Is Buying Tickets at an Airline’s Kiosk at the Airport a Cheap Option?

When it comes to booking flights, travelers are faced with numerous options:  booking online, calling an airline directly, or visiting a travel agent.  However, there’s one option that is quickly becoming obsolete: buying tickets at the airport. Even though this practice is now exceedingly rare, some people still believe that they can save money by buying tickets in person.

So where did this “travel hack” come from? And is it cheaper to buy a ticket at the airport? Keep reading to discover the truth behind this common travel myth.

The Myth of Skipping the Middleman

Some people think it’s a good idea to skip the middleman and go straight to the source — the airport service desk — in hopes of snagging a cheap empty seat last minute. However, these ticket prices are almost always higher than expected.

In days gone by, it was common to wait until you arrived at the airport to purchase tickets. You can probably think of several movie scenes where the harried hero squares off against an unhelpful airline worker at the departure gate. Yet outside of the movies, most airport service desks exist to provide services other than selling flight tickets. The focus of their job is mainly checking in passengers, assisting passengers with checking bags, arranging upgrades, helping passengers find new flights and other services.

If a person does go to the airport in an attempt to buy a last-minute plane ticket, they may find the ticket prices to be immensely higher than if they were to book online. Ultimately, there are no advantages to buying tickets directly at the airport. Even passengers who find themselves in unfortunate situations, like dealing with a canceled ticket or needing to change departure times,  generally don’t get any special deals on flights at the airport. Overall, airports are places for getting on and off planes, not for buying plane tickets.

An Exception

There is one notable exception: you can often find Spirit Airlines deals by buying tickets at the airport. When you book Spirit Airlines flights in person, you can often avoid additional service charges.  Most other tickets purchased at the airport will come with added fees.

Benefits of Buying Flight Tickets Online

• Booking flight tickets online is a convenient option as you can do it at home, in office, or on your way to somewhere. You don’t have to wait for service or being pressurized to book on the spot without giving it thorough thought.
• When you book airline tickets online, you can compare the airfares which can’t be done while booking through calling an airline or a travel agent. You can browse many options before choosing the one that suits you the most.
• You can save a lot of time with early check-ins online. You can simply go to the airline’s website, fill all your information, and print your boarding pass or get it directly on your phone.
• Canceling or changing a ticket is way simpler when you have booked your flight ticket online. You can also compare the cancellation charges and know all the related rules before buying a ticket online and avoid paying an extra ‘external fee’.

The Bottom Line:  Buy Online

So, the next time you’re thinking, “Is it cheaper to buy a ticket at the airport?” don’t waste your time driving all the way there only to be disappointed by the prices.  To get the cheapest plane ticket, always book online. Even if this means booking a ticket on your phone in the airport parking lot, you’ll be better off.  Airport ticket prices just aren’t less expensive, as people seem to think.

CheapOair can not only provide some of the best ticket deals, but can also help you plan the rest of your travel accommodations. Whether you’re looking for cheap flights, places to stay, or transportation options, CheapOair has you covered.