Airline Tickets

Airlines have really gotten petty. There was a time not that long ago where flying was an event. The airlines were much more competitive when it came to making people feel comfortable. The flights used to be all inclusive from soup to nuts, and there were no hidden fees that would jack the price of the flight up. Today, unfortunately, there seems to be a fee for everything. A cheap flight to Miami easily can result in costing the same if not more than any other flight. Airlines have moved away from all inclusive pricing to more of an ala carte option menu. Those hidden fees can really add up if you don’t pay attention. Most airlines require an extra fee for simply putting a piece of luggage on the plane with the passenger.

Folks follow all the rules for saving money on a flight. They book in advance, they fly to Miami during off times and off seasons trying to get the cheapest flight possible to Miami, only to find out that they have to pay extra for luggage – not because it exceeds weight requirements but just because they have luggage, period. Although it may seem ridiculous for any airline to not assume that a passenger will carry some luggage with them, the charges exist nonetheless on the majority of airlines operating today. The advertised price for a cheap flight to Miami may be one thing Cheap Airfare, except it does not mention that luggage is extra. Who can possibly travel to Miami on vacation without luggage? Of course the airlines realize that you will have to bring some form of luggage with you, and hopefully it will have to be checked so the additional fees can be charged. The airlines defend this practice by saying that it keeps costs of jet fuel down and that there is limited weight in the cargo hold (which is true); however, if you bring luggage with you and it is compact enough to fit inside the stow away area above the seat or under the seat, then there is no charge. So does a bag weigh less inside the cabin of the plane? One wouldn’t think so. Therefore the claim that the cost of buying the luggage a spot on the plane is not justified in the eyes of many travelers, and you may be among them. So a great way to beat the additional fee for checking a bag is to cram all your stuff into a carry on bag. This will keep the cost down and may assist in keeping a cheap flight to Miami cheap. There are very specific weight and size restrictions in place for carry on luggage, so the best bet is to contact the airlines before hand to makes sure the weight and size restrictions can be met.

Another of the favorite hidden fees that airlines have added to their ala carte list of options is paying extra for a lap child. A child under the age of two is not required to sit in their own seat, and they can sit with an adult paying flyer. Now they can still sit in your lap, but it may cost you. The fee is usually around ten dollars but can be as much as ten percent of the cost of the adult ticket. This is just one more way that your cheap flight to Miami can become less-than-cheap. Check around to see which airlines offering Miami cheap flights also offers a free ride for your body or toddler and save a few dollars.

Among the worst of the worst hidden charges is the charge for flying standby on the same day. This is like a penal charge for having to leave on short notice. This fee can be around twenty five extra dollars, or if the cheap flight to Miami has to be changed to another flight during the same day of travel, another fee. To void this fee, simply don’t fly standby (even though flying standby is really a good thing for the airlines since the passenger will be filling an empty seat) and don’t change the flight.

Other charges that you might not have considered for your cheap Miami flight may include traveling with a pet carrier in the cabin, which is at least fifty bucks, or cashing in frequent flyer miles, which usually costs around twenty five to fifty bucks. A cheap flight to Miami could wind up costing a bundle, if you don’t watch for those hidden costs. Travel light and pay attention to each airline’s hidden costs before booking a flight.