Spirit vs other airlines

katriscari · Aug 28, 2016

We booked our 4th trip to Disney World since 2014 for May 6-16,2017. I am starting to look at flight options out of Cleveland or the smaller airport around us. We've had a lot of airline cuts lately, most notably, non-stop offering from Southwest out of our smaller airport

Anyways, I have a few options for our May trip...wondering if anyone has any opinion one way or another. Most airlines are not out yet for May, so I am pretty limited with what I can see. I will be traveling with my husband, our 7 year old son, and a 9 month old lap child. (Our trip overall is going to be much more laid back and less planned out because of baby. We plan on upgrading to APs this trip, so we can go again and use them for 10 nights in 2018 as well--after that our older son will be a Disney adult.)

1. United non stop from CLE to MCO is about $350-$400 per person plus bag fees---this is not going to happen. I don't know why anyone even flys them anymore.

2. Spirit--Based on my math & being willing to go to our airport which is about 15 minutes from where I live and joining their $9 program (only one leg of the flight is in the program, the other is not) I think I can fly nonstop from CLE to MCO for $510.52 (at most $648.54 if I do everything online and do not join that program)--this option includes free personal items & one checked bag per paid ticket each way. This is for our entire family!

3. Drive 2.5 hours to either Pittsburgh or Columbus airport to fly out of there and use Southwest. I would need to factor in paying for 11 days of parking too using either one of these options, and I am gathering I would pay about $250/pp round trip going this route, since this is what I've paid on our last 3 trips.

4. Wait to see what Frontier comes up with (likely will not be out until November or December) and Southwest to see if magically they open up anything non-stop out of one of the 2 airports close to me (again, waiting until November)

5. American Airlines is also much more expensive and offers no nonstop flights.

6. Our smaller airport offers nonstop but only to Sanford....so, I am not even entertaining this option.

Thoughts?! I would hate to pass up what I consider flying for cheap. Plus, with my credit card miles I have enough to pay for at least one leg of our flights, if not both.

MillauFr · Aug 28, 2016

Why would you not chose United if the price is over $100 cheaper than Spirit? $510 vs. $400?

katriscari · Aug 28, 2016

MillauFr said:
Why would you not chose United if the price is over $100 cheaper than Spirit? $510 vs. $400?

No, for spirit the $510 is for all 3 paying fliers and a checked bag for each of us TOTAL. The United fare cost is per person--so about $1200+ TOTAL

Keacc · Aug 28, 2016

We have flown on Spirit 6 years in a row from Chicago to Orlando. It is a no frills airline. Having said that, we are flying them again this November. We got $127 r/t for each person. When we booked Spirit, United and American were around $260 r/t per person. I can live with no frills. :yay:

OrangeCountyCommuter · Aug 28, 2016

Everyone loves Spirit until something goes wrong. Then you discover why it's cheaper. No customer service.

I don't go if I can't afford a better airline.

katriscari · Aug 28, 2016

OrangeCountyCommuter said:
Everyone loves Spirit until something goes wrong. Then you discover why it's cheaper. No customer service.

I don't go if I can't afford a better airline.

I can afford it, but I am not sure paying the extra $$$ to either drive hours out of my way, have a layover with an infant or pay more than double the cost to not fly them is worth it. $700 to fly United out of the same airport seems excessive. I am not a flier other than to Orlando MCO to go to Disney World, so that's why I asked for opinions

I think I'd be leery if our trip was in the dead of winter, but it's the beginning of May. I suppose a mechanical issue could arise, but weather catastrophe is not very likely at that time of the year.

katriscari · Aug 28, 2016

Keacc said:
We have flown on Spirit 6 years in a row from Chicago to Orlando. It is a no frills airline. Having said that, we are flying them again this November. We got $127 r/t for each person. When we booked Spirit, United and American were around $260 r/t per person. I can live with no frills.

I warned my husband, and he is pretty sure he wants to try them. I am going to book our flight home tonight because they offer the discounted fare for using their club. Will cost me about $250 including 3 checked bags for the 3 of us and a lap child. I don't think anything will come close to that price for getting home.

Pembo · Aug 28, 2016

We live near CLE and are also very disappointed with the lack of nonstops.

We flew Frontier out of CLE on Easter to MCO. It was a very easy flight and I paid $79 each way two weeks out. Flight times were okay but a 7:10 am flight made for a very long day.

I have a friend who's parents fly frequently to MCO (their daughter lives in Orlando.) They have tried them all. Disliked Spirit! Liked Frontier.

