Unpopular opinion: That super cheap flight deal might cost you more in the end

I jumped on a rock bottom fare to Europe, but the layover was so long I had to pay for a hotel and meals. All those added costs wiped out the savings from the ticket. What tricks do you use to check for hidden trip expenses before you book?

4 comments

4 Comments

ryan_hart381mo ago

I mean, @charlie198, that cheap ticket price rarely shows the real total cost after a brutal layover.

nancy_west1mo ago

Don't sweat the small stuff like hotel costs on a cheap flight.

charlie1981mo ago

Cheap flights are an absolute win every time. A long layover just means a free chance to explore another city for a few hours. I'd gladly pay for a hotel meal to add Istanbul or Reykjavik to my trip for basically nothing. The flight is the big cost, everything else is just part of the adventure budget. Saving hundreds on airfare always gives you more money to spend on the ground anyway.

lily4171mo ago

That "free chance" to explore isn't free, @charlie198. The cost and stress of getting from an airport into a city and back on a tight schedule often wipes out any savings and leaves you exhausted.