Budget airlines are notorious for sneaky fees that often add up to more than the cost of the ticket itself. You’re probably familiar with the most common upcharges — seat selection, baggage fees, and the like — but there’s one line item that many low-cost airlines tend to bury in the fine print. And by the time you find out about it, you’re left with no choice but to pony up some extra cash. Here’s what you need to know before booking your next budget airline ticket.

Paying To Check In

The business model of low-cost airlines is to advertise a low base fare to draw customers in and then charge for nearly everything else a la carte. Surprisingly, that even applies to the airport check-in process. While legacy airlines allow you to speak with an agent, check in, and print your boarding pass at no extra charge, many budget carriers charge extra for the ability to check in at the airport with the help of a staff member. 

The reasoning is simple: The more staff that’s needed on-site, the higher the airline’s costs will be. (Budget airlines need to maintain extremely low cost structures in order to stay profitable.) By implementing an extra charge for checking in at the airport, budget airlines hope to deter travelers from needing to speak with an employee, thus keeping their overhead costs lower. If a passenger decides to pay the extra fee, the airline benefits by recouping some money.

What You Can Expect To Pay

When it comes to check-in fees, Frontier Airlines has some of the highest, including a $25 “Airport Agent Assistance Charge” if passengers require help on-site. The fee applies to tasks travelers could have done themselves online, such as checking in, printing boarding passes, and purchasing bags or seats. However, there are some exemptions, including for any flyers who require special assistance or who are active members of the U.S. military.

Frontier’s competitor Allegiant does not charge a general fee to use airport check-in services, but it does charge specifically to print your boarding pass, requiring a $5 payment to do so.

As for international low-cost airlines, Mexico’s Volaris charges up to 300 pesos (around $17 USD) for a staff member’s personal attention at the airport. In Europe, the popular Ryanair charges a fee of 55 euros (roughly $64 USD) for most destinations for in-person assistance at airport check-in.

What To Do Instead

Thankfully, the solution to avoid these junk fees is simple. When flying a low-cost airline, always check in before you arrive at the airport, on either your computer or your mobile device at no additional cost. Airlines typically open check-in 24 hours prior to departure. This is also a good time to pay for bags (if you haven’t done so already) and seat assignments.

To avoid boarding pass printing fees, use the airline’s dedicated mobile app instead or send your boarding pass to your email. From there, you can pull up your pass and scan it to board the plane. If you feel more comfortable with a physical boarding pass, you can also print one at home for no extra charge.

Junk Fees Are Big Business

To give a sense of how much low-cost airlines rely on these fees, check out this 2023 study conducted by the British website NetVoucherCodes. The company determined that the now-defunct Spirit Airlines charged ancillary fees that amounted to 736% of the cost of an average ticket. Volaris’ hidden fees raised the price by 626%, Frontier’s fees amounted to 376% of the cost of an average ticket, and other airlines ranged between a 95% increase and a 201% increase on the base fare.

Many travelers aren’t aware of the airport check-in and boarding pass printing fees and end up having to pay them as a result. Other common fees include paying extra for both checked and carry-on luggage (prepaying online is almost always cheaper than at the airport or boarding gate), seat selection, in-flight amenities such as food and drinks, and even a fee for the convenience of booking online (which you can avoid by buying your ticket at the airport).