SkyMarket Media tracks routes, not operators. But the patterns of routing, baggage, and price-shape repeat by category. Below are the six categories you'll see on the routes we cover, and how each one structures its fare bundle.
Single cabin · two free checked bags · open seating
The friendliest baggage regime in the US market. One cabin, no assigned seats until check-in, two free checked bags in every fare. The trade-off is a smaller route map and limited connection partners.
Three or four sub-fares per cabin · paid bags after carry-on · global alliances
Hub-and-spoke route maps with multiple cabins, paid baggage, and large global alliances. Basic economy strips out carry-on overhead and seat selection; main cabin includes them. Most domestic main-cabin tickets dropped change fees in 2020.
Lowest base fare · everything paid (carry-on, checked, seat) · narrowest schedules
ULCCs sell the lowest base fare and unbundle every other product. The all-in price after baggage and seat selection sometimes beats the network alternative; sometimes it does not. Always compute the all-in math before you book.
Single cabin or small premium block · free or low-cost first checked bag · limited frequency
Scheduled-and-charter mixes to leisure markets, often from secondary airports. Frequency is low (2-3 days a week per route is typical); price is competitive on the routes they run.
Free first or two checked bags · multiple cabins (premium economy + business) · global routings
International economy fares typically include one or two free checked bags. Premium-economy and business fares include two or three. The product is at its strongest on overnight transatlantic and transpacific flights.
Operates on behalf of a network operator · single cabin · partner-branded service
Smaller regional jets serve short hops under a code-share partnership with a larger carrier. They follow the larger carrier's bundle rules. The IATA carrier code printed on the ticket is the regional operator's code, not the partnering carrier's.
The categories above are illustrative averages drawn from publicly available sources. The authoritative source for the rules attached to your specific fare is the operator's published rules, available on the comparison-search partner's checkout page or on the operator's own website at the moment you book. SkyMarket Media does not display airline names, airline logos, airline trademarks, or any visual element that implies a partnership with an airline.