Ready for a new adventure? Check out these budget airlines in the U.S. to fly with next time you get itchy feet.
Last updated: August 19, 2024
The Best Airlines in the U.S. for Budget Travelers
Flying with the budget airlines in the U.S. was a big no-no for me just a year ago. Somebody once suggested that I should have avoided Spirit and Frontier Airlines and never even bothered to check them out.
The message was crystal clear: “With these budget airlines add-on fees you end up paying more than when flying with major domestic airlines.” We didn’t travel a lot at that time and I couldn’t even imagine questioning someone who seemed to be at different airports around the world at least once every couple of months.
The revelation about American budget airlines came unexpectedly. I had a very important, unplanned meeting in Washington, D.C. With a few days before the departure, my chances of finding an affordable flight with a respectable airline shrank significantly. Out of dozens of flights to the capital of the U.S., only Spirit Airlines offered the best deal on the day I needed it.
Despite my mistrust of the U.S. budget airlines, I was not willing to shell out nearly $1,000 for a domestic return flight, which was almost three times more than Spirit charged for the same route. So, I took a leap of faith, held my fingers crossed that I wouldn’t need to pay all those extra fees I was about, and booked the flight with Spirit Airlines. Needless to say, I’ve been flying with the U.S. budget airlines ever since.
U.S. Budget Airlines Add-On Fees
Flying with the budget airlines in the U.S. is a controversial topic. On one hand, you can save money, one of the main reasons people choose to fly the budget airlines in the first place. On the other hand, not many travelers read small letters and learn about add-on fees beforehand. Indeed, the U.S. budget airlines are known for their hidden fees that once accumulated can cost you a fortune.
These are some of the main things the American budget airlines charge extra fees for. While the list is certainly not complete, it helps you to stay on track while planning your trip without breaking a bank.
- Carry-on bag. Pay special attention to the maximum dimensions. If your bag doesn’t fit these parameters, you have to pay extra fees regardless of the weight of your carry-on.
- Checked baggage
- Seat selection
- Food and beverages
- Boarding passes printed by ticket agents
With that said, not all American budget airlines are the same. Some companies do offer more services for the price you pay. Without further ado, here are the best budget airlines in the U.S. to fly with right now.
READ MORE: The 9 Best Budget Airlines in Europe to Fly Right Now
THE 6 BEST BUDGET AIRLINES IN THE U.S.
1. JetBlue Airways
Based out of John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, JetBlue Airways has quickly gained popularity among American budget travelers. Contrarily to some other U.S. budget airlines, this company strives to provide great customer service while still keeping its prices low. So such perks as snacks, beverages, and inflight entertainment can sneak even into economy class.
Moreover, this relatively young airline keeps adding new destinations and dozens of new flights on existing routes. As of today, JetBlue flies to more than a hundred destinations in North, Central, and South America.
2. Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is a predominantly domestic airline with headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Yet after acquiring AirTran in 2012, the company has focused on a few international destinations. Today, it’s one of the best budget airlines in the U.S. with flights to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
While Southwest is not without flaws (who is?), some of its policies make it stand out from the rest of American budget airlines. First, Southwest Airlines believe in “transfarency”. They don’t rely on hidden fees as a way to increase their fares. Second, Southwest doesn’t charge for your first checked bag on the flights to the U.K. and Europe. And finally, they let you change your travel date without charging a separate fee even on Blue fares. You pay only for the fare difference.
Blue Basic, a new addition to the long-established fare options, is equivalent to Light Economy in many other budget airline companies in the U.S. It offers even cheaper fares than the standard Blue, but comes with far fewer included services.
3. Spirit Airlines
I must admit, I have a soft spot for Spirit Airlines. It’s a company that opened for me the door to the world of the U.S. budget airlines and made our travels more affordable. Spirit Airlines is an ultra-low-cost carrier with flights throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Central and South America.
At Spirit, you can expect pretty much all add-on fees, typical for any other budget airline in the U.S. And yes, the company doesn’t blow you away with its exceptional customer service. In fact, you barely see flight attendants on a plane except for the time when you need to make an in-flight purchase. To make things worse, Spirit Airlines charges extra fees even for a carry-on bag.
Update: In 2021, I flew with Spirit Airlines a few times. Now you can see flight attendants more often. They keep collecting trash throughout the entire flight.
Yet despite all these downsides, the company’s low cost airfares are a great alternative to the major airlines in the U.S. and are especially popular with budget travelers. Furthermore, the size of a personal item that you can take on the plane for free is relatively big. In my case, it can easily pass for a small carry-on bag.
TIP: Before booking my flights with Spirit Airlines a few years ago, I paid extra fees for my carry-on, which was smaller than the personal items of most of the passengers on that plane. Lesson to learn, always check the dimensions of your bag. It can save you tons of money.
To sum it up, even with less than average legroom and the lack of inflight entertainment, Spirit Airlines works just fine for any short domestic flights.
4. Sun Country Airlines
Similar to the above-mentioned U.S. budget airlines, Sun Country Airlines operates in its home country, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It offers services on more than 85 routes to more than 50 destinations.
Sun Country Airlines’ fares are some of the most affordable. They often attract adventurers that travel on the lowest budget possible. On top of that, inflight entertainment and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the fare.
5. Allegiant Air
Based in Las Vegas, Allegiant Air is one of the best budget airlines in the U.S. for short trips. It flies to some of the popular destinations in the country. Its fares are substantially low. And you can reserve a hotel room, get a rental car, and buy tickets to famous attractions – all of these while booking your flight on the airline company’s website.
On the other hand, additional fees apply for boarding passes printed out at the airline counter, checking in at the airport, seat selection, and checked bags. Make sure to check Allegiant Air website and follow their instructions on how to avoid these unnecessary charges.
6. Avelo Airlines
We found out about Avelo, a new ultra-cost airline in the U.S. while looking for budget flights to Medford, Oregon. The price was too good to pass. And since we’d never heard about this airline before, the thought that it might have been some sort of scam didn’t leave us until we were standing in front of our gate, ready to board one of the planes operated by Avelo.
Avelo offers budget flights all over the U.S. The majority of its routes, however, connect different destinations on the East Coast and in the Pacific Northwest.
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