MW Don't make the same mistake I did when I tried to save $200 on my last flight

By Genna Contino

I had to change my travel plans at the last minute - and I ended up losing money because of this relatable booking practice

Sometimes booking the cheapest flight to save money ends up costing you more in the long run.

Anyone else daydreaming about a warm-weather escape right now?

If you're planning a trip to shake off the winter blues, this week's money tip is a travel one - which I learned the hard way.

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- Genna Contino

BIG MONEY IDEA OF THE WEEK: Trying to save $200 on a flight taught me the hidden cost of 'cheap' airfare

I spent much of the end of last year planning a January trip to India for a college friend's wedding - carefully budgeting flights, outfits and time off work. I felt good about the savings I had locked in, especially on airfare by booking a basic economy ticket.

So when my visa application to visit India was rejected, my heart sank. Since my boyfriend and I had already asked for the days off work, we decided to cancel our United Airlines $(UAL)$ flight and used the refunded flight credits for a flight to a destination that didn't require a visa.

That's when I noticed something missing - $300, to be exact.

My ticket had cost $965, but I was refunded just $665. Several hundred bucks went toward a cancellation fee I'd glossed over in the fine print about the basic economy fare.

So in trying to save about $200 upfront by booking basic economy, I ended up losing more money than if I had just originally paid extra for a standard economy seat - which typically offers more flexibility if plans change.

Basic economy tickets often look appealing because they can shave a meaningful amount of money off the price of a flight. For domestic flights, those savings can range from $20 to $100, while savings on international flights can reach $300, according to travel sites Simple Flying and Thrifty Traveler. And once you're on the plane, the experience often doesn't feel different from standard economy. But those savings still come with strings attached - and that can cost you.

The basic economy fares for American Airlines $(AAL)$, Delta Air Lines $(DAL)$ and Southwest Airlines $(LUV)$ are similar to United's in that, if you don't have elite status, you board with the last group, you can't choose your seat and you have limited flexibility if your travel plans change. As Katy Nastro, a travel expert and spokesperson for the travel app Going, puts it, basic economy is "basically just the seat." While airlines like Delta, United and American unbundled these fares to compete with low-cost carriers, they also stripped away the safety nets we often take for granted, such as free carry-ons, seat selection and the ability to earn loyalty points.

At the time, those tradeoffs felt worth it to me. I assumed my plans were locked in, and I didn't think much about the what-ifs. But travel is one of those areas where a lot can go wrong - from visa issues and weather delays to family emergencies or last-minute schedule changes at work.

I attempted to get the fee waived since I was legally barred from entering India and missing the flight wasn't my choice, but United customer service just reiterated that the cancellation fee is nonrefundable once charged.

The lesson I learned is that airfare isn't just about price. It's also about flexibility - something I value a lot more now. If there's even a small chance your plans could change, then paying a bit more up front for a higher fare class may actually save you money and stress in the long run.

A look at the flexibility of different airfare tiers are when it comes to changes or refunds on a United flight from the New York City area to India this spring.

To determine whether basic economy is worth it, ask yourself these three questions: Could my dates change due to work, family, illness or unexpected life events? Is this a cruise, destination wedding or time-sensitive trip where delays or changes would be costly? Am I traveling during seasons where weather disruptions are more likely? If you answer "yes" to one or more of those questions, it probably makes sense to upgrade to a ticket with more flexibility.

"While the basic economy rate can save a little money up front, it often comes with strict limitations, no flexibility and added stress if plans shift," said Katie Lynn Reynolds, a travel agent at Travelmation. "The real question is whether those savings are worth sacrificing peace of mind."

Although my boyfriend and I were bummed about the cancellation fee, we still got to enjoy a lovely, last-minute trip to Mexico City. But next time I book a trip, I plan to look at the fare rules just as closely as the price tag. Because sometimes the cheapest ticket ends up being more expensive.

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DEFINITION OF THE WEEK: Chargebacks

Have you ever been charged twice for something or been billed for a subscription you've already canceled? A chargeback can help.

A chargeback is a forced reversal of funds by a credit-card company due to fraud, unauthorized charges or disputes over a product or service that was never received. The cardholder requests the chargeback - either by phone or through the credit card's app - and the issuer returns the money and deals with the merchant.

While I was frustrated by the airline cancellation fee in the travel situation outlined above, a chargeback wasn't the solution in my case. That's because chargebacks are intended to be a last resort in cases of fraud or unresponsive merchants, and they won't help with nonrefundable fine-print fees. In fact, using the chargeback process to dispute legitimate charges is known as "friendly fraud" and cost the industry more than $132 billion in 2024, according to Mastercard $(MA)$. This isn't a new phenomenon, either - MarketWatch wrote about chargeback fraud in 2014.

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CREDIT-CARD TIPS: How I used a 0% introductory rate APR card to book an expensive trip I couldn't afford otherwise

When the wedding invitation first arrived, I knew the nearly $1,000 airfare to attend the ceremony overseas wasn't in my budget. So to avoid racking up high-interest credit-card debt, I applied for a card that offers 0% interest for 12 months and used it to pay for the trip. This gave me some much-needed breathing room to spread out the payments over a year without the sting of interest adding up.

To do this responsibly, you should apply for a new credit card that specifically offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers. This essentially gives you an interest-free loan for a set period. Two popular options are the Wells Fargo $(WFC)$ Reflect Card, which offers 0% interest on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 21 months, and Chase $(JPM)$ Freedom Unlimited, which has a 15-month introductory period. Card-comparison sites like Bankrate, the Points Guy and NerdWallet (NRDS) can help you determine which is best for you and your financial situation.

This strategy helped me purchase a laptop several years ago when I was restricted by my grad-student budget. Experts I've interviewed have even recommended using this tactic to manage unwieldy buy-now-pay-later debts or to cover holiday shopping costs.

This is a generally low-risk strategy, but keep in mind that if you don't pay off the card within the introductory period (usually 12 to 15 months), you'll be stuck paying the interest on the remaining balance. Also, carrying a large balance on the card can increase your credit-utilization rate, aka the ratio of debt to available credit, which can lower your credit score.

Using a 0% introductory APR card can turn a cumbersome purchase into a manageable monthly expense - just make sure you have a plan to pay it off before the clock runs out.

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Send us your favorite way to save money - or to make your money work for you - and we'll share it with our readers. Send it to dontshortyourself@marketwatch.com.

-Genna Contino

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February 10, 2026 09:48 ET (14:48 GMT)

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