How strict is each low cost carrier … really? The ultimate LCC travel guide
One of the most pervasive questions - and biggest pre-flight anxieties - I face as a frequent low cost carrier flyer is “How strict is this airline going to be… today?” While one might hope for leniency, sometimes it’s almost better to go in knowing that the rules will be carrier out consistently across the board.
According to my Flighty, I’ve flown:
9 low cost carrier flights in 2025 to date (Ryanair x5, Spirit x2, Transavia x2)
18 LCC flights in 2024 (Spirit x9, Frontier x3, T’way x1, Norse x3, Jet Star JP x1, Jet Star NZ x1)
36 LCC flights in 2023 (Spirit x15, Frontier x12, HK Express x1, Air Asia x8)
17 LCC flights in 2022 (Spirit x12, Frontier x3, Jet Star NZ x2)
4 LCC flights in 2021 (Spirit x4, Frontier x4)
With another 19 HK Express and 5 Air Asia flights thrown in a bit before that (can you believe I took Air Asia for my honeymoon? You probably can).. one might say I’m a low cost carrier connoisseur.
Here’s my best tips for each low cost carrier, and how strict they are / when it’s time to splurge:
Air Asia, Frontier, HK Express, Jet Star JP / NZ, Norse, Ryanair, Spirit, Transavia
Prepare for strict enforcement with Air Asia. A super light weight versatile bag can prepare you for any LCC.
Air Asia (Malaysia)
Air Asia is one of the easiest carriers to fly in that you know exactly what you can expect every time: strict enforcement of rules, chaotic boarding that’s always 20-30 minutes late somehow, and the smallest leg room known to man.
We flew Air Asia 8 times (only 8? seems like more) with Air Asia’s all you can fly pass back when it included the Maldives, Australia, and New Zealand. Availability was limited, but I put together a massive spreadsheet and narrowed down the route. Having - as I mentioned - taken them for our honeymoon and many others times from 2015-2018 when Air Asia frequently offered “free tickets, pay taxes only” offers, I knew just how strict they were. Here’s what you can expect:
Re: Luggage:
You can bring two items, measuring up to:
23cm x 36cm x 56cm and
10cm x 30cm x 40cm
BUT, the TOTAL weight of the two items must be <7kg and they will weigh, every time
The most tolerance I’ve seen them allow was up to 8.9kg - but only for my husband, not me; plan for 7.9kg max, or no mercy if they’re having a bad day.
You will pay to check items if you’re over their limit. You cannot carry on the excess weight
If you focus on really fitting all you can at 7kg or less, go ultra light with $3 a bag like this one (buy a back up)
As most flights are international, there’s very little option to download the boarding pass and skip security; you almost always have to check in at the counter to get your docs checked, without exception
At KUL, their hub, you will get checked at the counter and AGAIN before security. If you have a roller bag, they will weigh you. I got through without weighing only because my bags looked light - I was carrying a speedy 30 and a Longchamp bag.
Luggage is cheap on Air Asia, and they bill you buy the total KG not per piece (with a max weight of 32kg for any single piece), so add it on at booking.
RE: Seats + More:
The seats are absolutely tiny, the smallest seats I’ve traveled in the world. For this reason, don’t consider them for flights over 3 hours. ICN-MNL was tough. I’m lucky KIX-HNL was canceled (though they do offer lie flat on this route!)
You will be assigned an absolutely random seat, with 0 rhyme or reason and your party will be split up mercilessly.
You are more likely to get a “B” or “E” seat (with random allocation) on Air Asia than any other airline I’ve ever flown. “Random” seems to mean “random middle seat”; seats aren’t that expensive, so if you care, pay.
IME, flights are often heavily booked so don’t try to gamble on poor man’s first
The food is ABSOLUTELY GOATed but runs out quickly, so pre-book your meal! It’s usually ~$5 USD. The hainan chicken rice (Uncle Chin's chicken rice?) is something to behold as far as economy airplane food goes.
From my perspective:
Harshness of Baggage Policy: 9/10
Consistency in Baggage Policies: 8/10
Consistency in “No Way Around It”: 8/10
Consistency in Poor Seat Assignments: 9/10
2. Frontier (USA)
Frontier has a terrible reputation, point blank. Most US flyers will not consider them unless they’re very savvy or not savvy at all. Frontier occasionally offers the best, almost unbelievably low, flight rates in the game, but they also.. play a lot of games.
Frontier is one of those fun case studies of a company that never stops innovating.. but just because you can.. should you? F9 is a case of an airline with a serious identity crisis if I’ve ever seen one. Last week they were Spirit, then Delta’s competition, now .. Southwest's? I’m afraid they need a branding expert.
With all that said, the Frontier experience was what it was pre-Covid, then got really weird in summer of 2022 when they were allegedly paying contractor gate agents $10 to catch people with “oversized” bags (and charge them $99), and now they seem to be settling back to normal. They couldn’t handle the heat (of their own - alleged - illegality).
Re: Luggage
You can bring a personal item only
8” x 14” x 18” or 20cm x 35cm x 45cm
no maximum weight
You can pay for a checked bag or carry on, and sometimes get one or the other free with status. They often have status games going on (matches, free with card for 90 days, free with min. spend for 1 year, etc). The 35 lbs limit on the carry on is very fresh - you typically don’t see this for US carriers.
Be aware - some claim that the personal item sizer has bolts on the inside, making it technically smaller than advertised, and on which your bags can catch and snag. It is smaller than Spirit’s sizer.
RE: Seats + More:
The seats are thin as cardboard with air rests that do not retract and seats that do not recline
Status may allow for better seats, exit row, front seats or those with blocked seats between at booking or check in
It’s been a long time since I was randomly assigned a seat, but I tend to remember that F9 follows a flow similar to Spirit’s (back to front, left to right) or similar - TBD
You can save up to $23/leg (the CIC fee) by booking at the counter
From my perspective:
Harshness of Baggage Policy: 8/10
Consistency in Baggage Policies: 6/10
Consistency in “No Way Around It”: 6.5/10 - they loosen up if you’ve purchased a carry on
Consistency in Poor Seat Assignments: 7/10
3. HK Express (Hong Kong)
Another very strict Asian carrier, Hong Kong Express offers fares as low as $0 HKD plus applicable taxes. Given that all their flights are international, the taxes typically fall in the ~$50 USD range. That being said, they are very strict with baggage limits, with the lowest rate including only a personal item up to 7kg.
Don’t get it twisted - whether you fly ultra lite, essential, lite or max - you’re only bringing 7kg on board and they will measure. Just like Air Asia, given that almost every flight is international, you’ll have a difficult time skipping the counter.
RE: Lugagge:
Personal item 20 x 25 x 40cm 7kg max
If flying a higher class, you can also bring cabin baggage up to 23 x 36 x 56cm, but the total weight of both pieces together must be less than 7kg and will be weighed
Further, all duty free / airport purchases count toward this 7kg max limit
I have yet to see them reweigh at the gate, but they certainly reserve the right to
As of May 2024, they now charge the fees shown above per segment per piece of luggage, with prices nearly doubling between booking and check in counter, so it pays to book in advance and plan well.
RE: Seats + More:
The seats are thin as cardboard with air rests that - to my memory - do not retract and seats that do not recline
Comfort seats may be worth the extra money for tall individuals (the rest, no); otherwise IIRC it’s pretty random and. you may get split up
The food and beverage on board ranges from fun to artistic - I once had a raindrop cake and sparkling rosé on board, both at very reasonable prices.
From my perspective:
Harshness of Baggage Policy: 9/10
Consistency in Baggage Policies: 9/10
Consistency in “No Way Around It”: 9/10
Consistency in Poor Seat Assignments: 7/10
4. Jet Star JP/NZ
While each carrier is a little different and technically different companies altogether, let me say this: Jet Star Japan is BY the books, while Jet Star New Zealand is a little more relaxed. As long as you pretend to follow the rules, you may get away with it in New Zealand. In Japan, I calculated my baggage allowance wrong in the lbs->kg conversion and got rightly smacked with a huge fee.
First, Jet Star NZ:
Re: Luggage with Jet Star NZ:
While you can technically carry on 2 pieces, most fares leave you at only 7kg
Personal Item Size “small item” (undefined)
Carry on max 23 x 36 x 56cm (rules)
The +7kg add on is very reasonably priced at booking and should be considered heavily
Be careful about bookings that connect with Jet Star Japan, as they are usually more strict
If it looks right, you’ll probably pass. I don’t remember them weighing anything - if anything maybe just the larger item
Re: Luggage with Jet Star Japan:
Technically the same size and rule
Expect to be audited
Checked luggage was combined weight total, not per piece, which is quite convenient (if you can count!)
Checked luggage fees are very cheap at booking, and still very reasonable up until you’re at the counter (ouch), so plan accordingly
RE: Seats + More:
Not much to report back, but the leg room is tight and seats are small
The food on JetStar NZ was … strange
Harshness of Baggage Policy: 9/10
Consistency in Baggage Policies: 5/10 NZ, 9/10 Japan
Consistency in “No Way Around It”: 5/10 NZ, 9/10 Japan
Consistency in Poor Seat Assignments: 7/10
5. Norse (Norway)
One of my favorite new low cost carriers, Norse Airlines is one of the cheapest ways consistently to get across the pond and back. Though I always prepare to take Norse’s most punishing fare, I often find myself bidding to upgrade to the premium section - it’s just too good to pass up!
Norse used to be one of the strictest international carriers re: baggage, allowing only a personal item (unweighed) then shrinking it down to the smallest size known to man: 15 x 30 x 40cm - the exact size of my Longchamp bag, which can hold about.. 1 light outfit, my liquids bag and my laptop.
Then, last fall (2024) they announced a free carry on with every ticket. Amazing. Literally God’s work.
RE: Luggage:
Personal item (unweighed) max 15x30x40cm allowed; they have updated sizers in every airport I’ve been to
Carry on item: 25 x 45 x 56cm max, 10kg max
This is enough of an allowance to do a trip up to 5 nights if you pack accordingly. Wear a heavy outfit (sweats, sweatshirt) and coat. Pack your electronics, liquids and other heavy items in your personal bag.
Be VERY careful about the sizing as they WILL check and the baggage fees are quite hefty
If you need checked luggage, consider bidding for premium or flying another airline
Duty free bag also allowed above this, but must contain duty free items ONLY.
Premium fares often still have the OLD sizers, so you can get away with a bigger personal item. The crew is also much less harsh on Premium flyers and doesn’t hold them to the same baggage standards (IME).
They will tag your bags, both personal items and carry ons. Keep the tags and reuse.
You often CANNOT skip the counter because you cannot check in on the app.. which makes the tags harder to use but there are ways around it..
Re: Seats and More:
NOTHING is included in the base fare econ. Random seat, no food/drink. Pack and plan accordingly. If you need a window or aisle, buy it.
Premium is like domestic first - it doesn’t lie flat but reclines to about 150 degrees. You can get it for as cheap as $40/hr of flying when you’re lucky. Bid early and check in often. You can buy premium at:
Booking, sometimes very cheap or cheapest price
Up to 24 hours before the flight by upgrading or bidding
At the gate, often the most expensive way (that I’ve seen, strangely)
Premium is often cheapest at the time of booking, so check and give it some thought - I’ve seen Oslo to BKK as low as $425/way. This is usually the same time that economy flights are running $125-150 each way, so it needs thought, but check for inclusions. Premium light still does not include checked baggage.
The food is .. not great. The service ranges but generally is good. The crew is lively and fun.
Drinks are technically unlimited (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) but there are some premium alcoholic drinks not included in premium fare. It covers what you need, but don’t expect frequent service.
Harshness of Baggage Policy: 6/10
Consistency in Baggage Policies: 3/10 Premium, 8/10 Econ
Consistency in “No Way Around It”: 5/10 - they loosen up if you’ve purchased Premium
Consistency in Poor Seat Assignments: 7/10
6. RyanAir (Ireland)
Ryanair is one of the most notorious LCCs, known for their unyielding policies and unforgiving staff. I did not start flying Ryanair until 2025 when I moved to Portugal, and let me tell you - they are not, in my experience, the villains they are made out to be. In fact, they have continually surprised me.
Ryanair’s fares start at just 14.99 Euro/way and include only an unweighed personal item. The sizings are quite small and unforgiving, but the enforcement that I’ve seen to date has been quite lax. I’ve flown:
OPO-RAK
RAK-OPO
PDL-OPO
OPO-PMI
PMI-OPO*
On most of the flights, I saw passengers bringing oversized personal items or a personal item + another one (like a belt bag or mini purse). I was quite shocked, actually. The only offenders pulled aside were those bringing massive carry-ons or who obviously had 20kg+ when the limit is 10kg, clockable from the bag size alone.
On PMI-OPO, the gate agent was quite strict, measuring bags and even making a premium (meaning carry on included in fare) customer pay to check their bag when the wheels made the bag about 2-3 cm too wide. Meanwhile, I had a large duffle, and a 3rd item and she didn’t bat an eye. Strange, indeed…
Re: Luggage:
20x25x40cm personal item allowed in base fare (unweighed)
Add on a 10kg 20x40x55cm carry on for ~20 euro each way (give or take); cheapest at time of booking but not much higher at time of check in on the app
Checked luggage and bundling are quite common but if chosen, it will apply to all passengers on the PNR. For this reason, I often book one way and solo, as there’s little to no benefit to booking together or RT.
You can check in on the app (it costs $ to check in at counter, so you must) and breeze through security with a QR code, but they have sizers at the gate every time. They don’t always enforce and sometimes cherry pick. My experience in Porto has been easy breezy, but YMMV; plan accordingly
Re: Seats, Food, Etc:
Nothing is included in the ticket
You can scan the QR code on the back of the seat and pre-order food and beverage (and scratch off tickets?!) to your seat in advance; they will be brought to you first before the carts come through. This is extremely convenient.
Seats are TRULY assigned randomly. I have tried guess and checking the system, recording it and more.. it is truly random if you will get a window, aisle or middle seat - without any rhyme or reason. So far, most of my seats have been in the front half of the plane, so not sure if this is a weight and balance issue (as the cheapest seats can be purchased in the back and become increasingly expensive as you near the front of the plane, leaving the front of the plane mostly empty every flight) or something else.
I have yet to gamify the seating system but will report back with more data. So far, so good.
Seats are very thin and don’t recline, like Frontier - probably the exact model
Air Malta serves as RyanAir in some markets (Boeing planes), and their planes tend to be older with seats in need of some refurbishing. My best flight was OPO-RAK and back (similar to FLL-HAV on WN… brand spanking new!)
Absolutely goated food combo: Lavazza coffee + Stroop waffel!
For me, Ryanair is the right mix of food, fun and spontaneity and I especially love their fare finder for flight ideas.
Harshness of Baggage Policy: 9/10
Consistency in Baggage Policies: 5/10
Consistency in “No Way Around It”: 7/10 - they loosen up if you’ve purchased a carry on
Consistency in Poor Seat Assignments: 6/10
7. Spirit Airlines (USA)
Ohh Spirit how I love you. The most hated airline in America! Wait - that might be Frontier these days.
I first heard of Spirit in college, when a - very amazing, fun-loving but definitely disorganized - friend told me about her poor experience flying them “Not even a carry on is included!” She definitely got slapped with a $99 fee at the gate.
Flash forward to 2018 and I start to dip a toe. During the pandemic, Spirit revamped their planes, crew and experience. They are consistently on time with no-nonsense crews that get those planes turned around and back out on time. Having experienced a night-before cancelation just once (always book a back up on points if you need to get anywhere serious - lesson learned), I’m down to take Spirit any time.
That being said, their policies are still quite harsh. Let’s take a look:
Spirit would boost their PR sky high if they did what Norse did, allowing a free carry on. Of course, Americans flying domestically wouldn’t be able to handle a weight limit on the carry on and it would be a whole fiasco in and of itself, which means they can’t offer it.. because a no-weight-limit carry on would cannibalize a huge chunk of their revenue. Anyway, I digress. Let’s get into specifics:
Re: Luggage:
You can bring a personal item only
8” x 14” x 18” or 20cm x 35cm x 45cm
no maximum weight
The size is the same as Frontier
That being said, Frontier’s sizer is known to be slightly smaller, and Spirit’s slightly bigger than the published sizes; Spirit’s is in fact quite generous, giving up to 2” more in each direction by my estimations at the airpot
You can pay for checked luggage (weighted) or a carry on (unweighted), with the carry on typically costing $10 more than a checked bag, per way
Re: Seats, Food and more:
Base fare only includes a personal item, with the ~$70 per way carry on addition and no seat by default. Typical seats start at $9-12 per way
You can save up to $23/leg (the CIC fee) by booking at the counter
The seats are thin and unforgiving and don’t recline
Spirit’s new “first class” fares include a big upfront seat (First Class Domestic), unlimited snacks and drinks (including alcohol), free wifi, a carry on and a checked bag. The first class fares are approximately $50/hour of flying per way.
You can buy seats:
At the time of booking
On app, at check in
At the counter
At the gate, within 1 hour of flying - best kept secret
At the gate, you will typically see prices discounted to:
$25/hr for first class, but does NOT include the baggage allowance or free wifi, just the seat + snacks
$4/hr for exit row
If you’re on a budget, go for the exit row! If you’re balling out a little, the first class cannot be beat at that price
If you’re on a TIGHT budget, the seats will fill in from back to front, from left to right and if you’re in a party >1, it will generally seat you together if you wait and time it for a spot with 2 seats or 3 seats together. You can time this and game it for free seats in good spots.
In general, consider booking first class on Spirit on direct routes in lieu of a traditional carrier; you can get everything you need for the cost of main or basic on other carriers
Harshness of Baggage Policy: 9/10
Consistency in Baggage Policies: 6/10
Consistency in “No Way Around It”: 6/10 - they loosen way up if you’ve purchased a carry on
Consistency in Poor Seat Assignments: 5/10
8. Transavia (France)
Transavia is the low cost subsidiary of Air France/KLM! As such, they are a bit tight on the policies but still have the fabulous flair of the French. They can be strict on bags, but will loosen up a bit if you’ve purchased a carry on, like most LCCs. Let’s talk some specifics:
Re: Luggage:
Fares include a personal item only, 20x30x40cm max 10kg
You can bring a walking stick, umbrella or duty free bag as well
Cabin bag 25x40x55cm can be added for a fee, but personal item + cabin bag max is 10kg
They will check your bag’s sizes and weights at the counter if they can catch you (for example at CDG, they make it so you can’t go straight to the gate without checking in with them unless you duck out, like I did); they enforce less at other airports but expect strict rulings at CDG
They will recheck your size/weight at the gate if it looks too big
Re: Seats, Food, More
Sorry to report that I don’t remember how harsh the seating was - I’ll report back next time. Seats reminded me of a legacy carrier on the low end, not a traditional LCC; Some wear and tear but not paper thin. They reclined slightly.
I don’t remember the ordering of seats but I believe my husband and I sat near each other. We are usually on different PNRs and book one ways but check in within 1-2 minutes of each other so we can see what happens.
They give paper slips with the baggage to tag it. I kept mine and tried to slip through, but it’s white back ground/green color one way and green background/white text the way back, so you have to keep 2 sets.
This is the best way to get around being rechecked or reweighed, just like on Norse
Just when I thought HK Express’s Sparkling Rose couldn’t be topped.. They serve CHAMPAGNE on board (15 euros a bottle)
..unfortunately with a paper cup.. not great for the bubbles.
Harshness of Baggage Policy: 7/10
Consistency in Baggage Policies: 5/10
Consistency in “No Way Around It”: 5/10 - they loosen way up if you’ve purchased a carry on
Consistency in Poor Seat Assignments: 5/10 - tbd
Who Did We Miss?
Let us know below which LCC you want to see tips, tricks and ratings for!
It can be difficult to amass all these tips because you have to be watching like a hawk. In general:
Airlines take it easier on those who book a carry on
If they tag your bags, keep and reuse the tags
Book separate PNRs (unless you’re flying Frontier - solo flyers are most likely to get booted) and one ways; this gives you flexibility on the add ons
Check in as early as you can - some carriers’ T&C involuntarily boot the last to check in
Decide what you want to do BEFORE you book, as its often cheapest at the time of booking to add on luggage and other amenities
Have a GO-TO personal item bag and carry on bag so you don’t stress. The dimensions that fit everyone:
Personal Item:
20 x 35 x 45cm for US flyers
20 x 25 x 40cm for global flyers
20 x 25 x 40cm for both (except Air Asia, Norse which are punishingly small)
Carry On:
25 x 40 x 55 cm for US flyers
20 x 35 x 55cm for global flyers (fits Asia, EU, US, other)
20 x 35 x 55cm for both
Let us know what you think about the guide + your best tips, tricks and additions. Looking forward to your comments + in the meantime.. happy (low cost)travels!
