So confused by Spirit Airline's prices

Tuffcookie

Enjoys an early hour of peace. Is a smart cookie.
Joined
Jan 8, 2000
I'm hoping someone who has flown Spirit Airlines can clarify their pricing. Our local airport (CAK) has just picked up Spirit Airlines.

If I want to go to Orlando, pay for a carry on plus 1 checked bag, should I join the $9.00 fare club? I don't understand why they call it a $9.00 fare Club when I read the 1 year membership is $59.99. Where does the $9.00 come in?

Are the prices I'm seeing on the web site the regular prices for the flight or is that the $9.00 Fare Club price?

Also, am I understanding the tax rate is 30% for departure flight and 41% for return?
Are you allowed to carry food or bottled water on with you?

In your opinion, were you happy with your Spirit flight?

Thanks for any help!!!

TC :cool1:
 
When you look at Spirit prices just add approx. 50% above the price you see to get an idea of what you will really pay. There are sooooo many extra fees that it's virtually impossible to get an accurate price until you add everything you want to book.

Fees vary for checked and carry on bags depending on when you book those. And be aware that a checked bag is NOT up to 50 pounds like most other airlines, so many people get dinged on overweight fees at the airport. Their checked baggage weight allowance is 40 pounds. They charge a fee to print your boarding pass, a fee for water and soft drinks and snacks on board, varying fees for any assigned seating, fees with Spirit seem never ending. It's really hard to see up front what your final cost will be until you go through the entire process.

I've refused to fly them myself, but know others who have. Seats do not recline and are low to the ground, can be uncomfortable on longer flights. The low seats also mean your free under the seat carryon has to be small or it won't fit. There is a size chart on their website, they say a backpack is OK, but don't ever overstuff it! Using the overhead for luggage is an extra charge, much higher at the last minute than if you paid when you purchased your ticket. They do not interline with other carriers, so if there is a flight cancellation you just have to wait for the next available Spirit flight, hard to do if they do not fly daily from your city. Their airport counters are manned only when flights are scheduled, and their phone customer service leaves a lot to be desired.

I am merely stating facts here, some people like them for their low fares. But it's very basic transportation, though they are very upfront about the fact that their fares are "unbundled" and you can choose what features you will pay for. Just know up front what you are getting with Spirit so you are not surprised by extra charges. When all desired features are added in you could be close to what a larger airline would charge.

As far as the $9 fare club, most of those I see are for off peak flights and days, not for everything. Unless you intend to fly a lot with them might not be worth the sign up fee since you can't always score a $9 deal. Best to look and see if there are any when and where you want to fly to before you join. Yes, the base fares on these deals are $9 plus, plus, plus, plus.
 
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Thank you! Their web site is very confusing. I was checking out the deals on their web site. They have a 50% off flight code listed. There is also a list of items in the base flight price that you have to exclude before the 50% off comes into play. Even after deducting all the things the Spirit web site said to deduct, I came up with $19.82. Half of that would be almost $10.00 but the amount that Spirit was showing was $4.50! Biggie Wow, what a deal!

TC :cool1:
 
I believe it's called the $9 Fare Club because one of the benefits is occasional $9 fares. Usually just one way.
The $59.99 covers your membership for a year. It includes some discounted fares and discounts on prepaid luggage.
Example: I'm pricing a trip from Boston to Las Vegas in December. There are several flights, but interestingly the nonstop is cheapest. The site shows both the standard and $9 Fare Club prices on the flights where there's a difference.
Outbound flight leaving late afternoon arriving early evening, standard fare $128.09, $9 Fare Club price $108.09
Return flight (redeye) standard fare $128.09, $9 Fare Club price $108.09
One carry on, standard cost $35 each way, $9 FC $26 each way
One checked bag, standard cost $30 each way, $9 FC $21 each way

Once I selected the luggage, a box popped up advising me I would save $76 by joining the $9 Fare Club, or a net saving of $15. That's $20 off the airfare each way and $18 off the luggage. Even removing the carry on, I would "save" $58, or have a net expense of $1.99. If I had another trip under consideration within the year, it would definitely be worth joining.