We've also flown SW out of CMH and CAK. I love SW and I think they have added a nonstop on Saturdays to MCO out of CAK?! We flew them this summer out of CAK with a stop, no plane change. It wasn't bad.

Good luck on your decision. We are doing a quick trip in Dec and chose United for the better flight times. I could have saved $$ on Frontier or Spirit but it really wasn't that much after adding all the bag and seat fees.

katriscari · Aug 28, 2016

Pembo said:
We live near CLE and are also very disappointed with the lack of nonstops.

We flew Frontier out of CLE on Easter to MCO. It was a very easy flight and I paid $79 each way two weeks out. Flight times were okay but a 7:10 am flight made for a very long day.

I have a friend who's parents fly frequently to MCO (their daughter lives in Orlando.) They have tried them all. Disliked Spirit! Liked Frontier.

We've also flown SW out of CMH and CAK. I love SW and I think they have added a nonstop on Saturdays to MCO out of CAK?! We flew them this summer out of CAK with a stop, no plane change. It wasn't bad.

Good luck on your decision. We are doing a quick trip in Dec and chose United for the better flight times. I could have saved $$ on Frontier or Spirit but it really wasn't that much after adding all the bag and seat fees.

I think the nonstop cak flight was only during the summer. I'm not sure if that is being continued. I'd consider United, but they aren't even in the same stratosphere as the other airlines cost wise. Do you know if all of the flights with a stop have no plane change? Seeing as we will have a 9 month old I don't want a layover. Doesn't frontier have the same excessive bag fees too?

katriscari · Aug 28, 2016

Pembo said:
We live near CLE and are also very disappointed with the lack of nonstops.

We flew Frontier out of CLE on Easter to MCO. It was a very easy flight and I paid $79 each way two weeks out. Flight times were okay but a 7:10 am flight made for a very long day.

I have a friend who's parents fly frequently to MCO (their daughter lives in Orlando.) They have tried them all. Disliked Spirit! Liked Frontier.

We've also flown SW out of CMH and CAK. I love SW and I think they have added a nonstop on Saturdays to MCO out of CAK?! We flew them this summer out of CAK with a stop, no plane change. It wasn't bad.

Good luck on your decision. We are doing a quick trip in Dec and chose United for the better flight times. I could have saved $$ on Frontier or Spirit but it really wasn't that much after adding all the bag and seat fees.

I just checked the southwest app, and they have that Saturday flight in all the months. I might be willing to pay about $150 a person to fly them down nonstop from cak if they are going to continue into may....then we can fly spirit home, because if coming home is delayed, who cares lol

Ciandella915 · Aug 28, 2016

I'll never fly Spirit. I have too many acquaintances and friends who have been burned. My childhood best friend missed my wedding due to their poor customer service. When anything goes wrong, suddenly it becomes clear why they're so cheap.

kydisneyfans · Aug 29, 2016

If it's not on one of the big 4(SW, United, America, Delta), it's wheels on the road for us. Too many family members and friends have not made it to their destinations at all on Allegiant/Frontier/Spirit due to cancellations-even in good weather. I'll pay more for peace of mind, if not, we drive.

Keacc · Aug 29, 2016

2 United pilots just arrested for getting ready to fly drunk!

Pmlocke · Aug 29, 2016

I always fly Spirit. I have friends and family who have never been burned. This is the problem with sites like this. Some experiance problems and others don't. I have read horror stories regarding every airline on this site so why would anyone want to fly? I agree, the seats are small except for the front seats that are 21.00 extra. Well worth it and I always get them. I travel Spirit because I have never had a problem, the flight from Detroit Metro to Orlando is only 2.5 hours and I svae alot of money every time. I work hard for my money and until someone can explain to me why I should spend hundreds more for a seat that is 2 inches wider, then I'll stay with Spirit.

katriscari · Aug 29, 2016

Pmlocke said:
I always fly Spirit. I have friends and family who have never been burned. This is the problem with sites like this. Some experiance problems and others don't. I have read horror stories regarding every airline on this site so why would anyone want to fly? I agree, the seats are small except for the front seats that are 21.00 extra. Well worth it and I always get them. I travel Spirit because I have never had a problem, the flight from Detroit Metro to Orlando is only 2.5 hours and I svae alot of money every time. I work hard for my money and until someone can explain to me why I should spend hundreds more for a seat that is 2 inches wider, then I'll stay with Spirit.

I'm going to buy my return flight through them...do you go to the airport to buy your flight to save that fee, or do you just do everything online. Coming back there is no $9 club fare into either airport close to me. I didn't know if it was worth it to try at the airport to save a tiny bit of money because I don't think you can get the cheapest bag fees at the airport...we would have to check a bag for 3 of us. It would only cost $320 for the 3 of us including a bag each.

