Buying a walk-up fare on the majors was perhaps one of the greatest budget travel sins. Even travelers on fat expense accounts winced at the thought. It is a practice reserved for emergency travel.
But since emergencies happen, and the budget airlines have some very attractive walk-up fares, it is worth exploring how the fare changes will affect this type of ticket price.
In its news release announcing the new rules, American cited a walk-up one-way fare from Chicago to Salt Lake City for $299 USD. Before the new policies, American spokesmen say that fare would have been 43% higher, at a budget-shattering $524.
By the way, Southwest's one-way, walk-up fare on that route is $319. It's probably no accident American's public relations team chose to spotlight that fare and route during the roll-out.
Still, they made a point: You can no longer safely assume that the majors will have ridiculous walk-up fares that are not worth checking.
Budget carriers counter with the argument that most travelers won't even notice these changes at the majors. Again, who really wants a walk-up fare?
But there were a few other gems to be mined in those new rules. Click "next" and find them.
