I am an absolute unashamed fan of Spirit Airlines.
Not only Spirit — but also Frontier, Ryanair, easyJet, WOW (#RIP) — basically any low-cost budget airline.
I love them all.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. When I wrote my post last year about how I can afford to travel on my mediocre journalist salary, I extolled the wonders of budget airlines.
Chicago to Boston for $98 round trip. Chicago to Fort Myers for $110 round trip. Chicago to Phoenix for $105 round trip. Chicago to Cancun for $297 round trip. Chicago to freakin’ GERMANY for $320 round trip.
I’m seriously mourning WOW Air.
Those are dirt cheap flights, by United States standards.
I understand that budget airlines aren’t for everyone — and to be fair, I certainly don’t use them on every occasion. But, if I’m going somewhere somewhat nearby for a three-to-four day trip and I know I can pack light (I usually do), Spirit is a fantastic option.
I love budget airlines because saving money on airfare helps me afford trips I would otherwise be unable to take, which is something I mentioned in my post about how I’m able to afford travel as a student loan debt-saddled 20-something journalist. Less money on airfare means more money to spend on other things, since airfare is often the bulk of a travel expense.
I, personally, am more than happy to sacrifice comfort in favor of cost if it’ll save me literally hundreds of dollars. But, again, that’s just personal preference. I’m also relatively short (5’5″), am a somewhat picky eater (no meat) and prefer to books to television, so I really don’t need extra leg room, included meals or seat-back entertainment sets. Like I’ve mentioned before, I also tend to pack very light, and rarely bring more than a backpack on any of my trips, so I don’t need included luggage.
My lifestyle makes Spirit a perfect choice for me.
Keep in mind that this post is just here to help you know what to expect if you’ve never flown Spirit before. I don’t have any special hacks for gaming the system or anything — just some basic notes on what to expect if you’re going to fly Spirit. Especially if you didn’t read the fine print.
Tip: Read the fine print.
WHAT TO KNOW: BEFORE YOU BOOK
Read the fine print. And then read it again. Spirit offers what it calls “bare fare,” which means your ticket gets you + a personal item a seat on a plane. That’s it. If you want priority boarding, you have to pay extra. Snacks? Extra. A seat of your choosing? Extra. Luggage? Extra. If you take the time to read all of the fine print and know what you’re in for prior to your flight, your Spirit adventure will be a much more pleasant experience.
I’m convinced that 80 percent of people who hate Spirit booked their flight, failed to read the fine print, showed up at the airport with both a rolling suitcase and a backpack, and then got miffed that their carry-on cost extra. READ. THE. FINE. PRINT. On everything! Not just airline websites. That’s just common sense.
On that note… if you’re going to bring luggage, pay for it when you book. Spirit allows every passenger the single aforementioned personal item (a small backpack or tote — something that will fit under the seat in front of you) for free. That’s it. Anything else — a rolling suitcase, a large duffel, checked bags, etc. — is paid for a la carte. The longer you wait to pay for these items — at check-in, at the terminal, at the gate, etc. — the more expensive they get.
My advice, of course, is to limit your packing to your personal item, and travel with that only.
Look for additional deals. Say what? On top of already being dirt cheap in terms of fare, Spirit actually offers travel deals to boot. Sign up for Spirit’s newsletter and check Spirit’s homepage to see what flight routes are currently offering deals. You’re often able to snag promo codes for hefty percentages off certain flights.
Spirit’s $9 Fare Club doesn’t actually offer you $9 fares. It offers discounted fares on some routes and discounts on perks like baggage, but if you’re looking for $9 one-way flights, you won’t find them here. I joined Spirit’s $9 Fare Club about a year ago because the membership + discounted fare was the same price as my un-discounted fare, so I figured I had nothing to lose. However, I never used it again, so I just canceled it after the year. If you fly with luggage and/or book two flights with discounted fare during a calendar year, the $9 Fare Club might be worth it, but for me, it wasn’t. (I didn’t lose anything, though. I just didn’t take further advantage.)
Tip: Spirit’s annual fee for the $9 Fare Club auto-renews, so put a reminder in your calendar to cancel it before it does, so you aren’t billed.
WHAT TO KNOW: WHEN YOU CHECK IN
If you’re not traveling solo, check in at the same time as your travel companions. If you didn’t pay to select a seat when you booked but still want to sit by your friend, just check in for your flights at the same time. Depending on seat availability, there are pretty good odds you and your travel companion will end up placed next to each other… or at least very close by.
Choose a mobile boarding pass, or print your physical pass at home. Spirit charges to have a physical boarding pass printed at the airport, so either check in online and have a mobile pass sent to your phone, or print your physical boarding pass in advance.
WHAT TO KNOW: WHEN YOU BOARD
Double-check your luggage. Again, make sure that your personal item fits Spirit’s listed personal item dimensions, and will fit under the seat in front of you. Unless you paid for it separately when booking your flight, you do not get a carry on, and you do not get space in the overhead bins. In my experience with Spirit, gate agents have always been really chill and I’ve never been asked to prove that my personal item fits in the bag sizer, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry.
Additionally, I’ve usually been able to toss my personal item in the overhead bin, but again — don’t count on being able to do so. If you haven’t purchased luggage, you’ll likely be boarding last to ensure there’s enough overhead room for those who did pay for carry-on space.
Pack snacks and a water bottle. Spirit offers a small selection of mediocre snacks and bottled beverages (card-only!) at a cost. Bring a granola bar from home or pick up something slightly pricier at the airport, and bring an empty Camelbak to fill up at your terminal before you board.
Also… pack a book or an iPad. Spirit doesn’t offer in-flight WiFi or movies, so bring your own entertainment.
And… pack headphones. All my Spirit experiences thus far have been blessedly normal, but… it’s still Spirit. There are stories.
You will probably board last. Unless you paid for priority boarding, but, again, if you’re only traveling with a personal item and you’ve already got your seat assignment? Not a big deal IMO.
Refrain from asking to switch seats. Please don’t be that person. If you wanted a specific seat… you should have paid for it at check-in. That’s how Spirit works. Don’t be that person that just plops down next to their friend than says “oh, do you mind?” when I mention you’re in my seat. Yes, I do mind. No, I don’t want your middle seat. I want the window seat printed on my ticket, and I don’t care if you’re rolling your eyes at me.
Your seat will likely be uncomfortable. It will not recline. You may not have a tray table or a seat back pocket. But, odds are your flight is less than a few hours. You’ll survive.
・・・
So, there you have it. The 101 on Spirit Airlines and why I willingly book Spirit flights (or, really, any budget flights) again and again. I can’t see that changing any time soon.
Also, no — this is not a sponsored post on behalf of Spirit or anything. C’mon, guys. It’s Spirit. That wouldn’t be in its budget. ?
Happy travels (on a budget)!
