{"slug":"ultra-low-cost-airlines","title":"Ultra Low Cost Airlines: Are Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant Worth It? (2026)","excerpt":"Ultra low cost carriers (ULCCs) like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant advertise flights as low as $19 — but fees for bags, seat selection, and carry-ons can triple the final price. Here's how they compare and when they're actually a good deal.","content":"# Ultra Low Cost Airlines: Are Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant Worth It? (2026)\n\n**Ultra low cost carriers (ULCCs) can offer the cheapest base fares in the US — sometimes $19–$49 each way.** But fees for carry-on bags, checked bags, seat selection, and snacks mean the final price is often comparable to, or more than, a mainstream carrier. Whether they're worth it depends on how you travel.\n\nHere's a complete comparison of Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant — and how they stack up against Southwest and the major carriers.\n\n## What Is an Ultra Low Cost Carrier?\n\nULCCs separate the base airfare from every additional service, charging fees for:\n- Carry-on bags (overhead bin access)\n- Checked bags\n- Seat selection\n- Priority boarding\n- Food and drinks\n- Printing your boarding pass at the airport\n\nThe strategy: advertise the lowest possible base fare, then recoup revenue through ancillary fees. Many travelers pay more in fees than they did for the ticket.\n\n## Spirit vs Frontier vs Allegiant: The Key Differences\n\n| | Spirit Airlines | Frontier Airlines | Allegiant Air |\n|--|----------------|------------------|---------------|\n| **Network** | 80+ destinations, hub at Fort Lauderdale | 100+ destinations, hub at Denver | 100+ smaller cities, hub at Las Vegas |\n| **Focus** | Price-conscious leisure travelers | Bundles and \"GoWild\" pass | Secondary airports, leisure-only |\n| **Base fare** | Very low | Very low | Very low |\n| **Carry-on fee** | $39–$79 | $35–$75 | $18–$50 |\n| **1st checked bag** | $39–$79 | $35–$79 | $18–$50 |\n| **Seat selection** | $5–$50+ | $9–$50+ | $5–$30+ |\n| **Cancellation rate (2023)** | ~3.0% | ~3.4% | ~1.7% |\n| **On-time rate (2023)** | ~72% | ~70% | ~78% |\n\n## Bag Fees: The Number That Actually Matters\n\nBag fees are where ULCCs get you. Here are current fees for the most common scenario — a carry-on bag:\n\n### Spirit Airlines Carry-On Fee (2026)\n- **Personal item** (fits under the seat, max 18\"×14\"×8\"): **Free**\n- **Carry-on bag** (overhead bin): **$39–$79** depending on route and when you add it\n  - Cheapest at booking online\n  - Most expensive at the gate ($79+)\n- If your bag doesn't fit the personal item dimensions at the gate: you pay the carry-on fee right there\n\n**Spirit's rule:** Only one personal item free. Every overhead bin bag costs extra. Many travelers are caught off guard at the gate when a small backpack is deemed too large.\n\n### Frontier Airlines Bag Fees (2026)\n- **Personal item** (under seat, max 14\"×18\"×8\"): **Free**\n- **Carry-on bag** (overhead bin): **$35–$75**\n  - Buy at booking for lowest price; jumps to $55–$75 within 24 hours of flight\n- **1st checked bag (50 lbs):** $35–$79\n- **2nd checked bag:** $55–$99\n\nFrontier's \"WORKS\" bundle: $89–$180/round-trip includes carry-on, checked bag, seat selection, and no change fee. For travelers who need these, WORKS often makes Frontier price-competitive with traditional carriers.\n\n### Allegiant Air Bag Fees (2026)\n- **Personal item:** Free\n- **Carry-on bag:** $18–$50\n- **1st checked bag:** $18–$50\n- Allegiant's fees are notably lower than Spirit and Frontier\n\nAllegiant flies to and from smaller regional airports (Bellingham instead of Seattle; Punta Gorda instead of Fort Myers), which can save $20–$40 each way in Uber/parking costs — or cost you if those airports are inconvenient.\n\n## How Much Does It Really Cost to Fly Spirit?\n\nLet's price out a round-trip from Chicago to Miami for one person, carrying a standard carry-on:\n\n**Spirit Airlines (Base):**\n- Base fare: $59 each way = $118 round-trip\n- Carry-on bag: $49 each way = $98 round-trip\n- Seat selection (window): $25 each way = $50 round-trip\n- **Total: ~$266**\n\n**Southwest Airlines (same route, with a free carry-on and checked bag):**\n- Base fare: $149 each way = $298 round-trip\n- Bags: $0 (first 2 checked bags free)\n- Seat selection: $0 (open seating, no extra charge)\n- **Total: ~$298**\n\nWith bag fees and seat selection, Spirit's advantage shrinks to $32 for a worse experience (no assigned seats, higher cancellation rate). Travelers who check bags frequently may find Spirit more expensive than Southwest.\n\n## When Ultra Low Cost Airlines Are Actually Worth It\n\nULCCs make financial sense when:\n\n1. **You're traveling with just a personal item** — fits under the seat, no overhead bin needed. One backpack or small bag for a weekend trip with no checked luggage.\n2. **You don't care about seat assignment** — willing to take whatever seat remains, or sitting separately from your travel partner.\n3. **Prices are dramatically lower** — if Spirit is $99 and United is $350 for the same route, even with a $45 carry-on fee, Spirit wins.\n4. **You're flying a route ULCCs specialize in** — domestic leisure routes where legacy carriers price high.