6 ways to improve your low-cost flight experience

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.

If you’ve managed to avoid flying a low-cost airline then you might be an outlier. Not only are airlines such as Frontier and Spirit often the cheapest option, but sometimes a low-cost airline can be the best way to get where you want to go.

Related: Why I (sometimes) choose to fly a budget airline over a full-service carrier

If you do end up flying low-cost, there are some great ways to improve your otherwise bare-bones flying experience. We've outlined six of them below.

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Use an airport lounge

Believe it or not, lounges are not just for passengers flying in business class, first class or passengers with elite status. They’re a great way to get away from the masses in larger airports. Of course, the quality of lounges depends greatly on the airport you’re flying from and the type of lounge you find yourself in. Before you travel, research the lounges that are available at your airport.

Let’s use Orlando International Airport (MCO) as an example. The Club at MCO has outlets in Terminal A (home to Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Sunwing and Avelo) and Terminal B (home to Spirit Airlines, Volaris, WestJet, GOL and Sun Country). For a $45 day pass, you get complimentary snacks and beverages, including beer, wine and premium spirits, newspapers, free Wi-Fi and space to work.

The Platinum Card® from American Express, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card all come with a Priority Pass membership, so you can use this perk to get into more than 1,300 lounges worldwide. Spending time relaxing in a lounge and having some decent food is certainly a great alternative to paying for overpriced and often subpar airport food.

Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access in 2022

Pay for seat selection

Paying for a specific seat can be an annoying extra cost when flying, especially with a family or in a group, and it's one not limited to low-cost carriers these days. However, it could make sense to pay for a seat on your low-cost flight rather than being allocated a seat randomly, as it will most definitely make your journey more comfortable.

The two main factors to consider are the proximity of the seat to the front and back of the plane, as low-cost airlines tend to board and deplane via both the front and the back. The closer you are to the doors, the quicker you can leave the plane once you’ve landed. Then there’s the issue of legroom. If you’re tall, then paying for a seat with extra legroom will make a huge difference.

For Spirit Airlines, seat prices vary from $1 to $250. When deciding which seat to pay for, consider the amount that you paid for the ticket originally and whether the additional seat cost would add sufficient improvement to your journey.

Related: Everything you should know before flying Spirit Airlines

Keep in mind that if you’re traveling as a family, some of the low-cost carriers offer preferred seat selection methods where you’ll be seated together without having to pay extra. Do your research to make sure you’re not overpaying for a benefit you’d otherwise get for free.

Use fast-track airport security

TSA PreCheck is currently available in more than 200 U.S. airports. TSA has announced that renewal fees for the popular program are falling from $85 to $70 — but only if the renewal is done online. The fee for new enrollments still remains $85.