When I got to the payment page, there was an option for a 60 trial for $19.99
 


Kaytie, But if I'm understanding the trial membership, you have to apply for it at the time you book a flight and the discount is for your next flight, not the one you would be booking at the moment.

I have also read horror stories from people that subscribed for the yearly fee and then tried to cancel. Spirit does not make it easy!

TC :cool1:
 
They nickel and dime everything. That being true, I've flown Spirit a handful of times and have not had problems. I go with only my free personal item and no expectations other than getting to my destination. So far, I've been fortunate!
 
Years ago there were plenty of $9 fares available if you joined the club. Not for all flights and dates, but frequent enough. These days those fares are few and far between, but Spirit never changed the name of their club.
 


My vacation time is too precious to risk it by flying Spirit. Anyone who wants piece of mind should never book Spirit. If you are willing to take a risk that half of your vacation will be wasted sitting in an airport waiting for the next available flight after yours was cancel then go ahead and fly Spirit.
 
I always travel Spirit and have never had a flight cancelled. I once had a flight delayed for 35 minutes but that was due to the weather. Hardly the airlines fault. I have belonged to the $9 club for ten years now. First of all , no charge for a carry on if the size of your baggage conforms to their size limitations. The luggage that gets placed in the hold cost me $21 per bag. Seeing as how I paid $39 per seat each way for my last trip to Orlando, the 21 dollars was no biggie. Yes, you have to pay taxes and other fees but I have found the price to fly Spirit is about 50% cheaper than any other airline. I check every time. As for the seats, they are correct, they don't recline unless you get the larger ones in the front of the plan. For an extra 20 dollars these seats are two wide instead of three and have more leg room and recline. I always get them and I am still saving money. You can have problems with any airline. I guess I am just lucky that I have never had problems with Spirit over tha last ten years. As for the $9 fare, you get emails constantly with special deals.
 
Also never had any issues with Spirit. Only delay we have ever had was when we were flying home to Houston and Houston had a tropical storm making landfall. Completely understandable and totally out of Spirit's control.

If you live near the airport I do want to point out that if you purchase your tickets at the airport instead of online they do not charge the "passenger usage fee" which usually runs about $17/ticket each way. DH and I did this recently and bought 2 round trip tickets from Houston to NOLA for $68 all in. For me this has always worked out better than the $9 club. YMMV

We always carry the personal item (I believe it's 12x14x16) which is usually a small duffle or backpack. We have checked a bag before just make sure it isn't over 40lbs (I carry a luggage scale with us) and make sure you pay for it prior to checking in to avoid extra fees. If you make sure you are familiar with what is included and what is not you won't have any surprises. For me I don't need the extras. If I want something to drink I buy it after security at the airport. I print my boarding pass at home or at the kiosk. It really isn't as bad or difficult to avoid the fees as some would have you believe.
 
Tuffcookie, a friend's parents fly to Orlando frequently to visit family. They often fly Frontier out of Cleveland with no problems but do not like Spirit. There always seems to be an issue. I know CAK is closer for you but I flew Frontier this past spring and had great luck.
 
I'm only a spirit customer because I've gotten round trip airfare for less than $100 on multiple occasions. They are cramped... I do not pay for ANY extras ever. If you live close to the airport, read the bottom of the website where it says "fares generally available for less at the airport". That's no lie.

Spirits prices are a mystery. What today's price be could be higher than tomorrow, but cheaper than Saturday. I can't figure out what makes them go up and down (like Southwest the earliest passengers booking get the lowest fares... And as the plane fills up the price rises). If you know you have to check a bag.... Buy when you book (if online). That's when it's cheapest. Last flight I paid $42 for 1 bag (non $9 fare club price).

