To speak about Spirit Airways is to inform a story of two airways. On the one hand, Spirit has one of many latest fleets within the skies, commendable on-time efficiency and low costs that may be very enticing — particularly for big teams and households.
However then there’s the Spirit Airways that just lately positioned ninth out of 10 on TPG’s 2024 finest U.S. airways listing. The airline is infamous for lengthy bag drop traces and poor communication throughout delays. Plus, you may face extra charges when flying Spirit than with most different U.S. airways. Moreover, Spirit Airways just lately emerged from Chapter 11 chapter and has rejected a number of merger proposals from Frontier Airways, together with the latest bid this January.
So, what do it is advisable to know should you’re flying Spirit Airways? We have got all the main points about how Spirit is perhaps totally different from journeys you have taken with different airways. With this info, you may resolve whether or not to guide with Spirit. In case you’ve already booked a Spirit flight, this information will reply widespread questions on flying with the airline so you may have the very best journey potential.
What fares does Spirit Airways provide?
The choices are:
Go
Assume primary financial system. That is the lowest-priced ticket and comes with out frills. This implies you may pay further for every thing from a beverage to seat choice to a checked bag. Notably, this ticket kind doesn’t permit for the acquisition of a carry-on bag.
Go Savvy
That is Spirit’s model of a full-fare foremost cabin ticket. You’ll choose a regular seat without spending a dime at reserving and produce aboard a full-size carry-on. Snacks and drinks usually are not included, and checked baggage is an extra cost.
Go Cozy
This ticket means that you can choose one among Spirit’s “Cozy” seats, which function an empty center seat for a bit of additional area. Plus, you may get a full-size carry-on bag, although you have to nonetheless pay for checked baggage. You’ll, nevertheless, be entitled to snacks, nonalcoholic drinks and Group 2 precedence boarding.
Go Massive
This ticket kind provides entry to Spirit’s Massive Entrance Seat (that includes 11 inches of additional legroom and wider, prereclined 2×2 seats with extra-thick cushioning), free Wi-Fi and precedence airport safety, the place obtainable. This fare class comes with each free checked and carry-on baggage.
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What’s Spirit Saver$ Membership?
Spirit additionally provides particular Saver$ Membership fares. Nonetheless, you may solely get Saver$ Membership fares if you buy a 12-month membership, which prices $69.95.
Spirit’s Saver$ Membership would not simply get you decrease fares on flights. Members additionally get:
- As much as 50% off on checked and carry-on baggage for you and as much as eight friends
- Financial savings on seat choice prices for everybody in your get together
- Reductions on Shortcut Safety (entry to the quickest potential lane to get via the safety screening expertise)
- Financial savings with choose companions
In case you fly on Spirit regularly or journey as a gaggle — and infrequently pay for add-ons reminiscent of baggage and seats — membership might shortly pay for itself. Spirit says should you’re flying with a gaggle, you may recoup your membership payment in a single flight. Nonetheless, before you purchase a membership, think about how a lot you may possible save and whether or not the financial savings justify the payment.
Can I test a bag?
Sure, you may pay to test a number of baggage when flying Spirit — and with the Go Massive seat possibility, you may additionally get a free checked bag. Every checked bag needs to be no bigger than 62 linear inches (size + width + top) and will weigh 50 kilos or much less.
Checked bag charges differ primarily based on the route you are flying and whenever you buy your checked bag with Spirit. You need to use a software on Spirit’s web site to calculate baggage charges. Sometimes, paying for luggage throughout reserving is the most cost effective, whereas paying on the airport is the costliest and can add about $20 to the preliminary bag payment value.
You may have to pay extra charges in case your checked bag is chubby ($125 for as much as 100 kilos) or outsized ($150).
Can I deliver a carry-on bag?
All Spirit passengers can deliver one private merchandise, like a handbag or laptop computer bag, that’s no bigger than 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches with none extra cost. Importantly, the merchandise should match beneath the seat in entrance of you. (Earlier than a latest flight, I discovered that my comparatively empty daypack would simply match into the private merchandise sizer.)
Go Savvy, Go Massive and Go Cozy all embrace a carry-on bag within the ticket worth. (It is a comparatively new and welcomed change to the Spirit expertise.) Nonetheless, should you’ve bought a Go ticket, the lowest-priced possibility, you aren’t allowed to buy a carry-on bag, and you will have to pay for a checked bag if you wish to deliver something past your private merchandise.
Carry-on baggage should be no bigger than 22 inches by 18 inches by 10 inches.
Can I choose a seat?
Whereas the higher tiers include complimentary seat choice, in case you are flying with a Go ticket, you have to pay to pick out your seat. The fee relies on the route, seat kind, whenever you buy the seat and seat location. Common seats value $5 to $50, whereas Massive Entrance Seats value $12 to $250 when bought upfront and $25 to $175 when bought onboard.
