Flying budget airlines? You can save even more using this simple trick.
Don't buy your tickets online — go to the airline's airport desk instead. This way, you can easily save 25–50% on your total airfare. Frontier and Spirit Airlines have confirmed this strategy works!
Photo: Unsplash (Forsaken Films and Izyan Sultanali)
If you’re flying with low-cost airlines like Spirit or Frontier, you’re probably already saving a good amount of money. But did you know you could be saving even more?
When you purchase a ticket online or through the airline’s mobile app, both Spirit and Frontier add an extra carrier-imposed fee.
Spirit Airlines - Passenger Usage Charge (PUC)
In the case of Spirit Airlines, this fee is called the Passenger Usage Charge (PUC). According to Spirit’s Optional Services webpage, the Passenger Usage Charge ranges from $3.99 to $22.99 per segment, per person, and applies to bookings made “online, at international airports or via reservation centers.”
Here is an example of the charge from Spirit’s website:
Passenger Usage Charge (PUC) by Spirit Airlines
Frontier Airlines - Carrier Interface Charge (CIC)
In the case of Frontier Airlines, the fee is known as the Carrier Interface Charge by Frontier (CIC). According to Frontier’s Optional Services webpage, the Carrier Interface Charge can be as high as $23 per passenger, per flight segment.
Here is an example of the charge from Frontier’s website"
Carrier Interface Charge (CIC) by Frontier Airlines
Solution: buy your tickets at the airport
In the U.S., low-cost airlines — like all airlines — do not pay federal excise tax (7.5%) on optional fees, as long as those fees are separately stated and not mandatory. The 7.5% federal excise tax applies to the base airfare, so the airlines try to minimize their base fare as much as they can.
The good news is that because PUC and CIC are optional, the airlines provide a way to avoid it.
Both, PUC and CIC, could be completely avoided if you buy your tickets at the airline’s airport counter.
Important note: you’ll still need to check in online or via the mobile app if you want to avoid paying extra fees at the airport counter. Make sure to add the tickets you purchased at the counter to your online account or mobile app shortly after buying them.
Confirmed. The PUC and CIC charges don’t apply at airport!
To verify whether we could avoid paying carrier fees by purchasing at an airport desk, we went to the world’s busiest airport — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). We bought two separate tickets at the Spirit and Frontier’s desks. The process was very smooth and straightforward.
Indeed, we were not charged the Passenger Usage Charge by Spirit or the Carrier Interface Charge by Frontier.
Our total savings for the round-trip amounted to 35%!
Maximize your rewards and perks with a travel credit card
You may still receive additional perks and rewards if you pay for your airfare at the counter using a credit card. Purchases can earn bonus points or miles, which you can later redeem for travel. Additionally, complimentary benefits like airport lounge access and travel insurance can be especially valuable.
Check out our top selection of travel credit cards: