While most air travel these days is booked virtually, many airlines still let passengers purchase tickets at the airport — and some even have cheaper fares by waiving fees incurred for online bookings.
Airline charges for flights booked online are typically added per person, per segment, meaning each passenger pays the fee once each way of a trip, regardless of how many stops the person makes. For example, one person taking a round trip will pay the fee twice.
At Myrtle Beach International Airport, several airlines offer travelers the chance to save by visiting ticket counters, though some have complicated schedules.
These are the airlines you can book with at the airport, when they offer tickets and how much money you can save by buying in-person:
Allegiant Air
Customers can purchase Allegiant tickets in-person at Myrtle Beach International Airport every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m . The airline doesn’t accept cash, checks or money orders at airport locations.
Buying Allegiant tickets in-person eliminates the $22 per person, per segment Electronic Carrier Usage Charge and the $19.99 per person, per segment Call Center Booking Fee.
American Airlines
The American Airlines ticket counter in the Myrtle Beach International Airport’s main terminal is open daily from 3:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. The airline’s website doesn’t list any in-person discounts and the location doesn’t accept cash or checks.
Avelo Airlines
Travelers can get Avelo tickets approximately 2 hours before scheduled flight departures until 40 minutes before take-off, according to the airline website . Fares are the same whether tickets are purchased in-person or online, a spokesperson confirmed.
Breeze Airways
Customers can purchase Breeze Airways tickets in-person Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets bought at the counter in Myrtle Beach International Airport are not subject to the usual Technology Development Fee, which can save travelers $22-$46 per direction per person, according to a spokesperson.
Delta Air Lines
According to a spokesperson, the best way to purchase Delta tickets is online or in the app. Travelers can buy Delta tickets at the airport, but in-person fares are the same.
Hours vary but, generally, the ticket counter opens 2 hours before the first scheduled flight of the day and closes after the last flight of the evening has checked in, the spokesperson said.
Frontier Airlines
While Frontier tickets can be purchased at Myrtle Beach International Airport, the airline doesn’t have designated hours for buying tickets.
At the counter, customers can avoid Frontier’s Carrier Interface Charge , which costs up to $23 per person, per segment.
Southwest Airlines
The Southwest Airlines ticketing counter opens daily two hours before the first departing flight , but fares are the same as tickets booked online and the location doesn’t accept cash payments, a spokesperson said.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines sells tickets at its ticketing desk near baggage claim from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily . While some websites report that Spirit waives certain charges on in-person ticket sales, the Spirit website doesn’t advertise reduced costs or list any related fees . The airline didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Sun Country Airlines
Travelers purchasing Sun Country tickets in-person avoid the airline’s Passenger Interface Charge, which is a minimum of $22 per person, per segment, a spokesperson said. However, the Myrtle Beach International Airport counter has irregular hours.
The counter opens 2 and a half hours before flight departures and closes after all flight passengers have been checked in, according to a spokesperson. While flight times vary, Sun Country currently flies out of Myrtle Beach on Thursdays and Sundays and will through September.
United Airlines
The United Airlines counter at Myrtle Beach International Airport is open daily from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. , but customers may want to purchase tickets digitally. Ticketing with a representative adds a $25 charge by phone, $30 charge at a City Ticket Office and $50 charge in-person at the airport.
Is it worth it?
The waived fees can be a nice discount on airfare if you’re in the vicinity of the airport, but long lines and parking can complicate those perks.
Myrtle Beach International Airport doesn’t validate parking for ticket sales and the short-term lot is only free for the first 15 minutes. It will cost you $3 for 16-30 minutes and $1 for every 15 minutes after. If you have the time, the long-term and economy lots will run you $12 and $10 a day, respectively.
During peak travel times, like weekends and holidays — especially during the summer — expect packed lines and congested parking. That calculus of time, money and convenience is different for everyone, but avoiding fees might be more enticing for those booking for multiple passengers or round trips.
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