{"id":8,"date":"2016-11-16T06:43:00","date_gmt":"2016-11-16T06:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myvacationpants.com\/2016\/11\/16\/put-on-your-discount-airline-vacation-pants\/"},"modified":"2016-11-16T06:43:00","modified_gmt":"2016-11-16T06:43:00","slug":"put-on-your-discount-airline-vacation-pants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/myvacationpants.com\/index.php\/2016\/11\/16\/put-on-your-discount-airline-vacation-pants\/","title":{"rendered":"Put on your Discount Airline Vacation Pants"},"content":{"rendered":"<table style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-36 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myvacationpants.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/15605945094_a1b8aaf77f_o-1.jpg?resize=480%2C480\" alt=\"15605945094_a1b8aaf77f_o\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\">Airplane Life. Taking Jet Blue to somewhere fabulous. -2014<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>I know it can be scary to go for that cheap deal and take a discount airline instead of a name you know and love. \u00a0The price often seems to good to be true. \u00a0Many times, if you don&#8217;t know what to pay for, and what not to pay for, the prices\u00a0<i>are<\/i>\u00a0too good to be true. \u00a0As someone who has taken my fair share of discount airlines over the years, I will share with you my tips and tricks if you decide to go on one of these airlines. \u00a0I also rank them in order of preference, so you know if it is worth the discount.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>First off, don&#8217;t go in expecting the same things as a regular airline. \u00a0Think of it as a two star hotel, as opposed to a three star. \u00a0You are going without some conveniences. \u00a0But those conveniences are then forwarded to you in the form of a discount. \u00a0Do you really want that bag of pretzels anyway? The reason I am able to travel so much on a teacher&#8217;s salary is because I am always looking for ways to save money. \u00a0This is an easy way to trim some major buck-a-roos off our trip.<\/p>\n<p><b><u>Discount Airlines vs. \u00a0Regular Airlines: \u00a0What&#8217;s the difference?<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Okay, so they are still safe? Just because they are a discount airline doesn&#8217;t mean they don&#8217;t have to meet the same safety standards as the big guys. \u00a0You can do your own research and make sure you feel safe taking that particular airline, but it is NOT cheaper because it is unsafe. \u00a0The way they get it cheaper is because they charge for EVERYTHING! \u00a0For example, here is a list of things you may get charged for on a discount airline that you may not have to pay for with the other guys:<br \/>\n<!--more--><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>checked bags<\/li>\n<li>carry-on bags<\/li>\n<li>beverages<\/li>\n<li>snacks<\/li>\n<li>overweight luggage (with lower weight limits)<\/li>\n<li>extra personal items<\/li>\n<li>over-sized personal items<\/li>\n<li>choosing your seat<\/li>\n<li>sitting in an exit row<\/li>\n<li>headphones<\/li>\n<li>checking in at the airport<\/li>\n<li>checking bags at the airport<\/li>\n<li>getting on the aircraft first<\/li>\n<li>having to print up your tickets at the airport<\/li>\n<li>pillows and\/or blankets<\/li>\n<li>Calling to make a reservation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>Your base fare includes a small personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you and an economy seat in the aircraft. \u00a0From there, things may differ depending on the airfare you choose to go with. \u00a0Let&#8217;s dig in from bottom to top, in my humble opinion.<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; height: 324px;\" width=\"549\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-SW-cQo9ahKM\/WCqlPgZED5I\/AAAAAAAApS0\/xeoiDzGqhRMoRWy1FJ5ytnCFWsA4Ju8WgCLcB\/s1600\/img_1606_24336771281_o.jpg?ssl=1\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\"><img width=\"320\" height=\"240\" border=\"0\" \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-73 \" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myvacationpants.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/img_1606_24336771281_o-1-e1481345790444-300x225.jpg?resize=463%2C347\" width=\"463\" height=\"347\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\">Discount airlines sometimes fly out of smaller airports. \u00a0Less crowded, and sometimes you\u00a0<br style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\">get to walk a ramp instead of a tunnel. \u00a0I think it is a cool experience.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spirit.