Guide · Flying ·
Low cost airline fares: what is and is not included
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Low cost airline fares usually pay for a seat on the plane and little else. The base fare often leaves out checked bags, a chosen seat, food and the right to change your flight. This checklist shows what to look for before you pay.
The idea is simple. A cheap fare is a starting price, not a final one. Work out your own needs, add up the extras, then compare the total. A fare with a bag and a seat included can cost the same as a bare fare plus add-ons.
Sources for this section: ACCC, Price displays; Jetstar, Baggage allowance; Virgin Australia, Domestic fares.
The checklist at a glance
| Item | Ask yourself | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bag | Is it included, and how heavy can it be? | Virgin Australia lists 7 kg total, in up to 2 pieces, on every Economy fare |
| Checked bag | Do I need one? | Not in Virgin Lite, which sells bags separately. Jetstar says its most popular fares leave bags out |
| Seat | Do I mind where I sit? | Virgin Lite sells a standard seat as an extra |
| Food and drink | Will I be hungry? | Virgin Lite includes water, tea and coffee only |
| Changes | Could my plans move? | Fare rules set the fee, and you pay any fare rise |
| Card payment | Is there a surcharge? | It must not be more than the business's cost |
Sources for this section: Virgin Australia, Domestic fares; Jetstar, Baggage allowance; ACCC, Price displays.
Bags: the biggest add-on
Bags are the first place a low fare grows. Jetstar says its most popular fares do not include checked baggage. It suggests adding a bag when you book to get the best price. If you wait, you may pay excess baggage fees at the airport.
Virgin Australia sells its fares in three Economy steps. Lite has a carry-on only. Choice and Flex each include one 23 kg checked bag. On Lite, a checked bag is available for purchase.
- Count the bags you really need, including the one you bring home with souvenirs.
- Check the carry-on limit for weight, not just size. Virgin Australia allows 7 kg in total.
- Watch for large items. Jetstar says an oversized item handling fee may apply if any side is longer than 1 metre.
- Oversized items count towards your total checked baggage allowance.
Sources for this section: Jetstar, Baggage allowance; Virgin Australia, Domestic fares.
Seats and meals
Seats and food are small costs that add up. On Virgin Australia Lite, choosing a standard seat is an extra. Choice and Flex include it. If you skip the paid seat, you still get a seat, but you do not get to pick it. Families who want to sit together should check this before they book.
Food works the same way. Virgin Australia Lite includes water, tea and coffee. Other food and drinks are sold from the onboard menu. A packed snack from home costs far less on a short flight.
Sources for this section: Virgin Australia, Domestic fares.
Changes and cancellations
The cheapest fares are the least flexible. Virgin Australia says your right to change or cancel is set out in your fare rules, which sit alongside your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. The Flex fare is the one it describes as built for changing plans.
- Read the change rule before you pay, not after.
- Look for the fee and for the fare difference. If the new flight costs more, you pay the gap.
- Ask if a refund comes as cash or as travel credit.
- Think about your trip. A fixed event such as a wedding needs less flexibility than a holiday with loose dates.
Fees differ by airline and change over time, so use the fare rules on the booking page as your guide.
Sources for this section: Virgin Australia, Domestic fares.
What the total price must show
Australian rules limit how an airline can show a price. The ACCC says a business must display a total price that includes taxes, duties and all unavoidable or pre-selected extra fees. Its example is a flight with a pre-selected seat. That cost must be in the total, while an unticked option such as a carbon offset does not have to be.
The ACCC also warns about drip pricing. This is when a low price is shown first and fees are added step by step. It names airline and ticketing sites as places to take care. The regulator's advice is simple:
- Do not focus only on the advertised price. Add up all the charges.
- Be ready to back out and compare a rival's final price.
- Look for pre-selected boxes and untick anything you do not want.
Card fees follow a rule too. Businesses can generally charge a surcharge for paying by credit, debit or prepaid card. It must not be more than what it costs the business to take that payment. If no surcharge-free way to pay exists, the minimum surcharge belongs in the displayed price.
Sources for this section: ACCC, Price displays.
A simple way to compare
Build the same trip on each fare you are weighing. Use the same bags, the same seat choice and the same date change risk. Then compare the final totals, not the headline prices.
- Write down the bags you will bring each way.
- Price the cheapest fare plus those bags and a seat.
- Price the next fare up with the same items already included.
- Add the card fee at the last screen.
- Pick the lower total, unless a flexible fare protects a trip you might have to move.
Travel light and the bare fare often wins. Travel with a suitcase and a fixed seat, and the middle fare often does.
Sources for this section: ACCC, Price displays; Virgin Australia, Domestic fares; Jetstar, Baggage allowance.
Sources
- ACCC, Price displays: accc.gov.au
- Jetstar, Baggage allowance: jetstar.com
- Virgin Australia, Domestic fares: virginaustralia.com