Budget Airlines New Premium Options Offer Perks For A Price

We are living in times when every penny counts and stretching that dollar is getting harder and harder, especially when it comes to air travel. However, some budget airlines premium options offering perks for a price might be trying to squeeze more of those pennies from you.

My family rarely travels anywhere that we can't drive in a few hours simply because it's just out of our budget. If you see me on a plane it's either for business or a friend gifted me with travel points. So, this recent announcement about budget airlines premium options grabbed my attention.

And, according to AXIOS, some of the well-known airlines synonymous with the word 'budget,' are feeling the pinch of the economy and hoping customers will bite at these new premium upsells. And, I know many travelers who are willing to fork over a little extra cash for added comfort.

We're talking things like priority boarding, extra legroom, bigger seats, etc. And, that's really nothing new for regular commercial airlines. However, customers who travel airlines such as Spirit and Southwest are typically willing to experience a little discomfort to get to their destination without shelling out a fortune. So, what are these budget airlines premium options offering?

Recently, Southwest announced their plans for 'premium' seating, doing away with their long standing tradition of open seating. For decades, Southwest's model assigned passengers boarding groups and a number that merely referred to a reserved spot within that group.

But, the airline points out that recent research says 80% of customers preferred actual assigned seating. I tend to agree. They indicate customers told them one of the biggest reasons they chose other airlines over Southwest was this factor. Southwest plans to give more information about the changes later this year.

Next, one of the budget airlines many people are familiar with is Spirit. This carrier just announced a tiered fare model featuring 4 levels. These include the no-frills options known as 'Go' and higher tiered options listed as 'Go Big.' Those options offer bigger seats, in flight snacks and priority boarding among other things.

I particularly like the 'Go Comfy' option that guarantees a blocked middle seat. 'Go Savvy' offers travelers a carry on or checked bag and seat selections.

The tiers will be available for booking August 16 and service on these flights starts August 27.

Another airline associated with saving money is JetBlue. Amid budget airlines premium options being announced recently, JetBlue is possibly mulling over a first class service next year for domestic flights, according to some analysts. Their current 'Mint' perk is typically for transcontinental and international trips.

So, bottom line, I feel like you get what you pay for when it comes to most things in life. My opinion is if you're traveling a short distance and only want to get to your destination without spending a lot, budget is a good option. However, many of these carriers sometimes experience delays and cancellations that might make travel more difficult. So, flexibility is key.

But, no matter what, air travel is always going to be expensive. And, it's only going to get more expensive, whether you pay up front, or a nickel or a dime here and there later for add ons. The good thing is, you get to choose where and how you spend your hard earned money.

We'll keep our eye out for more developing news in the airline wars as these budget airlines premium options are rolled out. These budget airlines offer service out of Charlotte currently, However, JetBlue's final day of service from Charlotte Douglas is October 26.

There were 293227 passports issued in North Carolina in 2022. And in the entirety of the United States? Nearly 12 million passports were issued. That's a lot of demand for international travel. And I was one of those people. And I believe it because trying to make an appointment was crazy! In fact, I had to drive an hour to Maiden, NC, and pay rush shipping, and for the passport to be expedited. It was well worth it though! This surge in passports can be attributed to the fact that many people felt comfortable traveling for the first time in a few years. Also, that restrictions were eased to get in and out of countries. So where were all these people going? Our friends at AirportParkingReservations.com found out. They set out to find the most popular travel destinations from each state including from North Carolina.

They analyzed search data using Google Keyword Planner to see what international destinations were the most searched-for flights among prospective travelers. And you may be surprised at the most popular destinations that North Carolinians are traveling to. You'll find information not just on international destinations but also domestic ones as well. I agree with a lot of the choices, though some of them I wouldn't have expected. Though I paid enough for that passport I need to book another trip to get some use of it. Catch me jet setting here soon! You can read the full study and methodology here or keep reading to see the most popular travel destinations from North Carolina and the entirety of the United States.

The most searched for flights were to Japan. In case you're wondering that's about a 16.5-hour flight from Charlotte to Tokyo. I'm all for seeing Japan, but wow that would be hard to tolerate! That being said Japan is a wonderful destination. AirportParkingReservations describes Japan in this way:

"One of the oldest civilizations, Japan has a stunning and varied past and has ranked number one across the US. The beautiful, diversified landscape, which the Japanese love for its mountains and breath-taking views, offers so many distinct experiences that attract travelers from all over the world, including Americans."

Mexico makes perfect sense coming in at number 2 on this list. It's convenience to the US and tropical climate, not to mention the multitude of all-inclusive resorts, make it an easy vacation destination. It's about a 4 hour's flight from North Carolina depending on which part of Mexico you're headed to! The article states that "Mexico is indeed a tropical treasure cove, with its stunning beaches and cities bursting with ancient architecture."

Greece would certainly be my pick of these three destinations. It's rich in culture, and those views of the Mediterranean Sea I would imagine they are to die for. They'd certainly be worth the 11+ hour flight.

Who knew Michigan was such a travel hotspot? The rest of the cities included in NC's top 5 makes sense to me. This one leaves me scratching my head a little. But AirportParkingReservations says that "Michigan is known for incredible hiking, fishing, and water activities". Have fun guys I think I'm skipping out on this one at least til I check some other states off of my bucket list first.

Between travel for vacation, work, and visiting family New York is a predictable destination to end up on this list. In fact, I was probably one of these searches as I flew from NC to NYC this fall. Just New York City alone is home to world class entertainment, shopping, dining, and of course everything Christmas in the city has to offer. Many people also fly to other areas of New York including Buffalo and Syracuse.

If you offered me a free domestic flight to anywhere right now, I wouldn't think twice before choosing Hawaii. The world class beaches and hotels combined with rainforests and volcanos? Count me in. This lush tropical paradise is always a top travel destination so it's no wonder North Carolinians are searching for flights there!

Florida was tons for visitors to do from it's Atlantic and Gulf beaches, to theme parks, and nightlife. And it's such an easy flight from North Carolina.

California is another top vacation destination, and combined with it's massive size, I'd be shocked if it wasn't on this list. The year round good weather, beaches, national parks, and thriving cities make it a hotspot for travelers.

1. Japan (TIE)

1. Mexico (TIE)

3. Italy

4. Greece

5. India

Japan (18)

Italy (18)

Greece (8)

Ireland (4)

India (1)

Australia (1)

**These are the number of states that had the respective country as their top searched destination**

1. Michigan (TIE)

1. Hawaii (TIE)

3. New York

4. Florida

5. Pennsylvania