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spirit Airlines<\/a><\/b>\u00a0&#8211; Let&#8217;s start with Spirit Airlines. \u00a0Back in 2003, after a particularly bad experience, I swore I would never fly with them again, but then this year, they had an insane deal to Houston, Texas over my Spring Break. \u00a0Were talking $86 bucks round trip. \u00a0That was just too good a deal to pass up. \u00a0The reason I was hesitant to take them again was that when I flew from Los Angeles to Orlando in 2003, we booked online, and they didn&#8217;t book it for the time we chose. \u00a0The problem was (and they still do this) the website will change the information you entered at the last minute, and if you are not paying\u00a0<i>very<\/i>\u00a0close attention, you will have booked the wrong flight. \u00a0As a result of this sneakiness, they cut our trip a whole day short, and when we called them to fix the problem, they were unwilling to help us on the matter at all. \u00a0The plane itself was dirty and grimy. \u00a0The seat trays were falling off their hinges, and it just felt gross. \u00a0The reason I decided to go for it again was I am now a wiser traveler. \u00a0I know what to pay for and look for. \u00a0I know my rights when purchasing items on the internet. \u00a0I decided to take a risk. \u00a0I booked the airfare and typed in all the information and pressed submit, crossing my fingers, that it would work. \u00a0Well the page went blank and I didn&#8217;t get a confirmation page at all. \u00a0I didn&#8217;t receive an e-mail, but when I checked my credit card, it showed that Spirit Airlines was holding the funds against my account. \u00a0I immediately called the airline and was not able to get through to anyone. \u00a0A few hours later I got my confirmation e-mail and made sure it was booked for the correct dates. \u00a0I breathed a sigh of relief. \u00a0<b>Before Booking: \u00a0<\/b>This is a bare bones airline, no frills here. \u00a0All it includes is a seat and you can bring a small personal item. \u00a0Make sure the discount is worth the simple experience before you book.\u00a0<b>\u00a0While Booking: \u00a0<\/b>Make sure you pay for your luggage when booking. \u00a0The price goes up dramatically if you pay afterward. \u00a0If you wait until you get to the airport, it will cost more than you paid for your whole flight in the first place. \u00a0Don&#8217;t pay to choose your seat or have early boarding though. \u00a0That ends up costing more than a regular airline. \u00a0DO NOT, I repeat do not resubmit your booking if you already pressed the booking button. You will get double charged by doing this and it is a pain in the behind to get a hold of someone at customer service for this airline. \u00a0<b>While Packing:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0Make sure you get their luggage rules here. \u00a0The weight and sizing requirements change often and you don&#8217;t want to get stuck paying extra fees at the airport. \u00a0The extra fees for this airline are horrendous. I watched a woman with a rolling backpack getting on the same flight as me, and they stopped her and pulled her aside and said it wasn&#8217;t a personal item. \u00a0She put the backpack in their sizing bin and it fit fine, but the handle was sticking out the top a bit and they told her she had to pay $100 to get on the plane. \u00a0She should have worn that thing on her back, and not rolled it down the aisle. \u00a0Also, if you are even slightly over 40 pounds on your checked luggage (most airlines allow 50 pound luggage) they will charge you an overweight fee. \u00a0Make sure you weigh your luggage at home before leaving. \u00a0<b>Checking In:<\/b>\u00a0Make sure you check in at home before you go as well. \u00a0While you are on the trip make sure your hotel has a place you can check in for your flight and print up your tickets. \u00a0They charge a fee if you wait to check in at the airport, and another fee if they have to print up your ticket for you. \u00a0Save yourself some money and make sure you are already checked in ahead of time. \u00a0<b>Flying: \u00a0<\/b>The people who work for Spirit were nice enough. \u00a0We had no problems, but if you are rude to them, they will be rude to you, so treat them nice, and you will be treated nice. \u00a0The airplanes we took this time were actually really nice. \u00a0The seat is not super cushiony and the seats don&#8217;t lean back, but I kind of liked that the person in front of me couldn&#8217;t lean their seat back into me. \u00a0It was much nicer than when we flew them in 2003. \u00a0Bring dry snacks from home and buy your beverages in the airport after you have gone through security. \u00a0I made sure I stuffed them all in my personal item before boarding. Also, just a little tip, wear your jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt onto the plane. \u00a0 You don&#8217;t want them thinking it&#8217;s an additional personal item.\u00a0<b>\u00a0Flying with Small Children:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0If you bought them a seat, make sure you bring that stroller to the gate and bring their car seats as well. \u00a0You will not and can not be charged extra for your diaper bag, stroller, and car seats. \u00a0Also, they will sit you with your children, even if you didn&#8217;t pay for the seat selection. \u00a0They can&#8217;t have a small child sitting next to a stranger on a plane. \u00a0Also, they let you board early. \u00a0You get to go right after the people that paid to board early. \u00a0Although, with assigned seats, I like to stay off the plane as long as possible with small children.<br \/>\n<b>Verdict:\u00a0<\/b>If it&#8217;s way cheaper than other options, and you are prepared for all of their hidden charges, then Spirit can work for you. \u00a0Otherwise, avoid them if possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flyfrontier.