Low-cost or legacy: which airline to choose for your flight

What is included in the ticket

Legacy airlines typically include in the economy fare a carry-on bag plus one checked bag, assisted seat selection, and a meal on board for longer flights. Budget airlines sell each service separately: checked baggage, specific seat, meal, and even boarding pass printing can come with an additional cost on top of the advertised base fare. To understand exactly what your fare includes before paying for an unnecessary extra, see how to verify what is included in your ticket.

Airports and transfer times

Many budget airlines operate from secondary airports, often further from the city center compared to the main airport used by legacy carriers: the time and cost of transfers should always be factored into your total travel budget, because they can eliminate the savings on the ticket.

Punctuality and connections

Legacy airlines, relying on hubs with many available connections, generally offer faster rebooking in case of delay or cancellation that would compromise a subsequent flight. Budget airlines, with point-to-point networks and fewer alternative frequencies on the same route, more often leave the passenger with the burden of finding their own solution.

Which one to choose based on your trip

For a business trip with fixed appointments or a connection to protect, the greater frequency and guarantees of legacy carriers reduce the risk. For a weekend with carry-on luggage only and flexible times, a budget airline remains often the most economical choice, provided you have verified all the rules on baggage and documents in advance. If you want to evaluate other quality factors beyond price, you'll find more details in this article.

Before comparing prices, add the cost of checked baggage and seat selection to the budget airline fare: often the final total approaches that of a legacy ticket that included them from the start.