There’s a lot of intense feelings and thoughts from people when it comes to flying low-cost or budget airlines. Some swear by them (especially for quick, short trips), and some have sworn them off entirely. But recent changes may make the naysayers reconsider their stance, emphasizes a new report for Going. This includes the recent flight disruptions and meltdowns full-service carriers have had as of late, in comparison to their budget counterparts.

Avelo Airlines, for instance, had the best on-time performance for any domestic carrier in July. The major Low-Cost Carriers in the U.S. include Southwest, Allegiant, Frontier, Avelo, Breeze, Spirit, and Sun Country.

“People often think Budget airlines equate to cheap in a bad sense, when in fact, the phrase ‘Low-Cost Carrier’ (its industry term) refers to how the carrier operates to keep costs down for both you and the business,” says Katy Nastro, travel expert and Going.com spokesperson. As anyone who has flown a budget airline, the biggest differences are in the seating and the amenities, but let’s take a look at how they each stack up.

Seating

Budget airlines often choose slimline seats, according to Going, with less padding than other full-service carriers to maximize space and weight for fuel efficiency. So your seat might feel harder and the space tighter. Some budget airlines also don’t allow seats to recline.

A number of budget carriers also don’t have different fare classes for seating — all the seats are the same. Some, like Spirit, have recently introduced classes with more legroom. Southwest is also planning to add fares for seats with extra legroom.

In-Flight Entertainment and Food 

Most budget carriers also do not have items like in-flight entertainment. (If they do, you likely have to stream from your own device — not unlike some full-service carriers’ smaller planes.) Food and drink on budget? If they do have anything, it’s for sale and most likely with no hot options. 

Cancellation/Change policy

The other cons to budget carriers include things you might not be aware of — like customer protections. As Going reports, Carriers like Frontier and Allegiant are not committed to all coverages that a controllable flight disruption might result in providing travelers with less rights according to the Airline Customer Service Dashboard.

“Budget carriers do not have interline agreements, meaning they cannot rebook you on another airline and may not be able to rebook you for a while due to smaller networks,” says Nastro. “Unlike their larger counterparts, Low-Cost Carriers don’t have extended networks (alliances) across the globe which makes options limited.”  

But the pros include new changes that could help you (and your wallet). Recently, Frontier announced that it would get rid of change fees, while Spirit also got rid of change fees and cancellation fees. According to Going, historically, budget carriers have been the most restrictive regarding changes and cancellations up until now. Spirit has also recently included new price bundles, with better perks and more upfront pricing for add-ons (like WiFi and carry-ons) for those traveling. 

Baggage and Customer Service

Customer service is often limited for budget carriers — but it’s gotten a bit better.. Frontier famously didn’t have the ability to talk to a human at all starting in November 2022 when they switched to all-digital communication, but since May 2024 you can talk to a person, though it’s only 24 hours before your flight. 

Another big difference? Carry-on allowances are limited, and often with a heftier price tag. That being said, your checked baggage will make it. (Though obviously, this is not a guarantee.) According to Air Travel Consumer Reports, Allegiant, Spirit, and Frontier often sit in the top half, if not the top five, airlines with the lowest mishandled bag rate. 

So while you may have never flown a budget airline yet — this may be the time to try it. Or at least, appreciate them a bit more. “Competition is the single biggest reason we see cheap flights,” says Nastro. “Budget carriers help put pressure on Legacy carriers, which means better prices for travelers. Even if you never fly on a budget carrier, having them in the mix is great for our wallets.”