If you’re chatting with a group of travelers and Spirit Airlines comes up, someone will tell the story of a past Spirit flight. And at least in my experience, the story usually involves a delay, a cancellation or some other bad memory.
Yes, we are more likely to remember and talk about negative experiences. And I, too, have a bad Spirit Airlines experience to share. The last time I flew Spirit Airlines — in 2021 for a story on how I visited Disney World on a budget — I experienced long lines at the Spirit check-in counter in Orlando and inexplicable delays.
But Spirit now has a new fleet and strong on-time performance and believes it offers the best value in the sky. My husband and I spoke with an optimistic Spirit Airlines employee at the Business Traveler Awards in Miami a few days after Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This employee’s optimism and excitement about Spirit’s future led us to visit Spirit headquarters in -Dania Beach, Florida, a few weeks later to chat with Rana Ghosh, senior vice president and chief transformation officer of Spirit Airlines.
This conversation, along with what I learned about the current state of the airline and its Free Spirit program while preparing for the interview, made me wonder – especially with the current challenge of matching Spirit’s status – whether it is time to reconsider Spirit Airlines and its Free Spirit program. Here’s what I think.
New types of rides and easy booking method
Spirit introduced its Big Front Seat in 2007 as the latest version from the Spirit Plus. Therefore, Spirit fliers have long had the option of purchasing a wider seat with more pitch. But Spirit has recently introduced new fares, including a Go Comfy fare that guarantees a reclined middle seat.
A reclining middle seat feels attractive and will make your flight more comfortable. But it is important to remember that the Go Comfy seats do not have additional pitch. Based on Aerolopa data, the Go Comfy seats are only 28 inches high. That’s 9 inches less than the 37 inches normally offered in the Large Front Seats and 7 inches less than the 35 inches offered in most Spirit’s exit seats.
Ghosh noted that the Go Comfy seats are similar to what many European carriers offer in business class on short-haul flights. He highlighted how easy it was for Spirit to create and said that Spirit is happy with its performance so far.
Now that Spirit has four distinct fare categories — including the Go Comfy and Go Big premium options — Ghosh highlighted the airline’s products that can appeal to each type of traveler and each specific trip. He also noted that travelers will soon start seeing Go Comfy and Go Big premium fares displayed as fares offered by online travel agencies, so that travelers can better compare these products to what other airlines offer.
Finally, it is important to note that the booking process is much easier now than it was a few years ago. Especially if you choose Go Comfy or Go Big fares, you won’t see many opportunities to add other expenses. However, if you choose a Go or Go Savvy fare, Ghosh said a large part of the booking process, where you have the option to add items, is there to inform buyers of what they won’t get with their fare and how much it will cost. the cost of adding additional services.
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Prices are sometimes surprisingly low
Whether you’re booking with cash or Free Spirit points, the prices are surprisingly low on some of the dates and routes I’ve searched. This applies even if you want to book Go Comfy or Go Big. For example, I might pay $33 for a Go fare, $62 for a Go Savvy fare, $78 for a Go Comfy fare or $98 for a Go Big fare for a sample nonstop flight from Atlanta to Orlando in February.
Alternatively, I can redeem 2,500 points for round-trip fare on this flight. If I wanted to book Go Savvy, Go Comfy or Go Big, I would pay $29, $45 or $65 more. These fees are equal to the price difference in the fare paid.
$62 – or 2,500 points and a $29 – Go Savvy fare will get me a personal item, seat choice and a checked or carry-on bag, which is all I need. But, with a $16 purchase fee for a Go Comfy fare that guarantees me a middle reclined seat or $36 for a Premium Front Seat, I’d be tempted to book one of these higher fares to ensure more space.
Even on the more expensive routes, the cost of shopping between Go Savvy and Go Comfy or Go Big is not bad. For example, on this flight between Atlanta and Orlando in March – the peak demand period – the cost difference between Go Savvy and Go Comfy is $46, and the difference between Go Savvy and Go Big is $71.
