How to save on extra costs of air travel

Luggage: the weight that matters most

Traveling with only carry-on luggage included in the fare, when the itinerary allows, almost always avoids the highest accessory expense. The permitted sizes vary from airline to airline, so it's worth checking before packing: updated carry-on luggage dimensions change often from one season to another.

Seat selection: free automatic assignment

Advance seat selection is almost always avoidable: accepting the free automatic assignment at check-in, available to most airlines, you still get a seat onboard, even if not chosen in advance.

Onboard meal or airport purchase

Onboard meal almost always costs more than equivalent purchase made at the airport before boarding, where competition between vendors keeps prices lower.

Payment commissions: what European regulations say

Since 2018, the PSD2 directive prohibits European sellers from applying surcharges for payment with ordinary consumer debit or credit cards; any remaining commissions today concern almost exclusively alternative payment methods, such as PayPal or cards issued outside the European Union, and it is anyway a good idea to check them before confirming the purchase.

Before paying, check the order summary page item by item: removing even a single unnecessary extra, like seat selection, often provides more value than any ticket discount.