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Frontier Airlines<\/a>\u00a0&#8211; I have taken Frontier a couple of times because they are based out of Denver, Colorado and my family used to live there. \u00a0You can get some mighty cheap flights to Denver if you&#8217;re thinking of traveling to the area. \u00a0Last December I flew to Denver from Orange County for $67 round trip. \u00a0INSANE!!! \u00a0Again, Frontier is not a super deluxe airline, but it will get you from point A to point B, and not always on time. \u00a0They do have many delayed flights, so keep that in mind when booking with them. \u00a0They did give me a voucher when I was delayed over three hours with them, but you had to use it in 90 days, and frankly, I forgot to use it. \u00a0It was for $100 bucks though, which was more than my round trip flight.\u00a0<b>Before Booking:<\/b>\u00a0Frontier is another airline that charges for everything but the one personal item. \u00a0You may end up paying $60 for one piece of checked luggage, more for carry on, and that is if you pay for the luggage while purchasing your ticket. \u00a0Make sure the discount is still worth it if you have to check a bag. \u00a0<b>While Booking:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0When Frontier has a big sale the website gets overloaded and it is really hard to get through to submission. \u00a0My tip is to book it through Orbitz for the same price. \u00a0That&#8217;s what I did and it totally worked. \u00a0<b>While Packing:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0Click<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flyfrontier.com\/travel-information\/baggage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0to get their luggage rules. \u00a0I felt they weren&#8217;t super strict about checking your personal items, but it is better to be safe than sorry. \u00a0<b>Checking In:<\/b>\u00a0Like Spirit Airlines, you need to check in online and print your ticket ahead of time. \u00a0You can&#8217;t check in until the day before your flight, so again, make sure you have a place you can check in if you are traveling as well. \u00a0<b>Flying: \u00a0<\/b>The planes were really nice and it was awesome to fly out of Orange County instead of the much larger and more congested LAX, although they fly out of LAX as well.\u00a0<b>\u00a0Flying with Small Children:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0The same rules apply here as above. \u00a0Take advantage of having small kiddos while you can. \u00a0It does not last forever.<br \/>\n<b>Verdict:<\/b>\u00a0Much like Spirit, it is essential that you pay close attention to Frontier&#8217;s fees and baggage rules. \u00a0However, they fly out of smaller airports, and their booking process is less blatantly deceptive.<\/li>\n<li>\n<table style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-AePwviyDqZQ\/WCv-8ICeoyI\/AAAAAAAApUI\/Tpy3P_vpLvMaBshxIU30Gk4Vk4yLotwdACLcB\/s1600\/1533748_778905418815543_2424637331583822853_n.jpg?ssl=1\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" border=\"0\" \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-63 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myvacationpants.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/1533748_778905418815543_2424637331583822853_n-2-300x225.jpg?resize=497%2C373\" alt=\"1533748_778905418815543_2424637331583822853_n\" width=\"497\" height=\"373\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\">I totally surprised my hubby with a weekend getaway. \u00a0I secretly packed our bags.<br \/>\nHe thought we were just out on a date, but we ended up at the airport.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allegiantair.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Allegiant Airlines<\/a>\u00a0&#8211; Our family loves this airline. \u00a0They recently got some bad flack in the media for some safety issues, but I have never felt unsafe in their planes. \u00a0Allegiant flies into small airports, so you can get to some really cool places for DIRT cheap. \u00a0We flew to Medford, Oregon for $132 round trip. \u00a0We flew to Montana for $147 round trip. \u00a0It was so cool to go to some really rural places for so cheap. \u00a0 \u00a0As for baggage fees, etc., everything above applies to this airline as well. \u00a0<b>Before Booking:<\/b>\u00a0I feel like their website really pushes the upcharges. \u00a0It will alert you on every page. &#8220;Are you sure you don&#8217;t want to add this now? \u00a0It will cost more later.&#8221; \u00a0Don&#8217;t fall for it. \u00a0Try to avoid clicking on the extras and you will get your cheap flight.\u00a0<b>While Booking:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0I have never had problems with booking online with them. \u00a0Just make sure you prepay your luggage if you need it. \u00a0It will cost you way more after booking.