ACROSS AMERICA — We feel ya, Jim.

The Healdsburg (California) Patch reader’s experience flying a discount airline to Puerto Rico is a perfect scenario for Flightmares, an exclusive, reader-sourced Patch feature on flight etiquette and other air travel issues.

Among readers who answered our survey question — Are lower fares worth the hassles of flying low-cost airlines? — Jim gave us a one-word answer: “No!”

And then he cut loose.

“My mission was time-critical, the boat had to leave the country on the day after my flight,” said Jim, who flew out of Atlanta on Spirit, expecting to arrive at San Jose International Airport in plenty of time.

Hassle No. 1: The airline didn’t get the plane to the departure gate in Atlanta until after the scheduled takeoff time.

Hassle No. 2: Jim missed two connecting flights.

Hassle No. 3: When Jim arrived in San Jose, his luggage didn’t.

“I spent all night in San Jose International Terminal, resting on a concrete wall,” he said. “The next day, I bought replacement clothing and personal items to replace my lost luggage.”

He booked his return flight on Frontier.

“It was uneventful until the approach to landing,” Jim said. “The pilot came on the PA and explained we had lost hydraulics to the nose wheel steering. He said the landing would be normal but without steering, we would need to be towed to the gate.”

By the time he collected his luggage and caught a shuttle, Atlanta’s mass transit system, MARTA, had stopped running direct trains to the station where his wife had been waiting for six hours.

“So, if you don’t have a schedule to meet and don’t mind spending the night on the floor of the airport and like adventures like loss of hydraulics, then by all means, fly the low-cost carriers,” Jim said.

“I get it. I was a Berkeley hippie once — you know, go with the flow,” he added. “However, later in life, I was a frequent flyer gold on United and executive platinum on American Airlines. I’ve never, ever been stranded by these two airlines.”

Livermore (California) Patch reader Mandy also is happy the days of scrimping on airfare are in the past.

“When I was younger, I often used low-cost airlines, but now that I’m older, I can’t imagine going back to them, any more than I can imagine taking a Greyhound bus, like I might have in my late 20s,” Mandy said.

“They provide even less than the basics, or at least it feels that way,” Mandy continued. “I guess my baseline for the minimum is higher than some.”

Budget carriers typically offer no-frills flying experiences, though it’s easy for the cost to add up with perks such as priority boarding, seat selection, flight flexibility and high fees to check more than the minimum allowed luggage. People who fly on discount carriers may also give up peace of mind that comes with knowing the airline has multiple ways to get them to their destinations if something goes wrong.

Pam, a Yardley (Pennsylvania) Patch reader, sometimes said it’s worth it to fly a discount carrier out of Trenton-Mercer Airport, which is close to her home. But, she said, “Flights on Frontier go one of two ways: without a hitch or a complete nightmare.”

Shayleene, who reads Connecticut Patch sites, thinks the price break makes it worth it to fly with discount carriers. As a member of the military, she gets two free checked bags and one free carry-on bag.

“The downside is if your flight is delayed or canceled, there usually isn’t another flight out the same day,” Shayleene said. “We just spent five hours waiting in [Tampa International Airport] due to a delay in our flight. We should have gotten home around 7 p.m., but didn’t get back until nearly midnight.”

Shayleene also does not think it is out of line to expect free water.

“I’m fine with no frills and willing to ‘not’ pay for them,” said Concord (New Hampshire) Patch reader Lori.

“I can deal with no frills if flying for a few hours,” Lori added. “I deed to be fed and catered to for a few hours in the air. Just get me there!”

“Many of these carriers are decent enough to be reliable, such as JetBlue, which is a step above the rest of these,” Sachem (New York) Patch reader Jim said. “Frontier is the true no-frills, but also the least expensive if you travel with one personal item.”

Jay, who reads several Suffolk County, New York, Patch sites, thinks lower fares are compelling enough reason to choose a discount carrier, but doesn’t like the cramped seating and also thinks “passengers stuffing the overhead bins should be penalized.”

Across America Patch reader Trish also is in the yes-to-cheaper-fares column, too.

“The airport that has Southwest is five minutes from my house. Easy breezy!” Trish said. “I think it is worth flying a budget airline if you are not traveling too far, maybe 1–4 hours.”

Wheaton (Illinois) Patch reader Jerry said it’s sometimes worth it to him to fly on a discount carrier, but not always.

“They are militant about fees trying to get their money back from your flight cost,” he said. “All airlines should have the same base fare that includes one carry-on and one checked bag. From there, surcharges are more, but then you can better compare prices.”

About Flightmares

Flightmares is an exclusive Patch feature on flight etiquette — and readers provide the answers. It appears monthly on Patch. If you have a topic you'd like for us to consider, email [email protected] with “Flightmares” as the subject line.

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