*in an ominous voice* It’s time.
I’ve shared my thoughts on Avelo.
I’ve shared my thoughts on Contour.
I’ve shared my thoughts on Frontier.
And today?
Today I’m sharing my thoughts on Spirit.
This post is not sponsored or affiliated with Spirit Airlines and I purchased my airline tickets myself. This post contains commissionable links that enable me to run this site without advertisem*nts (yay!).
I first flew the budget carrier back in 2018, from Orlando to Asheville and back, and my flight more or less went off without a hitch. It helped that I’d previously flown Allegiant, and thus had some exposure to the ULCC (that’s Ultra-Low Cost Carrier) flying experience.
Since then, I’ve flown Spirit more times than I care to admit. It doesn’t feel unfair to say the airline would be most travelers’ last choice (if money were no object, I doubt many would choose Spirit over a legacy carrier, wouldn’t you agree?), but the opportunity to save valuable travel dollars is what gets me on board, every time.
With all of this first-hand experience under my belt, plus a recent refresher thanks to a $75 fare to Boston, I thought it was high time to put together my review of Spirit Airlines.
New to flying Spirit? Here are fifteen things you need to know before flying Spirit for the first time:
1. You won’t be the only one
I’ve had enough conversations with seatmates to know that new passengers fly the airline every day. Even if you feel frustrated by the airline’s many quirks, you can find comfort in knowing you’re not alone. In casual conversations with the airline’s crew, I’ve also learned that for many, this is their first flight ever. If that’s you, I’m honored to be your guide today and help make your first adventure a breeze (so you can keep on flying to new destinations!). And if it’s not your first time flying ever? This is a good reminder to treat your fellow passengers with grace.
2. Bob and weave those extra charges
Trying to purchase tickets on Spirit’s website turns my internal “scam alert” signal on. From sneaky buttons to try to get you to enroll in the Spirit Saver$ Club (recurring annual fee: $69.95) to pop-up windows flashing with rental car deals, I find that the purchasing process is incredibly off-putting. Read the fine print carefully on every screen (believe me, there are so many screens).
3. Know these money-saving tips for bags and seats
Because you’re an informed flyer, you probably already know that the price you see for a Spirit flight is only the base fare to get you from A to B. What once were considered travel essentials (you know, things like luggage and a seat assignment) are now considered add-ons. Now, I won’t tell you how and when to spend your money – if you like traveling with multiple suitcases or have a favorite seat picked out and are willing to shell out for those items, go for it!
But for my fellow travelers who prefer to save that money to spend on other things, I have a few insider tips for saving on these categories. Baggage costs on Spirit can add up quickly (as in, doubling the price of your ticket), but all travelers are entitled to bring one personal item up to 18 x 14 x 8 inches for free. For my fellow travelers who carry a purse, you’ll need to place it inside your personal item or face a hefty fee at the gate.
My recommendation is to purchase a bag that maximizes these dimensions (this is the one I personally use and highly recommend), and learn to pack light for your trip. Can’t quite squeeze everything into a backpack? Consider sharing a carry-on or checked bag with your travel companion, and pay for your bag when you buy your tickets for the best price.
Looking for personal item packing inspiration? Find all of my real-life packing lists here.As for seats, the only way to guarantee that you will be seated with your party is to pay for them (Spirit’s family seating policy states, “If Guests with children aged 13 and under do not opt to pre-select seats at the time of booking, our gate agents and Flight Attendants will work to provide adjacent seats when possible.”
The when possible is critical to note here – it’s not a guarantee). However, only on rare occasions have Michael and I been assigned separate seats on a Spirit flight, typically only in the event of a plane change or cancelation (more on that in a moment). My advice for travelers who are willing to sit apart if needed? Save your money and skip the seat!
4. Is it really as cheap as it seems?
Before booking your Spirit flight, double-check that the final price of your ticket (with any add-ons) is actually cheaper than the competitor’s fare. If you’re adding bags and seats, it might not be!
5. Be prepared for tons of emails
In the days leading up to your departure, be prepared for 1-2 emails per day from Spirit advertising services for sale. From bags to rental cars to hotels to bidding on a better seat, they’ll appear in your inbox. I’ve grown so used to deleting email after email from Spirit that I’ve nearly deleted my boarding pass (whoops!).
6. Play “Check-In Chicken” (if you dare)
Didn’t pay for seats? You can play what Michael and I call “Check-In Chicken.” For passengers who did not purchase seats, Spirit typically assigns seats from the back of the plane to the front. Starting at the 24-hour mark (when check-in opens), I periodically scope out the remaining seats on my flight to pick the perfect time to check-in. Only once enough seats in the rear of the plane disappear do I actually check-in for the flight. It’s risky on a full flight – flights can be overbooked – but I value hopping right off the plane and getting out to explore my destination quickly.