\n5. **You're using the Frontier GoWild pass** — unlimited flights for ~$300/year; extraordinary value for flexible frequent flyers.\n\n## When to Avoid Ultra Low Cost Airlines\n\nSkip ULCCs when:\n\n1. **You have checked bags** — fees can add $80–$160 round-trip, eliminating the savings.\n2. **Your schedule is tight** — ULCCs have higher cancellation and delay rates. A missed connection on Spirit/Frontier on a Sunday afternoon can mean a 24+ hour delay.\n3. **You're traveling with family** — seat selection fees per person add up fast. A family of four paying $20/seat each way = $160 in seat fees alone.\n4. **You need to change your ticket** — Basic Economy on ULCCs typically offers no changes or changes at high cost.\n5. **The airport is inconvenient** — Allegiant flies to secondary airports; add transportation cost to your total.\n\n## Frontier GoWild Pass: The Best ULCC Value\n\nFrontier's GoWild All-You-Can-Fly pass at ~$299/year allows unlimited domestic flights on standby. For flexible travelers (remote workers, students, retirees) who can take early morning flights with low load factors, this is genuinely extraordinary value — potentially hundreds of flights per year for $300.\n\nThe catch: you don't know if you'll get on the flight until the day of (or same morning). Not for travelers with firm schedules.\n\n## FAQ\n\n**Are ultra low cost airlines safe?**\nYes — Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant are all FAA-certified and maintain the same safety standards as all US airlines. Safety is not where they cut corners. The difference is customer service, reliability, and ancillary fees.\n\n**What is Spirit's cancellation policy?**\nSpirit charges a change/cancellation fee of $49–$99 depending on how far in advance you cancel. Within 24 hours of booking, you can cancel for free (DOT rule). Spirit's \"Flight Flex\" add-on allows one free modification.\n\n**Is Frontier better than Spirit?**\nBoth are ULCCs with similar pricing. Frontier's WORKS bundle is a better deal than Spirit's equivalent if you need bags and seats. Allegiant has lower base fees but serves fewer routes. All three have higher cancellation rates than major carriers.\n\n**Does Southwest charge for bags?**\nSouthwest has historically included two free checked bags and a carry-on — a major differentiator. As of 2024, Southwest announced changes to bag policies; check their current policy at southwest.com before booking.\n\n**How do I avoid bag fees on Spirit and Frontier?**\n1. Travel with only a personal item (small backpack under 18\"x14\"x8\")\n2. Buy bags at initial booking (cheapest price)\n3. Use Frontier's WORKS bundle if you need bags + seat selection\n4. Consider a Spirit credit card (includes free carry-on)\n\n## Bottom Line\n\nUltra low cost airlines offer the lowest base fares in the US but charge for everything else. For carry-on-only travelers on non-time-sensitive routes, they can represent genuine savings. For travelers with checked bags, families who need seat assignments, or anyone with a tight schedule, the total cost after fees often equals or exceeds a mainstream carrier — with worse reliability.\n\nCompare prices for your specific route including estimated fees before booking.\n\n### Related Comparisons\n- [Spirit Airlines vs Frontier: Full Comparison](/compare/spirit-airlines-vs-frontier)\n- [Southwest vs Spirit Airlines: Which Is Cheaper?](/compare/southwest-vs-spirit-airlines)\n- [American Airlines vs Delta: Which Is Better?](/compare/american-airlines-vs-delta)\n","category":"travel","tags":["spirit airlines","frontier airlines","allegiant","ultra low cost airlines","budget airlines","baggage fees","travel"],"url":"https://www.aversusb.net/blog/ultra-low-cost-airlines","publishedAt":"2026-07-11T10:00:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-11T09:12:31.622Z","articleSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/blog/ultra-low-cost-airlines#article","headline":"Ultra Low Cost Airlines: Are Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant Worth It? (2026)","description":"Ultra low cost carriers (ULCCs) like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant advertise flights as low as $19 — but fees for bags, seat selection, and carry-ons can triple the final price. Here's how they compare and when they're actually a good deal.","abstract":"Ultra low cost carriers (ULCCs) like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant advertise flights as low as $19 — but fees for bags, seat selection, and carry-ons can triple the final price. Here's how they compare and when they're actually a good deal.","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/blog/ultra-low-cost-airlines","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/blog/ultra-low-cost-airlines#primaryImage","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/og?title=Ultra%20Low%20Cost%20Airlines%3A%20Are%20Spirit%2C%20Frontier%2C%20and%20Allegiant%20Worth%20It%3F%20(2026)&type=blog","contentUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/og?title=Ultra%20Low%20Cost%20Airlines%3A%20Are%20Spirit%2C%20Frontier%2C%20and%20Allegiant%20Worth%20It%3F%20(2026)&type=blog","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"Ultra Low Cost Airlines: Are Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant Worth It? 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