Flight Fees to Check Before You Pay

Baggage, including the cabin bag

Check the cabin allowance first, because it is the one people assume is free. On the most restricted fares the full-size cabin bag is excluded and only a small item fitting under the seat is included. Discovering this at the gate is the most expensive way to find out, since airport rates are substantially higher than adding a bag online.

Then check the checked allowance per direction, not per trip. Allowances can differ between the outbound and the return, particularly where the two legs are operated by different airlines. On a codeshare the rules that apply are usually those of the airline actually operating the flight, which may not be the one you booked with.

Seat selection

Most airlines now charge to choose a seat in advance, with extra-legroom and forward rows priced higher. Declining means being assigned a seat at check-in, which is fine alone and unreliable for a group.

Two people travelling together who both want to sit together should treat seat fees as part of the fare, because it is a per-person, per-flight charge. For a family of four on a connecting itinerary the total across all legs can be significant enough to change which fare is cheapest overall.

Changes, cancellations and no-shows

Check three separate things, because they are governed by different rules. Whether you can change at all; whether a fee applies; and whether a fare difference applies on top. Many fares now have no change fee but still charge the difference to the new flight's current price, which is frequently the larger sum.

Then check cancellation: refundable to the original payment method, credit valid for a limited period, or nothing at all. Finally check the no-show rule, which is the harshest and least known. On many restricted fares, missing a flight without notifying the airline forfeits the ticket including any remaining legs — a return can be cancelled because the outbound was missed.

Connections and separate tickets

A single ticket covering the whole journey means the airline is responsible for getting you there. Miss a connection because the first leg ran late and they rebook you at their cost. Two separate tickets that look like a connection carry no such protection, and a delay means buying a new ticket at that day's prices.

Self-transfers also add work that costs money: collecting and rechecking bags, possibly clearing immigration and needing a transit visa, and sometimes a hotel night if the timing does not work. Price those in before comparing against a protected through-ticket, and add a margin for the first flight running late.

Payment and currency charges

Some sellers add a card surcharge, more often on credit than debit, which appears only at the final step. It is worth reaching that screen on your leading option before deciding, since the total can shift.

If the fare is quoted in another currency, decline the site's offer to charge you in your own. That conversion is usually at a worse rate than your bank would apply. Paying in the currency shown and letting your card handle it is normally cheaper.

• Save or screenshot the fare rules as they appeared when you booked.
• Recheck every fee on the final payment screen, not the search result.
• Keep the confirmation that shows what was included in the price.
• Add cabin bag, checked bag and seats to each fare before comparing.

Costs that only appear at the airport

Two charges are easy to miss because they are not part of the booking at all. The first is the excess or oversize bag. Weight limits are enforced inconsistently, which encourages optimism, and the charge for exceeding one is typically far higher than pre-purchasing a heavier allowance would have been. Weigh bags at home if you are close to a limit.

The second is being charged for a cabin bag at the gate on a restricted fare. Where the fare excludes the full-size cabin bag, gate rates are materially higher than adding it online. If your fare excludes it and you know you need it, adding it during booking is almost always cheaper than deciding at the airport.

Compare totals, not headline fares

Once you add what your trip actually needs, the ranking often changes. A fare that looked more expensive can end up cheaper than a basic one plus a bag plus two seats, and it usually comes with better terms if something goes wrong.

Work out the total for each candidate the same way, including everything you know you will need. That is the only comparison that means anything, and it takes a few minutes at most.