After checking in, be sure to print your boarding pass at home or download the Spirit app to access a digital version. If you need to have a customer service agent print your pass for you, it will set you back a whopping $25 each. Note: In the event you are unable to access your boarding pass this way, an agent should print one for you for free. I recommend keeping this page bookmarked just in case.
7. Be prepared to be uncomfortable
Thin, hollow seats with tiny tray tables and little room for your feet – that about captures the in-flight experience on Spirit. The airline prioritizes fitting as many passengers as possible onto each of their planes, and the result is getting to feel like a sardine for a few hours. My back is always so cranky after a ULCC flight that I’ve had to set a personal max flight time of four hours on any budget airline. To ease the discomfort, I try to get as many steps in as possible before and after my flight and add in a little stretching when I can.
8. Pack your creature comforts
If your flight is long enough, in-flight snack and beverage service will be offered on your flight – but like everything else, it’s not included (even water – it feels like it should be complimentary, but it’s not). Consider packing a meal or snack and filling up your reusable water bottle to save money and the environment.
While you’re at it, toss in your noise-canceling headphones – in my experience, there tend to be more kids on a budget flight than on a legacy carrier flight (I mean, I get it – I wouldn’t want to pay mainline carrier fares for an entire family, either!). Spirit flights in particular seem to be the noisiest, and carving out a little peace and quiet goes a long way to making the experience marginally more comfortable.
9. Pockets are your friends
In addition to helping you maximize your luggage space (fishing vests and other multi-pocket garments are popular with budget travelers for this reason), garments with pockets are incredibly helpful in-flight, as many Spirit planes lack a seat back pocket. No one wants to have to chase down an errant AirPod midflight!
10. Flight attendants with attitude
And by that, I’m not talking about a bad attitude (though everyone has an off day now and again); I’m talking about how seemingly more often than not, Spirit flights often have a few sassy flight attendants on board. Dealing with grumpy passengers all day long can’t be any fun – flight attendants who recognize the frustrations of budget travel and flip it on its head add a little levity to the experience.
11. Like flying in a commercial
Picture this: you’re just forty-five minutes away from your destination and you’re deeply engrossed in your page-turner of an eBook when a voice comes over the intercom offering an amazing deal for passengers. Your ears perk up (snacks?? Maybe it’s free snacks?!), only to feel crushing disappointment as you realize the flight attending is advertising Spirit’s credit card offerings to an incredibly captive audience. You avoid eye contact and the waving pamphlet because you are uncomfortable and have no interest in being incentivized to sit in one of these seats again.
12. A delayed flight? That’s not a surprise…
Spirit’s annual on-time performance (OTP) record falls significantly short of the national average. Make sure to leave plenty of cushion in your itinerary in case your flight is delayed – as a general rule, flights that are scheduled for earlier in the day are more likely to be on time.
13. Flight canceled? Good luck.
Despite traveling quite frequently, I’m fortunate to have experienced very few cancelations along the way. Still, the contrast between how a legacy carrier handled a cancelation (hotels, meals, and a hefty check – aided by strict EU regulations, of course) versus how Spirit handled a cancelation (stranded for multiple nights with no assistance) is quite stark.
While it feels good to vent to the internet about your bad experience, I also want to add a few helpful tips should you ever find yourself with a “canceled” notification from Spirit (though I sincerely hope you never do!).
Before you even start booking flights, make sure you have a great travel credit card in your wallet. Had I not booked my trip with my Chase card, I would have been stuck with the bill for the additional nights I stayed in Raleigh after my Spirit flight was canceled (they refunded about $500 in expenses incurred). Travel insurance can also be a good help here (purchased before your trip!).
But when it comes to actually dealing with the airline itself, skip the lengthy (often hours-long) telephone hold times. Instead, head over to the brand’s official account on X (formerly known as Twitter) to get the quickest, and often least painful response. You’ll also have the benefit of getting everything in writing, just in case you need any documentation down the line.
14. They fly internationally.
Most of the ULCCs in the United States have limited international flight offerings, but Spirit has a hearty network of flights between the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean. I’ve only flown internationally with Spirit once (to Cartagena), but the flying experience was about the same as flying domestically with Spirit: not great, but so much cheaper than the next airline. This leads me to…
15. Be prepared to go back on your word
After your first Spirit flight, these two things are pretty much guaranteed to happen:
- You’ll walk off the plane, shaking your head and muttering, “Never again.”
- Next time you’re booking a flight, you’ll spot a Spirit flight that’s so cheap you go back on your word.
I suppose it could always be worse (hey, at least it’s not Frontier!).
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Questions for you
Have you ever flown on Spirit Airlines? What else do you think travelers should know before they book their first flight?
If you’re new to Spirit, what other questions do you have about the flying experience?
Why not fly on over to one of these related posts next?
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- 20 Questions You Should Ask a Potential Travel Partner Before You Leave Home
- How to Split Travel Costs When One Person Makes More Money
- What Happens When You Cancel a Non-refundable Trip?
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