The $9 fare club started because you could occasionally find fares for $9 one way. Now it's more of a you save at least $9 with it kinda thing. At least $9 for a checked bag... Carry on, purchase price. If you join the club and want to stick with it.... Definitely cancel before renewal and then join again. The renewal fee is more than the initial $59.99

Like the others I've never been canceled... Bit the flights I usually take are always full and popular flights. I have been delayed many times due to weather.anybof their routes begin and end in Florida... So frequent storms backup the schedule for the day. But PAY ATTENTION to the free bag sizes. I have seen people charged $100 at the gate for trying to sneak on a bigger bag for free.

With dvc and free Laundry we are able to pack about 4-5 days of warm weather gear in the free personal item size bag. We just do a load while there and wear our outfits over again. Only paid for a checked bag twice with them.
 
I've flown Spirit twice, once to Orlando, once to Myrtle Beach. They fly out of a small town airport that offers free parking while you're gone and a VERY short TSA line. Despite the add ons, it's worth it for me and my family to fly Spirit out of this airport as opposed to going to Pittsburgh (the closest major airport to me), paying fees to park, and using other airlines that are only borderline cheaper than Spirit. Like with any airline, it all depends on your specific situation. But I've never had a problem with them, I just read the fine print closely and know what I'm getting into.
 
I've flown spirit, and you're doing the right thing educating yourself about their policies and fees. My parents fly all the time and even wind up not using their miles for free flights since the flights are so cheap sometimes. I think the most recent one they booked was less than $150 for two round trip.

Definitely don't buy their snacks/drinks on the flight because it is pretty expensive. I usually just grab something in the airport and bring it with me.

Their space between rows is also less than other airlines so that's uncomfortable depending on how long the flight is. I can do 2 hours, not sure how much longer. And I bring checked bags, but the 40 pounds was tough for me. The price last time I flew them was still better than other carriers even with the fees I knew I would use.
 
we fly spirit mainly because the prices aren't too bad.
i've never had a bad experience flying, and i don't think i will have!
 
This really depends on the flight length and airport. I have used them in the past as they fly to MCO from Atlantic City. The AC airport is so small they only have one luggage pickup at a time (so no confusing searches or waits) and so few flights only your flight is really queuing for TSA when you get there on time. The fees can add up, the club cuts down on the cost and you get sales that aren't available to the public. For us getting off our flight when we get home and being in the car in less than 20 minutes is awesome and worth the smaller seats.

I commute at least 40 minutes a day on a bus so 2 hours on a small seat don't bother me. What I like with the fees is you get what you pay for. So we would pay to have one carry on bag so we could board first. They do that to make sure people that pay get the space. Everyone else has to store theirs under the seats as the top is full by the time you get there. I will say that you must understand the luggage limits. I saw people a few times trying to fly carry on only with a "personal" item that wouldn't fit in the box and a carry on. Spirit would not let them board without paying the fee for carry on for both items. Would have been cheaper to pre-pay for a checked bag.

With my most recent flight we booked JetBlue because after fees they were the cheapest flight out of our local airport. Also they give free snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic) which are decent including DD coffee so he doesn't buy once through security and I don't buy a huge bottle of water as I know they have decent bottled beverages. In the end you need to add up your total cost of the flight as the websites can be very deceptive these days.
 
Yes they nickel and dime, yes it's crowded and yes I missed a connection (not my fault) and we had a real bad trip. But if you know all this in advance you can still fly them with much cheaper flights. I joined the $9 fare club (my year is almost up) but I flew 6 times this year (sometimes with multiple people). I saved more than the club fee on the first flight. Flying alone I take a back pack (no luggage fee), print my passes at home, fly direct (I've had a couple of weather delays) and save hundreds of dollars on each trip. I can usually fly MYB to BOS on a non holiday weekend for under $100 round trip. My year is almost up and I will cancel only because I don't have any airline travel planned for next year. I would join again though, usually one leg of the flights qualifies for a discount and then if DW or DD fly with me they're flights are also discounted and all the bags are a reduced price. Side note, I just flew American, they cancelled my flight without reason and booked me the next day. This totally screwed me, I paid extra for that service because I needed to fly to an airport that Spirit didn't fly to instead of sticking with BOS then driving to New Hampshire. I've flow Spirit at least a dozen times and would fly them again.
 

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