Here's Why Buying the Cheapest Flight Might Cost You in the Long Run

There are certain situations in life where I generally try to pay as little as possible for whatever the item in question is. Take clothing, for example. Whether it's for me or my kids, I'm not into fashion, and children have a tendency to outgrow or destroy their clothes quickly. My goal is usually to find the cheapest items, even if they don't last that long.

One area where I don't always seek out the cheapest option, though, is air travel. To be clear, I refuse to pay for business class tickets and have never done so to date. But here's why I don't tend to buy the cheapest fare, either.

It's not worth the hassle and extra cost

It's possible to save money on airfare by choosing the most basic fare class your carrier offers. But doing so might cost you in other ways. And it might also result in a major hassle. 

A flight from the New York City area to Los Angeles in September on United, for example, costs $337 for a basic economy ticket -- the cheapest fare available. A regular economy seat costs $437, while a refundable economy seat costs $532. 

But if you choose basic economy, you won't be able to choose your seat, nor will you be able to bring a full-sized carry-on onto the plane. Rather, that will cost you extra.

Similarly, a flight on JetBlue for that same itinerary could cost you as little as $154 for the cheapest fare. But you'll need to pay extra to choose a seat. If you opt for the next fare class at $199, your choice of seat is included. The fee to choose a seat could cost you up to $49, depending on where you want to be situated for your flight. So all told, going with the cheapest option here could potentially leave you paying more all-in.

What's more, when you buy the cheapest fare, it's usually not refundable. But you could end up spending (or losing) a ton of money if you have to cancel your trip at the last minute or make a change to your travel dates. Granted, trip insurance could minimize this risk, but then that's a separate (albeit potentially worthwhile) expense you're looking at paying for.

And let's not forget the hassle factor. It's one thing to roll the dice with a seat assignment on a 90-minute flight you're taking on your own. It's another thing to risk getting stuck in a middle seat for a six-hour journey while your kids are scattered throughout the plane. 

The right credit card could make it easier to upgrade

I'm not suggesting you upgrade to business class for your next flight. And you may not even need to pay for whatever premium economy seats your carrier offers. But I would encourage you to think twice before choosing the absolute cheapest fare, since you might end up spending more than expected. 

If you need help covering the cost of a more expensive ticket, your credit card might come to your rescue. Some travel reward cards offer a large number of bonus miles when you first sign up. If you're able to snag a welcome offer, you may be able to redeem your miles for a higher-tiered fare. 

Also, many travel reward cards come with perks like free checked bags on domestic flights that usually incur a fee. So while you might spend a little more on airfare that's a notch above the basic level, you might offset your higher ticket price by not having to pay to bring your luggage on the plane.

I'm all about being frugal -- in life and even in the context of travel. But generally speaking, I don't think buying the cheapest flight is the best idea. You might end up with extra expenses and a world of aggravation.