Whether you're a jetsetter or an occasional traveler looking for a getaway, everybody wants to find the best deal on a flight.
As airlines work to make fares more cost effective for travelers, many people are finding themselves willing to trade in a few extra perks if it means saving a few dollars. But is a budget airline really worth it, or are you better off booking with a major airline? All that glitters isn't gold. And if that $50 ticket seems too good to be true, that's because it probably is. You could end up paying hundreds more on the backend.
Being clear on what you're getting before you book that cheap flight could make the difference between a smooth trip or one filled with frustration. Let's explore about why giving yourself a little extra "cushion" and skipping the low-cost airline might be a better decision.
You Get What You Pay For, Literally.
Budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant were created for the sole purpose of getting passengers from point A to point B at the lowest cost possible. This means that you get what you pay for. A cheap flight with NO frills. And I do mean NONE!
There are charges for EVERYTHING, including but not limited to:
- Carry-ons
- Choosing your seat (an uncomfortable, NON-RECLINING seat)!
- Extra legroom
- Food and drinks (prepare to fill that water bottle up before you leave home).
- Pillows and blankets
- Printing your boarding pass at the airport
- Speaking with a representative when you book
- Breathing (OK, this is a joke. But you get my point.)
But wait! There's more. There is no wifi or onboard entertainment. So, if you're traveling for longer than three hours, be sure to bring a good book.
Delays And Cancellations Are A Headache When You Book On A Budget
Many times luggage is lost and flights are moved to a completely different day or cancelled altogether with little to NO help from customer service, (causing passengers to pay hundreds of dollars extra for another airline to get them to their destinations promptly). I've even heard stories about how ticket vouchers were not honored for their full value when customers tried to use them after being inconvenienced on a flight. There are also strict "use it or lose it" ticket policies.
I would only suggest flying a budget airline if there is a last minute emergency. And if that's the case, pack light, show up early, bring snacks, put a couple hundred dollars to the side for an unforeseen circumstance, and PRAY!
Major Airlines Provide More On Board Comfort And Ticket Flexibility
GiphyMajor airlines are better prepared to deal with last minute issues such as delays, cancellations, and lost luggage because of the policies that are in place. You're less likely to have a flight abruptly cancelled on you and left to figure out another option ON YOUR OWN when flying with a major airline. They also provide better flight times due to larger budgets that afford them the ability to pay steeper airport taxes. Frequent flyers also get to take advantage of corporate deals, loyalty programs and special discounts.
Book Basic If You’re Booking On A Budget
If you're looking for a slightly more accommodating low-cost option, the "Big Three" airlines (American, Delta, and United) have adopted a similar approach to budget airlines called Basic Economy. This option gives the same in-flight cabin experience as the other passengers, only with fewer amenities. Basic Economy allows passengers to reap the benefits of at least some perks WITHOUT paying extra.
Basic Economy provides:
- Snacks, drinks, and in-flight entertainment
- A free carry-on bag (American Airlines will allow free carry-ons beginning September 5th, 2018 and Mileage Plus members who fly United are allowed to bring one free carry-on on board).
- More comfortable seats (they actually recline)!
- Free pillows and blankets
- Speaking with a representative at no extra charge
- Printing your boarding pass at no extra charge
Booking Economy does not allow upgrades, cancellations, or priority boarding, and assigned seating is an extra fee. But your experience isn't nearly as uncomfortable as it would be on a budget airline (even with the stipulations). Passengers who care about comfort and cost might want to consider this option over a budget airline.
Ultimately, nothing beats FLEXIBILITY. Even if you don't anticipate any emergencies or last minute changes, it is always best to plan for the worst. If you have the means to pay extra to book a ticket on a major airline that allows you a comfortable flight with the option to make last minute changes, by all means DO IT!
By the time you're done calculating all of the extra fees, you'll end up paying for bags, last minute changes, and other extra perks, and it probably adds up to the cost of a regular ticket anyway. Paying a little more for a flight that gives you a some extra "cushion" is always worth the extra bucks if it makes for a smoother trip and saves your sanity in the long run.
What's your preference? Budget or major airlines? Why or why not?
Featured image by Shutterstock
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In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