For a latest Spirit flight from Orlando to Louisville, seat prices have been as follows about two weeks earlier than departure:
- Massive Entrance Seats: $52
- Exit row: $28
- Close to the entrance of the plane: $25
- In the course of the aircraft: $19
- On the rear of the aircraft: $13
In case you do not choose a seat, Spirit’s web site says they may “assign random seats at check-in without spending a dime, however we will not assure that you’re going to get to sit down with your pals or household.” In case you select this selection, it’s possible you’ll luck out with a window seat on the entrance of the plane — however Spirit may assign you a much less fascinating seat. You must pay to pick out a seat should you completely should sit with touring companions or have a powerful desire for a window or aisle.
Ought to I splurge for a Massive Entrance Seat?
Massive Entrance Seats are wider and have extra legroom than customary Spirit seats. In brief, these seats are much like non-lie-flat business-class merchandise that different carriers fly domestically. TPG editorial director Summer time Hull mentioned she’s by no means regretted paying further for Massive Entrance Seats. TPG contributor Zach Griff additionally loved his flight in a Spirit Massive Entrance Seat.
Nonetheless, you will not get any further service when flying in Spirit’s Massive Entrance Seats. Plus, no Spirit seats recline. You may have to resolve whether or not the fee to order a Massive Entrance Seat is price getting a bigger, extra comfy seat on the entrance of the plane, even with out different notable perks.
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Can I test in and get my boarding cross on the airport?
Spirit encourages on-line check-in via its web site or app when potential. You need to use a self-service kiosk on the airport to test in and get a boarding cross for a $2 payment; or you may ask a customer support agent on the check-in counter to test you in and print your boarding cross for a $10 payment. After all, Spirit will waive the charges in case your journey would not permit on-line check-in — for instance, should you’re flying to/from a rustic that does not permit on-line check-in.
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Will I be served a snack or drink?
Snacks and drinks might be obtainable for buy, however you may have to pay for them with a bank card or debit card — so that you may need to deliver snacks and replenish your water bottle after clearing safety should you do not need to spend cash on board. You possibly can take a look at the snack and drink choices on Spirit’s web site earlier than boarding.
There are additionally a number of methods to get free meals and drinks on board. Each Go Cozy and Go Massive reserving choices include complimentary drinks and snacks. Free Spirit Gold members (extra on that under) obtain a free snack and drink, too.
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Can I alter or cancel my flight?
For all 4 lessons of Spirit tickets, there isn’t a payment to cancel a flight inside 24 hours of ticketing if the reservation has been made a minimum of seven days earlier than departure. There are additionally no change or cancellation charges for Go Massive, Go Cozy and Go Savvy tickets. Nonetheless, for the Go journey possibility, a payment applies for cancellations or modifications if the reserving was bought on or after February 5, 2025.
In any other case, you may face the next charges per buyer per reserving if it is advisable to change or cancel your flight:
- Six or fewer days from departure: $99 payment
- Seven to 30 days from departure: $79 payment
- 31 to 59 days from departure: $59 payment
- 60 or extra days from departure: No payment
There’s additionally a Go cancellation payment of $99.
In case you change to a flight with a better fare, you may have to pay the distinction. In case you cancel or change to a flight with a decrease payment, Spirit will concern any remaining stability as a journey credit score.
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Can I earn factors on Spirit flights?
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After all, it’s also possible to earn card rewards on purchases with Spirit Airways. To maximise your purchases, I like to recommend utilizing among the finest playing cards for airfare or journey. My alternative can be the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card, or The Platinum Card® from American Specific, as these playing cards will present bonus earnings in your airfare and journey safety in your flight.
Ought to I get a Spirit Airways bank card?
Spirit has two cobranded bank cards obtainable to U.S. residents: the Free Spirit® Journey Mastercard® (no annual payment) and the Free Spirit® Journey Extra Mastercard® ($0 introductory annual payment, then $79). It solely is sensible to have these playing cards if a number of of the next is compelling to you:
- Achieve $100 companion flight voucher for the Journey Extra card whenever you make $5,000 in purchases inside the prior anniversary yr. This voucher can be utilized as a reduction on companion airfare (excluding taxes and charges).
- Obtain 5,000 bonus factors every anniversary with the fundamental Journey card after making a minimum of $10,000 in purchases inside the prior anniversary yr.
- Factors pooling: As the first cardholder, Spirit helps you to mix Free Spirit factors with as much as eight family and friends members.
- 25% rebate on inflight purchases
- Group 2 boarding
- No overseas transaction charges
The knowledge for the Free Spirit Journey Extra and Free Spirit Journey card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
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Backside line
Spirit is an ultra-low-cost provider, so regulate your expectations accordingly. It’s possible you’ll want to attend in lengthy bag drop traces. Plus, there will not be any facilities on board, and Spirit would not serve complimentary meals or drinks with its two decrease fare lessons.
The airline additionally operates fewer flights on many routes than full-service rivals, leading to fewer rerouting choices in case your flight is delayed or canceled. On the plus facet, the fares are sometimes very low, and the planes are comparatively new.
If the fee is affordable, think about reserving a Massive Entrance Seat for further area. I like to recommend reserving your flight with a bank card that gives journey delay advantages so you may be protected if Spirit delays or cancels your flight.
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