Pmlocke · Aug 30, 2016

katriscari said:
I'm going to buy my return flight through them...do you go to the airport to buy your flight to save that fee, or do you just do everything online. Coming back there is no $9 club fare into either airport close to me. I didn't know if it was worth it to try at the airport to save a tiny bit of money because I don't think you can get the cheapest bag fees at the airport...we would have to check a bag for 3 of us. It would only cost $320 for the 3 of us including a bag each.

I always book online. I understand that you do save some money by booking at the airport but the cost of the gas and parking negates that for me.

smiths02 · Aug 30, 2016

One thing about Spirit, you say you are getting personal items and a checked bag. After looking into them, that probably means you don't get a carry on...you each get a checked bag and a laptop/purse kind of item.
I had a friend who was delayed at least a day on Spirit for no real reason (it was snowing or a computer malfunction or whatever)

Pmlocke said:
I always fly Spirit. I have friends and family who have never been burned. This is the problem with sites like this. Some experiance problems and others don't. I have read horror stories regarding every airline on this site so why would anyone want to fly? I agree, the seats are small except for the front seats that are 21.00 extra. Well worth it and I always get them. I travel Spirit because I have never had a problem, the flight from Detroit Metro to Orlando is only 2.5 hours and I svae alot of money every time. I work hard for my money and until someone can explain to me why I should spend hundreds more for a seat that is 2 inches wider, then I'll stay with Spirit.

There are horror stories everywhere about every thing online BUT you also have to look at overwhelming evidence. I researched Spirit vs Southwest for our trip in Feb. The reviews for Spirit are truly bad, worse than any of the others. They are also notorious for adding on fees last minute, so you might not be saving as much as you think.

Anyhow, to the OP, I would wait. I don't think there is an advantage of booking right now for May 2017. I mean someone can correct me, but the advantage is probably to wait.

Tinatheneedle · Aug 30, 2016

Mostly lurker here, but there is some really good information on an app called "on the fly." If you do a search for ITA Matrix on Google, you should be able to find it. The app lists some great info, like a whole month at a time of prices, so you can save money by planning a trip maybe a day earlier or coming home a day later. It also lists ticket prices by airline, so you can compare. And a lot more. It's free and we use it all the time.

We also have 2friends who were burned by Spirit. Got home 24hours later than she should have, luggage lost, luggage finally came with a giant gash in it. Charged for water, ice cubes, you name it! A very expensive trip, indeed! Also, safety record not so great. But I completely understand needing a less expensive fare-did it for years when the kids were home. We flew Fontier and SW back in the days when they were the new guys in town.

Hope the app can help you,

goodferry · Aug 30, 2016

Our son is in college in Orlando, so we fly down probably 4 times a year and he comes home probably 3 times a year. Spirit flies out of a regional airport 10 miles from our house so we do fly with them pretty often. For us it's partially a cost (we go a lot!) issue, but also a convenience thing. It's close, we don't have to fight Pittsburgh traffic to get there, parking is free, flights are non stop and it's cheap. With that said, I would never fly Spirit if there was somewhere I HAD to be at a certain time, for example a wedding or a cruise. if something goes wrong their customer service department leaves a lot to be desired, and they only have one flight a day to each location they fly to, so if the flight is cancelled, you could be out of luck. We know the rules, we follow them, we have never had a single problem. The girls and I use Vera Bradley large duffels for our personal item, they squish down easily and fit under the seat. I pay for a bigger seat and a checked bag and it's still 1/2 the price of any other carrier for us. One reason there are delays sometimes is at the larger airports with multiple airlines, they are low man on the totem pole, so if there is a weather problem, they are the last in line to get out once flights start getting out.

oneyedsally · Aug 30, 2016

I'm also looking to fly out of Cleveland, but in late January/early February. I LOVE to fly Southwest for many reasons - family boarding, no baggage fees, plus I can pre-board with my peanut allergy and they also remove peanuts from the flight. But their itinerary is just not working for this trip! We are coming in on a Sunday but are not getting park tickets, just doing Disney Springs and exploring the resort. The earliest flight is a 1-stop from 12:15p-5:00p. I'm worried we won't get to the resort until 6:30p! With young kids that's already past dinner time and I'm sure they'll be getting tired. We might not even make it to DS!

Spirit sounds really good on paper...we'd get to the resort by lunchtime and it's half the price. Is it really worth it though?

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