Related: Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
More flexibility with no change or cancellation fees
Spirit has quietly updated its change and cancellation policies for May 2024. These changes make me more likely to book a flight with Spirit.
If you cancel a Spirit flight reservation seven days or more before 24 hours of booking, you can receive a full refund using your original payment method. Otherwise, you can get a reservation credit for the reservation price if you cancel at least one hour before the scheduled flight departure.
When you book on Spirit’s website, you can use booking credits to pay for fares, bags, seats, fees and taxes. Any guest linked to the original booking can use the credits. And you don’t have to use the entire booking credit on one booking, as you can use any balance on subsequent bookings. Booking credits issued after May 20, 2024, are valid for one year, but booking credits issued due to flight cancellations or schedule changes are valid for five years.
You can also change your flight online up to one hour before its scheduled departure. However, when you make changes, you must pay any difference between the fare you originally booked and the new fare.
These change and cancellation policies are surprisingly consumer-friendly, especially when compared to the basic economy policies of major US airlines. I like to keep my options open, so I rarely book non-cancellable fares.
Related: How to get a refund for a non-refundable airline ticket
A Spirit route map may work well for you
If you are based in, or frequent, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Orlando International Airport (MCO) or Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), you may find Spirit Airlines often offers nonstop service to and from home. the places of the region you want to visit.
Additionally, Spirit operates multiple flights to and from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Harry Reid International Airport ( LAS), Miami International Airport (MIA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). So, if you frequently fly to or from these airports, Spirit is also worth considering.
But even if you don’t plan on flying Spirit regularly, the airline might be worth a try if it offers a compelling flight option at a reasonable price. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to prefer booking non-stop flights when they become available. And especially considering Spirit’s friendly cancellation policies and new fares, I’m more inclined than ever to give Spirit another chance.
Related: Spirit Airlines cuts 24 routes, adds 7 more in latest network shakeup
You can try Spirit with the current challenge of matching the situation
One negative topic that came up while talking to Ghosh was the negative experiences many travelers have had with Spirit in the past. He and the airline know they have to invest in educating the traveling public about what Spirit has to offer now in terms of products, service and quality. In addition, they should create a brand ending, especially among travelers who have had a negative feeling about the airline.
The airline is trying to achieve both goals with its challenge to match the current situation. This status matching challenge is for exclusive members of other domestic airlines only, as Spirit is very interested in encouraging these travelers to try out its current service and products.
Through this status matching challenge, eligible travelers can earn 90 days of Free Spirit Silver or Gold status and the opportunity to extend their status through the end of 2025 if they earn a certain number of Spirit eligibility points within 90 days by flying or spending Spirit® Travel More World Free Elite Mastercard®.
Free Spirit Travel More Mastercard information is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card information on this page has not been updated or provided by the card issuer.
Another downside if you’re not used to solo travel is that the Free Spirit elite benefits are only available to status holders. While other airlines typically allow benefits to be rolled over to at least one passenger, that’s not the case with Spirit.
In addition, most of the benefits of Free Spirit Gold status are not very useful if you buy more than the fare. That said, you may have less reason to book a higher class of fare if you have Free Spirit Gold status. Plus, Free Spirit Gold members can select exit seats when booking and enjoy priority check-in, a free first checked bag, a free carry-on bag and a free snack and drink.
Related: Key tools and tips for finding the cheapest airfare
Bottom line
TPG’s Summer Hull and Zach Griff have tried Spirit Airlines in recent years and share their experiences. The brand is happy that he canceled his first class ticket on a Spirit Airlines flight, and Zach shares his thoughts about flying in the Spirit Big Front Seat.
Especially since some travelers are deliberately deciding to become freelancers, I expect that many travelers will find the new Moya money classes attractive. Booking a Go Comfy seat with a guaranteed reclining seat or a Go Big seat with more width and pitch for more money will appeal to some travelers — especially if Spirit offers a nonstop flight on the route they want to fly.
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