If you’re chatting with a group of travelers and Spirit Airlines comes up, someone will likely tell a story of a previous Spirit flight. And at least in my experience, the story usually involves a delay, cancellation, or other negative memory.
Of course, we are more likely to remember and repeat negative experiences. And I also have a negative experience with Spirit Airlines to share. Last time I flew Spirit Airlines – for a story in 2021 How I visited Disney World on a budget – I encountered huge lines and poor communication delays at the Spirit check-in counter in Orlando.
But Spirit now has a relatively new fleet and strong performance on time and believes it is offering one of the best values ​​in the sky. My husband and I had a casual conversation with an optimistic Spirit Airlines employee at the Business Traveler Awards in Miami a few days later Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protectionThis employee’s optimism and enthusiasm about Spirit’s future led us to visit Spirit headquarters in Denia Beach, Florida, a few weeks later for an interview with Rana Ghosh, Senior Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer of Spirit Airlines.
This discussion, and what I learned about the current state of the airline and free spirit program While preparing for the interview, I wondered – especially about the current spirit status match challenge – Is it time to rethink Spirit Airlines and its Free Spirit program. That’s what I’m thinking.
New fare types and easier booking paths
Spirit introduced its Big Front Seat in 2007 as a rebrand of the Spirit Plus. Therefore, Spirit flyers have long had the opportunity to purchase a wide seat with greater pitch. But Spirit recently introduced new faresWhich also includes the Go Comfy fare which guarantees a blocked middle seat.
A blocked middle seat looks attractive and will make your flight more comfortable. But it’s important to remember that the Go Comfy seats don’t have any extra pitch. based on aerolopa dataThe Go Comfy seats have only 28 inches of pitch. That’s 9 inches shorter than the 37 inches typically available for Big Front seats and 7 inches shorter than the 35 inches offered in most Spirit exit-row seats.
Ghosh said Go Comfy seating is similar to what many European carriers offer in business class on short-haul flights. He highlighted that it was a relatively easy product for Spirit to create and said that Spirit is happy with its performance so far.
Now that Spirit has four different fare categories — including premium options of Go Comfy and Go Big — Ghosh highlighted the airline’s products that can appeal to every type of traveler and each specific trip. He also said that passengers will soon start seeing premium Go Comfy and Go Big fares as premium fare variants through online travel agencies, so that passengers can better compare these products with what other airlines offer .
Finally, it’s worth noting that the booking path is now much easier than it was a few years ago. Especially if you choose the Go Comfy or Go Big fare, you won’t see many opportunities to add more cost. However, if you choose the Go or Go Savvy fare, Ghosh said of the booking process, where you have the opportunity to add items, consumers are informed of what they won’t get with their fare and for how much. will get. Cost of adding additional services.
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Rates are sometimes surprisingly low
Whether you book with cash or free Spirit points, the rates are surprisingly low for some of the dates and routes I discovered. This is also valid if you want to book Go Comfy or Go Big. For example, I could 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. Am.
Or, I can redeem 2,500 points for a Go fare on this flight. If I wanted to book Go Savvy, Go Comfy or Go Big, I could only pay $29, $45 or $65 more. These payments are equal to the value difference in fares paid.
$62 – or 2,500 points plus $29 – from the Go Savvy fare will get me a personal item, seat selection, and a checked or carry-on bag, which is all I need. But, with the $16 buy-in cost for the Go Comfy fare, which guarantees me a blocked middle seat or $36 for the large front seat, I’d be tempted to book one of these higher fares to guarantee more space. Will be tempted to.
Even on more expensive routes, the trade-off between the Go Savvy and the Go Comfy or Go Big isn’t bad. For example, on this flight between Atlanta and Orlando in March – a high-demand time – the cost difference between Go Savvy and Go Comfy is $46, while the difference between Go Savvy and Go Big is $71.
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More flexibility with no change or cancellation fees
Spirit quietly revamped its change and cancellation policies In May 2024. These changes make me more likely to book a flight with Spirit.
If you cancel a reservation for a Spirit flight seven or more days away within 24 hours of booking, you can receive a full refund in your original form of payment. Otherwise, if you cancel at least one hour before the flight’s scheduled departure you can receive a reservation credit for the value of the reservation.
When booking on the Spirit website, you can use reservation credits to pay for fares, bags, seats, fees and taxes. Any guest associated with the original reservation can use the credit. And you don’t have to use the entire reservation credit on a single reservation, as you can use any remaining on subsequent reservations. Reservation credits issued after May 20, 2024 are valid for one year, but reservation credits issued due to flight cancellations or schedule changes are valid for five years.
You can also change your flight online up to an hour before its scheduled departure. However, when making changes, you will be required to pay any difference between your originally booked fare and the new fare.
in Change and Cancellation Policies Surprisingly consumer friendly, especially when compared to the basic economy policies of most major US airlines. I like to keep my options open, so I rarely book a fare that can’t be canceled freely.
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Spirit’s route map may work well for you
If you live in or frequently travel to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Orlando International Airport (MCO) or Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), you’ll find that Spirit Airlines often offers nonstop domestic and international flights. Provides service. Regional destination you want to visit.
Additionally, Spirit serves 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, it’s worth considering Spirit as well.
But even if you don’t plan to fly Spirit frequently, it may be worth a try if the airline offers attractive flight options at a reasonable rate. As I grew up, I started giving priority to booking nonstop flights When they are available. And especially given Spirit’s friendly cancellation policies and new fare types, I’m more willing than ever to give Spirit another chance.
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You can try out Spirit with the current situation matching challenge
One strange theme that came up while speaking with Ghosh was the negative experiences many passengers 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 in terms of products, services and quality. At the same time, they need to reinvigorate brand sentiment, especially among passengers who may have previously had a negative experience with the airline.
The airline is trying to accomplish both goals through its current status matching challengeThis status match challenge is only for elite members of other domestic airlines, as Spirit is most interested in encouraging these travelers to try out its current service and products.
Through this status match challenge, eligible travelers can get 90 days of free Spirit Silver or Gold status and the chance to extend their status through the end of 2025 if they earn a specific number of Spirit purchases through flights or expenses during the 90 days. Earn qualification points. Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®,
Free Spirit Travel More Mastercard information is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
One downside if you don’t usually travel alone is that Free Spirit specific benefits are only for the status holder. While other airlines usually offer benefits for at least one traveling companion, this is not the case with Spirit.
Additionally, many of the benefits of Free Spirit Gold status are not very useful if you purchase more than the Go rental. That said, if you have Free Spirit Gold status you may have no reason to book a higher fare class. Finally, free Spirit Gold members can select exit-row seating when booking and enjoy priority check-in, first free checked bag, free carry-on bag, and complimentary snacks and beverages onboard. Can take.
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ground level
tpg summer plow And zach griff Have tried Spirit Airlines in recent years and share my experiences. summer she was happy Canceled my first class ticket for a Spirit Airlines flightWhile Zack shared his Thoughts About Flying in the Spirit Big Front Seat,
Especially when some travelers deliberately decide to do so. free agentsI hope more travelers will find Spirit’s new fare categories attractive. Booking a Go Comfy seat with a guaranteed blockable middle seat or a Go Big seat with more width and pitch for only a nominal fee will appeal to some travelers – especially if Spirit offers nonstop flights on the route they want to fly. .
