 per seat per flight. "Random" unselected seats are assigned at check-in.
Airport check-in: €55 per passenger if you check in at the airport (online check-in is free).
Boarding pass reprint: €20 at the airport.
Real total for a round trip (one carry-on + one seat selection): Add €50–€80 to the advertised fare.
Spirit Airlines (US Ultra-Low-Cost)
Spirit charges for almost everything except the seat itself:
| Fee | Approximate Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Carry-on bag (overhead bin) | $55–$100 per flight (more if paid at gate) |
| Personal item (under seat) | Free |
| First checked bag | $35–$65 per flight |
| Seat selection | $5–$50 per seat per flight |
| Airport check-in | $25 per passenger |
| Wi-Fi | Not available on most routes |
Spirit's "Saver$ Club": $69.95/year membership that reduces bag fees by $10–$20. Worth it for frequent Spirit flyers.
Real total for a round trip (carry-on + seat): Add $120–$200 to the advertised fare.
EasyJet (UK/Europe)
EasyJet's fee model is slightly more transparent than Ryanair but follows a similar structure:
- Free small bag: Must fit under seat (45 × 36 × 20 cm)
- Large cabin bag (overhead): Included in "Flexi" tickets; £5.99–£34.99 added on Standard/Standard+ tickets depending on route
- Checked baggage: From £14 per bag per flight pre-booked; up to £57 at the airport
- Seat selection: £5–£28 per seat per flight
- Plus membership: £199/year; includes overhead bag on all bookings
Wizz Air (Central/Eastern Europe)
Wizz Air's model is similar to Ryanair, with some differences:
- Free personal item: 40 × 30 × 20 cm (smaller than Ryanair's)
- WIZZ Priority + carry-on: From €5 per flight
- Checked bag: From €10 per flight pre-booked
Wizz Air has a more aggressive ancillary revenue model than EasyJet; the effective cost of adding bags is typically higher.
How to Actually Fly Budget Airlines Without Overpaying
Rule 1: Only fly with what fits under the seat. The single largest hidden fee is the overhead bin carry-on charge. Packing into a personal-item-only bag (40 × 20 × 25 cm for Ryanair; varies by airline) eliminates the biggest fee.
Rule 2: Book bags at time of booking, never later. Bag fees increase significantly when added after initial booking — and skyrocket at the gate. Always add your bag allowance during the initial checkout.
Rule 3: Check in online. Airport check-in fees ($25–$55) are easily avoided by checking in via the airline app in the 48 hours before departure.
Rule 4: Compare total prices, not headline fares. Google Flights now shows "estimated total with carry-on" for some budget airlines. Use this, or manually add the expected fees before comparing fares.
Rule 5: Consider legacy carriers for longer trips. On a 4+ hour flight where you need a bag and a specific seat, the total cost of a budget carrier frequently exceeds a sale fare on a legacy carrier — with worse service and no compensation rights if delayed.
Use the baggage allowance calculator to compare exact checked baggage fees across airlines before booking.