\u00a0<b>While Packing:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0Click\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allegiantair.com\/popup\/optional-services-fees#baggage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>\u00a0to get their luggage rules. They have been strict about how much your checked luggage weighs, but they let me dump my heavier items in to my personal item at the luggage drop counter. \u00a0They accepted the luggage a couple of pounds overweight, but not much more than that. \u00a0Make sure you know how much your luggage weighs before leaving. \u00a0 \u00a0<b>Checking In:<\/b>\u00a0Make surer you check in online before you leave or download their app and check in on the app. \u00a0I had my plane tickets on my phone and we just scanned and went. \u00a0I suggest taking a screenshot of your tickets in case you have bad reception in the airport. On our last trip back from Montana, the app was not working and I couldn&#8217;t check in for my flight. \u00a0I was freaking out because it said they charge for printing boarding passes at the airport. \u00a0I told the ticketing agent at the airport and she laughed and said the app doesn&#8217;t work for some reason at their airport, so she just printed my tickets for free. \u00a0She was totally reasonable and understanding. \u00a0\u00a0<b>Flying: \u00a0<\/b>The planes are comfortable, clean, and nice. \u00a0No complaints here. \u00a0The staff is friendly and accommodating. They do charge for snacks and drinks, so plan ahead if you want food on the plane. \u00a0<b>\u00a0Flying with Small Children:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0They have always been super nice with my children. \u00a0I even have gotten compliments from the flight attendants. \u00a0They sat us with other young families, so we had our own (slightly louder) section of the plane. \u00a0That was nice.<br \/>\n<table style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OOjXJY9iInM\/WCqlRBsVwPI\/AAAAAAAApTM\/llpRzkKgUnMLff_tIzd9hr56efpVdjkiwCLcB\/s1600\/img_3220_19058026208_o.jpg?ssl=1\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"320\" height=\"320\" border=\"0\" \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-67 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myvacationpants.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/img_3220_19058026208_o-2-300x300.jpg?resize=395%2C395\" alt=\"img_3220_19058026208_o\" width=\"395\" height=\"395\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\">Admiring the quaint little airport in Kallispell. We were there on the longest day of the year<br \/>\nand it stayed light until 11:00 at night.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginamerica.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Virgin America<\/a>\u00a0&#8211; For a budget airline, Virgin America is swanky. \u00a0It just has a cool vibe, from their website to their flight experience, and it includes some major perks that discount airlines don&#8217;t usually include. \u00a0They do cost a little more than the airlines I have previously mentioned, but they have some great sales that you can catch and get a great deal. \u00a0<b>Before Booking:<\/b>\u00a0Sign up for the Elevate Program and earn points on each flight you book. \u00a0\u00a0<b>While Booking:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0Booking online is pretty basic. \u00a0Not too hard to do. \u00a0The tickets were on my phone and it was pretty easy to take care of. \u00a0\u00a0<b>While Packing:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0They allow one free carry on per ticket which is a HUGE DEAL for a discount airline. \u00a0However, they are pretty strict about it, so make sure you follow their measurement guidelines\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.virginamerica.com\/cms\/vx-fees#\/baggage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>. \u00a0We went into the terminal and were waiting in line to go through TSA. \u00a0A Virgin American attendant stopped us and told us to check our bag in the bag measuring thing. \u00a0Sure enough, it was like a half an inch too big and she told us we needed to go check the bag. \u00a0Ugh! \u00a0That stunk. \u00a0I measured the bag before packing it, and it fit their specifications, but I didn&#8217;t measure it after it was packed, and I guess it expanded too much. \u00a0Lesson learned, make sure the carry on measures as a carry on.\u00a0 \u00a0<b>Checking In:<\/b>\u00a0We were able to go right to the security line because we checked in online. \u00a0Make sure you do that as well. \u00a0<b>Flying: \u00a0<\/b>The planes are comfortable and have little screens at every seat. \u00a0Bring your headphones and you get to watch things for free. \u00a0<b>Flying with Small Children:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0We didn&#8217;t have any problems flying with our children. \u00a0They even let them sit in a row with their teenage aunt.<br \/>\n<b>Verdict:<\/b>\u00a0 You might be paying a little bit more, but the free entertainment and carry on is huge. \u00a0Just make sure you measure your bags carefully beforehand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jetblue.com\/flying-on-jetblue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jet Blue\u00a0<\/a>&#8211; Now, at the top of the discount airline chain, is my personal favorite&#8230;JET BLUE. \u00a0I seriously love this airline. \u00a0They are awesome. \u00a0They fly out of smaller airports for cheap, which I love. \u00a0They give a free carry on and personal item. \u00a0They give blue chips as a snack. \u00a0Plus a free beverage. \u00a0Their employees are funny and seem to really enjoy their job. \u00a0It&#8217;s just a great overall experience.\u00a0<b>Before Booking:<\/b>\u00a0Something really cool that they offer is different levels when you are booking. \u00a0Look at the chart below.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-69 \" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myvacationpants.