Can I cancel a flight I just bought without losing money?

Yes, if it takes off or lands in the United States — you have 24 hours from purchase for free cancellation or reimbursement. Airlines implement it differently: Air France applies the free cancellation, easyJet charges a fee, Ryanair allows only minor changes free of charge.

Why is one fare cheaper on the search page but more expensive at checkout?

Taxes and fees are added after the headline fare. Compare the total: headline, taxes, mandatory fees and baggage together, not the first number you saw.

What does the fare basis code tell me?

It identifies the fare in alphanumeric form and decides which change and refund rules apply. Two fares at the same price with different codes are not the same deal.

Do low-cost fares really work out cheaper?

Sometimes, but the base fare is low by design and charges are added after it — baggage, seat selection, desk check-in. Low-cost carriers held 57.2% of the South Asia market by 2017 precisely because the headline number attracts buyers.

24 hoursfree-cancellation window for US flights

3 digitsairline code opening a ticket number

57.2%low-cost market share, South Asia, 2017

10%seats at the lowest price

Compare fares before buying

Flutro — Compare Flight Fares Before Booking | flutro.com

Two fares that look the same on a screen can differ by baggage allowance, change rules and taxes. This guide shows what an airline ticket entry actually carries, then walks through six checks to run on both fares before you pay.

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Fare comparison field guide · ticket fields · fare rules · low-cost fees
Compare two flight fares line by line before you pay

At a glance

Index of figures

10%seats at the lowest priceOn some flights as few as 10% of the seats are sold at the lowest advertised price, and the price climbs once those seats are gone.

6,000aircraft flown by low-cost carriersBy early 2019 more than 100 low-cost carriers flew 6,000 aircraft, double the 2,900 counted at the end of 2009.

US$430.5 bnprojected low-cost market by 2033The projected value of the low-cost airline market by 2033 runs from US$221.3 billion to US$430.5 billion.

Key figures

Key figures for comparing two fares
Figure	What it measures	Where it applies
24 hours	Free-cancellation window after purchase	Flights taking off or landing in the United States
3 digits	Airline code opening the ticket number	Every airline ticket number
57.2%	Low-cost market share, 2017	South Asia
52.6%	Low-cost market share, 2017	Southeast Asia
37.9%	Low-cost market share, 2017	Europe
10%	Seats sold at the lowest advertised price	Some flights, before the price climbs
6,000 aircraft	Flown by more than 100 low-cost carriers	By early 2019, against 2,900 at end of 2009

Key figures for comparing two fares

What a ticket entry carries before you pay

Every ticket carries baggage allowance, fare, taxes, a fare basis code and the restrictions on changes and refunds.

Since 1 June 2008 IATA-member airlines stopped issuing paper tickets, so a ticket is an electronic entry in the booking system. The entry holds a fixed set of fields, and each one changes what you will pay later.

The ticket number begins with the airline's three-digit code followed by the fare number itself. That code tells you which airline's rules govern changes and refunds on the booking.

The fare basis code — an alphabetic or alphanumeric code that identifies the fare — is the key field for comparison. Two fares with different fare basis codes carry different restrictions even when the price matches.

Airline three-digit code and fare number
Cities, flight numbers and travel dates
Baggage allowance
Fare and taxes
Fare basis code
Change and refund restrictions
Form of payment

Terms used in this guide

Fare basis code: An alphabetic or alphanumeric code that identifies the fare on the ticket. Two different codes mean two different rule sets even at the same price.
Ticket number: A number that begins with the airline's three-digit code, followed by the fare number itself. It tells you which airline's rules govern the booking.
Baggage allowance: The weight and piece limit stated on every ticket. It decides whether a checked bag is included or sold as an extra.
24-hour free cancellation: In the United States a traveller is entitled to a free cancellation or reimbursement within 24 hours of purchase for every flight taking off or landing in the United States.
Low-cost carrier: An airline that prices the seat low and adds charges after the base fare. By 2017 these carriers held 57.2% of the market in South Asia and 37.9% in Europe.
Headline fare: The advertised price of the seat before taxes and fees. On some flights as few as 10% of the seats sell at this price.

Questions travellers ask before paying

Can I cancel a flight I just bought without losing money?: Yes, if it takes off or lands in the United States — you have 24 hours from purchase for free cancellation or reimbursement. Airlines implement it differently: Air France applies the free cancellation, easyJet charges a fee, Ryanair allows only minor changes free of charge.
Why is one fare cheaper on the search page but more expensive at checkout?: Taxes and fees are added after the headline fare. Compare the total: headline, taxes, mandatory fees and baggage together, not the first number you saw.
What does the fare basis code tell me?: It identifies the fare in alphanumeric form and decides which change and refund rules apply. Two fares at the same price with different codes are not the same deal.
Do low-cost fares really work out cheaper?: Sometimes, but the base fare is low by design and charges are added after it — baggage, seat selection, desk check-in. Low-cost carriers held 57.2% of the South Asia market by 2017 precisely because the headline number attracts buyers.

How this record was assembled

Built from published fare rules, IATA ticketing policy and low-cost market share figures for 2017, 2002 and 2019. Every number in this guide is traceable to a stated source; nothing is estimated or filled in.

Sources

Figures are quoted from airline fare rules, IATA ticketing policy statements and published low-cost market share data.