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 engaging — particularly for big teams and households.
However then there’s the Spirit Airways that not too long ago positioned ninth out of 10 on TPG’s 2024 finest U.S. airways record. The airline is infamous for lengthy bag drop strains and poor communication throughout delays. Plus, you may face extra charges when flying Spirit than with most different U.S. airways. Moreover, Spirit Airways not too long ago 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 in the event you’re flying Spirit Airways? We have all the main points about how Spirit is likely to be completely different from journeys you have taken with different airways. With this data, you possibly can 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 possibly can have the perfect journey doable.
What fares does Spirit Airways provide?
As we reported final yr, Spirit now has 4 fare choices, which you may see as quickly as you begin reserving a flight.
The choices are:
Go
Assume fundamental economic system. That is the lowest-priced ticket and comes with out frills. This implies you may pay additional for every part from a beverage to seat choice to a checked bag. Notably, this ticket sort doesn’t enable for the acquisition of a carry-on bag.
Go Savvy
That is Spirit’s model of a full-fare most important cabin ticket. You can choose a typical seat without cost at reserving and convey aboard a full-size carry-on. Snacks and drinks will not be included, and checked baggage is a further cost.
Go Comfortable
This ticket means that you can choose one in every of Spirit’s “Comfortable” seats, which characteristic an empty center seat for a bit of additional area. Plus, you may get a full-size carry-on bag, although you should nonetheless pay for checked baggage. You’ll, nonetheless, be entitled to snacks, nonalcoholic drinks and Group 2 precedence boarding.
Go Massive
This ticket sort presents 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 presents particular Saver$ Membership fares. Nonetheless, you possibly can solely get Saver$ Membership fares if you are going to 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 visitors
- Financial savings on seat choice prices for everybody in your occasion
- Reductions on Shortcut Safety (entry to the quickest doable lane to get by means of the safety screening expertise)
- Financial savings with choose companions
In case you fly on Spirit incessantly or journey as a bunch — and sometimes pay for add-ons akin to baggage and seats — membership might shortly pay for itself. Spirit says in the event you’re flying with a bunch, you possibly can recoup your membership price in a single flight. Nonetheless, before you purchase a membership, take into account how a lot you may doubtless save and whether or not the financial savings justify the price.
Can I test a bag?
Sure, you possibly can 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 + peak) and will weigh 50 kilos or much less.
Checked bag charges range primarily based on the route you are flying and while you buy your checked bag with Spirit. You should use a software on Spirit’s web site to calculate baggage charges. Usually, paying for luggage throughout reserving is the most affordable, whereas paying on the airport is the costliest and can add about $20 to the preliminary bag price value.
You may have to pay further charges in case your checked bag is chubby ($125 for as much as 100 kilos) or outsized ($150).
Can I convey a carry-on bag?
All Spirit passengers can convey 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 further cost. Importantly, the merchandise should match below the seat in entrance of you. (Earlier than a latest flight, I discovered that my comparatively empty daypack would simply match into the non-public merchandise sizer.)
Go Savvy, Go Massive and Go Comfortable all embody a carry-on bag within the ticket worth. (This can be a comparatively new and welcomed change to the Spirit expertise.) Nonetheless, in the event you’ve bought a Go ticket, the lowest-priced possibility, you aren’t allowed to buy a carry-on bag, and you have to to pay for a checked bag if you wish to convey 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 should pay to pick your seat. The fee relies on the route, seat sort, while 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 had 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’ll “assign random seats at check-in without cost, however we won’t assure that you’ll get to take a seat with your folks or household.” In case you select this feature, 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. It’s best to pay to pick a seat in the event you completely should sit with touring companions or have a robust 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 normal Spirit seats. Briefly, 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 additional for Massive Entrance Seats. TPG contributor Zach Griff additionally loved his flight in a Spirit Massive Entrance Seat.
Nonetheless, you will not get any additional service when flying in Spirit’s Massive Entrance Seats. Plus, no Spirit seats recline. You may have to resolve whether or not the price to order a Massive Entrance Seat is value getting a bigger, extra snug 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 go on the airport?
Spirit encourages on-line check-in by means of its web site or app when doable. You should use a self-service kiosk on the airport to test in and get a boarding go for a $2 price; or you possibly can ask a customer support agent on the check-in counter to test you in and print your boarding go for a $10 price. In fact, Spirit will waive the charges in case your journey would not enable on-line check-in — for instance, in the event you’re flying to/from a rustic that does not enable on-line check-in.
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Will I be served a snack or drink?
Snacks and drinks shall 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 convey snacks and refill your water bottle after clearing safety in the event 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 Comfortable 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 modify or cancel my flight?
For all 4 lessons of Spirit tickets, there isn’t any price 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 Comfortable and Go Savvy tickets. Nonetheless, for the Go journey possibility, a price 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 price
- Seven to 30 days from departure: $79 price
- 31 to 59 days from departure: $59 price
- 60 or extra days from departure: No price
There may be additionally a Go cancellation price of $99.
In case you change to a flight with the next fare, you may have to pay the distinction. In case you cancel or swap to a flight with a decrease price, Spirit will challenge any remaining steadiness as a journey credit score.
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Can I earn factors on Spirit flights?
Free Spirit is the airline’s free-to-join loyalty program. Members earn 6 factors per greenback on fares and 12 factors per greenback on non-obligatory add-on objects like baggage and seat choice. Free Spirit Silver and Gold elite members earn much more factors on these purchases: For instance, Gold members earn 10 factors per greenback on fares and 20 factors per greenback on non-obligatory add-on objects.
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In fact, you may also earn card rewards on purchases with Spirit Airways. To maximise your purchases, I like to recommend utilizing one of many finest playing cards for airfare or journey. My selection could 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 price) and the Free Spirit® Journey Extra Mastercard® ($0 introductory annual price, 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 while you make $5,000 in purchases throughout 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 essential Journey card after making a minimum of $10,000 in purchases throughout the prior anniversary yr.
- Factors pooling: As the first cardholder, Spirit enables 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 data 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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