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Untitled_1-1.png?resize=764%2C573\" alt=\"untitled_1\" width=\"764\" height=\"573\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6AfiKrdgZvE\/WCj13sOFK0I\/AAAAAAAApSY\/8JRLLqO2eao9lisTOMQjlmBauNV-b0gfACLcB\/s1600\/Untitled_1.png\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\"><img width=\"640\" height=\"480\" border=\"0\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\nSometimes my husband and I split our reservation because the Blue Plus Fare includes a free checked bag. \u00a0He will book two tickets (one for him and one for a kid) and then I will get on and book a Blue Fare (one for me and our other kid) and presto, we just go two checked bags for less than it would have cost to add luggage. \u00a0The difference in the fare levels are pretty nominal, so see what kind of perks are worth paying extra for.<br \/>\n<b>While Booking:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0Booking is pretty standard, but one time I made a huge mistake and it was partly my fault, but partly Jet Blue&#8217;s fault. \u00a0 I was booking a weekend getaway for me and my hubby. \u00a0I put in the dates we were flying and a little message popped up and said it was $50 cheaper a ticket to fly back on Saturday than it cost on Sunday morning, so I clicked the message and it put the lower fare in my cart. \u00a0Well it turns out it was the following Saturday and I didn&#8217;t notice the date was the following weekend. \u00a0I didn&#8217;t notice that I had booked the wrong day until we went on our trip, got to the airport to come back home, and I scanned our identification to get our boarding passes at the kiosk. \u00a0That&#8217;s when we found out we booked the wrong date. \u00a0UGH!!! \u00a0It would have cost like $600 to buy the ticket home, so we ended up renting a car and driving the 8 hours home. \u00a0I called Jet Blue and they were nice, but pretty much said that it was a nonrefundable fare and I should have checked the date. \u00a0I pleaded my case about the website tricking me in to buying the cheaper flight. \u00a0I ended up talking my way up to a manager and they gave me a $50 voucher for a future flight. \u00a0 \u00a0I think I only paid $125 for the trip round trip, so at least I got something out of it. \u00a0I wasn&#8217;t too mad because I didn&#8217;t check the date, and I didn&#8217;t notice until we showed up to the airport. \u00a0But needless to say, check your dates, especially if you are clicking around the flexible dates tool on their website! \u00a0One cool thing is it doesn&#8217;t cost money to pick your seats. \u00a0I booked some Jet Blue flights to NYC and my seats are already assigned and the trip isn&#8217;t happening until March. \u00a0Huge perk!!!\u00a0<b>While Packing:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0They also allow one free carry on per ticket. They aren&#8217;t very strict about it, but is always a good idea to make sure your suitcase counts as a carry on. \u00a0Once you get through screening Jet Blue often offers to courtesy check your bags. \u00a0I know some people don&#8217;t like doing this because then they don&#8217;t have access to their bags, but I always take advantage of it. \u00a0I travel with my children, and it always gives me a couple extra pairs of hands to get everyone down the aisle and into our seats, which is important. \u00a0Just make sure you keep your medication, snacks, and important information with you.\u00a0<b>Checking In:<\/b>\u00a0You can check in online or wait to do it at the airport. \u00a0They don&#8217;t charge for it like other discount airlines do. \u00a0<b>Flying: \u00a0<\/b>I super appreciate the free beverages and snacks. \u00a0Also every seat has a free in-seat entertainment. \u00a0You can pay the $5 for movies with a swipe of your credit card, but they also have 35 channels of entertainment for you. \u00a0Make sure you bring those headphones. \u00a0\u00a0<b>Flying with Small Children:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0Always super easy to fly with our children on Jet Blue. \u00a0They are very accommodating. \u00a0There is also always a kid channel on the TV for them to watch, while you find something you can watch. \u00a0The snacks and drinks also help for tired, hungry, and cranky kiddos.<br \/>\n<b>Verdict:\u00a0<\/b>Jet<b>\u00a0<\/b>Blue is my\u00a0<i>fave<\/i>. \u00a0Free snacks, carry ons, and entertainment. \u00a0Great customer service. \u00a0Just make sure you are really careful to check those dates when you are booking.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4-Xoyq36aXQ\/WCqlPo5o0hI\/AAAAAAAApS8\/895PJIel7BENmDf2bvU1p5CdiHDJ0gy3ACLcB\/s1600\/img_1604_24123628600_o.jpg?ssl=1\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\"><img width=\"320\" height=\"320\" border=\"0\" \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-64 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myvacationpants.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/img_1604_24123628600_o-1-1024x1024.jpg?resize=764%2C764\" alt=\"img_1604_24123628600_o\" width=\"764\" height=\"764\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Here are a couple other domestic discount airlines I haven&#8217;t tried in years.<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.southwest.com\/?clk=GNAVHOMELOGO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Southwest Airlines\u00a0<\/a>&#8211; I haven&#8217;t flown on Southwest since I was 13 years old. \u00a0I flew as an unaccompanied minor and everyone was really nice to me. \u00a0I even had to make a connecting flight and they helped get me to where I needed to go. \u00a0Good memories. \u00a0I didn&#8217;t think flying them over 20 years ago counted, so I didn&#8217;t include them in my rated list. \u00a0I know that some of their fares are dirt cheap, but they don&#8217;t show up on Google Flights, so you have to shop their website. \u00a0I have also heard that their credit card can get you free flights in a jiffy. \u00a0<b>Person of Size Alert:<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0I am a person of size, so I can say this, I have heard Southwest Airlines will make you buy two seats if you are too large to fit in your seat on the plane. \u00a0Just an alert from one large person to another. \u00a0I am not making a judgement about this policy, this is just what I have heard.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.suncountry.com\/booking\/search.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sun Country Airlines<\/a>\u00a0&#8211; I also haven&#8217;t flown this airline for about 20 years, so I didn&#8217;t think I could give an accurate rating. \u00a0I remember their planes being very small. \u00a0I once flew with Sun Country on a short flight and it had like 20 rows with 1 seat on one side, and two seats on the other. \u00a0I do not recommend these small planes for the faint of heart. \u00a0They shake quite a bit and the landings can be pretty rough. \u00a0But hey, if it can save you some moolah, why pass up the deal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Alrighty, I hope you enjoyed my handy dandy guide to discount airlines. \u00a0Please share my post if you found this at all helpful. \u00a0Make sure you follow me on social media as well. \u00a0I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. \u00a0Please never hesitate to ask me a question.<\/p>\n<table style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-acKQp1uuuxk\/WCqlRpNXNYI\/AAAAAAAApTU\/7WdB9RbN6KsPW9C4EShjwBqNkxojGTerACLcB\/s1600\/img_4884_30311863465_o.jpg?ssl=1\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"320\" height=\"298\" border=\"0\" \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-70 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.myvacationpants.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/IMG_4716-300x225.jpg?resize=419%2C314\" alt=\"img_4716\" width=\"419\" height=\"314\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\">The life of a mommy traveler. \u00a0Red eye flights are often cheaper!!! Yep, that&#8217;s my boarding pass in my mouth.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div><u>Follow My Vacation Pants on Social Media:<\/u><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>Instagram:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/myvacationpants\/\">https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/myvacationpants\/<\/a><br \/>\nFacebook:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/myvacationpants\/\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/myvacationpants\/<\/a><br \/>\nTwitter:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/myvacationpants\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/myvacationpants<\/a><br \/>\nYouTube:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC4BsQxDyGJdgUa6lTjdvafw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/myvacationpants<\/a><br \/>\nPinterest:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/vecchio100\/my-vacation-pants\/\">https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/vecchio100\/my-vacation-pants\/<\/a><br \/>\nInquiries: myvactionpants@gmail.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Airplane Life. Taking Jet Blue to somewhere fabulous. -2014 I know it can be scary to go for that cheap deal and take a discount airline instead of a name you know and love. \u00a0The price often seems to good to be true. \u00a0Many times, if you don&#8217;t know what to pay for, and what [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8,9,15,20,30,32,37,68,69,73,74],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-budget-airlines","category-budget-travel","category-cheap-travel","category-discount-airlines","category-family-travel","category-google-flights","category-jet-blue-airlines","category-travel-blog","category-traveling-on-a-budget","category-usa","category-vacation-planning"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p87NkQ-8","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/myvacationpants.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/myvacationpants.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/myvacationpants.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/myvacationpants.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/myvacationpants.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/myvacationpants.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/myvacationpants.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/myvacationpants.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/myvacationpants.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}