$9 *club* for Spirit Air

[kacaju]

OK...right now my price for flights in Aug from Newark NJ to Orlando are $208 rt. I live about 25 minutes from Newark.
I just check the AC airport and Spirit has flights for around $53 (with their $9 club) one way for my dates.
If I join their $9 club for $60 and buy 5 rt tickets for just over $100 I will save big time over flying out of Newark. Is there some thing I am not seeing??
It seems like it is too good to be true...

 

[hinodis]

I fell for that and I bought into the $9 fare club. I went in to buy my tickets and after they added in taxes and fees and paying to pick a seat and luggage, the ticket price was no longer a deal. I ended up getting a much better deal from Delta. Spring break was $532 taxes and fees for 3 of us.

 

[Nadjalu]

Really do the math with Spirit. We just got suckered into thinking we were saving money (and didn't even join the club), yet it is coming out to be $50 more than the Delta flight we were thinking about.

Spirit charges for Carry on bags and Checked bags, so be aware of that.
(both ways)

They also have a "pick your seat" charge.

And of Feb 1, the checked bag weight can't exceed 40lbs or you will be charged the overage fee. Airline standard is 50lbs, but Spirit is changing their's. (they know people are packing more in the checked bag as to not do a carry on)

So as I said, it pays to take the time and really research it. Most the time it isn't going to come out cheaper. At least for us it didn't.

 

[Disneyforus]

Agree with the two pervious posters, I got sucked in too!.....and ended up with Delta.

BUT......
I have recently found out that you DON'T have to pick seats, they will assign them when you arrive to the gate. So, that saves you $20 rt. The only issue would be that you may be separated from your party. I am hoping they would seat children with a parent at the minimum.

We are watching airfare right now, and SPIRIT has the best deal/times for us. Delta is all over the place with their airfare this past week. I have seen as high as $198 and this morning it was $154, now it is back up to $160????? I didn't realize they moved prices around so much. Just watching for now!

 

[roscoepc1]

I'm going with Spirit and the $9 club...a very kind member on this board ran my flights etc through her membership, and it's about $200 cheaper than anything else I can find- and that's adding on the membership fee. I am NOT choosing seats, and I'm keeping luggage to the free carry-ons that fit under the seat, and ONE suitcase. I'll do laundry at Dis if I have to....

I think it really depends on the flight, number of people, etc...

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

BUT......
I have recently found out that you DON'T have to pick seats, they will assign them when you arrive to the gate. So, that saves you $20 rt. The only issue would be that you may be separated from your party. I am hoping they would seat children with a parent at the minimum.

!

You do realize it's SPIRIT???? Known within the industry for really not caring about their customers because they know the ONLY reason people fly them is CHEAP. you expect them to care that you are seated with your children.

I am sorry but you need to budget that money back into the plan. At least once a week on tripadvisor there's another story about how they treat thier customers.... and it's not good. Remember thier CEO went public (by accident) and said that it wasn't really necessary to worry about customer complaints about how they were treated... the customers would be back because "we are cheap" Their employees take their lead from the top!

 

[eliza61]

You do realize it's SPIRIT???? Known within the industry for really not caring about their customers because they know the ONLY reason people fly them is CHEAP. you expect them to care that you are seated with your children.

I am sorry but you need to budget that money back into the plan. At least once a week on tripadvisor there's another story about how they treat thier customers.... and it's not good. Remember thier CEO went public (by accident) and said that it wasn't really necessary to worry about customer complaints about how they were treated... the customers would be back because "we are cheap" Their employees take their lead from the top!

Totally agree!! Sorry people, you either want cheap or you want customer service. I have flown spirit out of AC and have seen them seperate children. generally a kind passenger will switch as to accomodate the family but if you want to be assured of sitting with your kids cough up the fee.

 

[Lewisc]

The only issue would be that you may be separated from your party. I am hoping they would seat children with a parent at the minimum.

I would you think that? Spirit makes it clear passengers who want to sit next to their traveling companions should purchase a seat assignment.

Flights to Orlando are filled with families who want to save $$$ and who want to sit together. Search on DIS and on other forums. Parents are split from young kids every day.

Purchasing seat assignments in advance on www.spirit.com is recommended to secure a preferred location onboard the aircraft, and ensure that traveling companions are seated together.

 

[DarleneW]

I'm a $9 club member and paid $39 not $60. Last January my DH and I flew from AC to MCO to visit my brother because we were able to get $9 flights each both ways and the trip cost us less than $100 RT!!! I hardly ever buy our seats but print out our boarding pass from home and we have never been separated. I didn't know about the change in luggage weight for checked bags. I'll have to look into that because we are going to WDW in March (already have our flight).

 

[Disneyforus]

Totally agree!! Sorry people, you either want cheap or you want customer service. I have flown spirit out of AC and have seen them seperate children. generally a kind passenger will switch as to accomodate the family but if you want to be assured of sitting with your kids cough up the fee.

WOW.
OK.

I guess we will have to think about that.
I am not overly concerned that we all sit together....there will be three adults in our party who can sit wherever, just want the 3 youngers with one of the 3 adults....the 11 yr old could care less.....he just wants to go to Disney!!!

I have only flown Delta/NWA so we don't have a lot to compare.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I have done the math and even with the bag and seat fees Spirit is waaaay less for the 4 of us this June than anyone else ($250pp on spirit with fees vs. $450 with the other guys). I am very apprehensive about booking, but this would save us $800 total vs. flying American or Delta (again, this is after the fees).

If I join their $9 Club, I can get an additional $25 off per ticket each way (which saves us $200 RT) plus $10 off bags each way (which is another $80). So for the $59 membership, it looks like I can save $280, even if I never use it again. Would all 4 of us need to get a membership or can I just buy one and it apply to the whole family?

The reviews are so mixed that I really don't want to book with Spirit, but it's hard to thumb my nose at $800-$1000 savings.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I have done the math and even with the bag and seat fees Spirit is waaaay less for the 4 of us this June than anyone else ($250pp on spirit with fees vs. $450 with the other guys). I am very apprehensive about booking, but this would save us $800 total vs. flying American or Delta (again, this is after the fees).

If I join their $9 Club, I can get an additional $25 off per ticket each way (which saves us $200 RT) plus $10 off bags each way (which is another $80). So for the $59 membership, it looks like I can save $280, even if I never use it again. Would all 4 of us need to get a membership or can I just buy one and it apply to the whole family?

The reviews are so mixed that I really don't want to book with Spirit, but it's hard to thumb my nose at $800-$1000 savings.

wow...that is quite a savings!! Okay...can someone help me figure out all these fees and how much it would cost TOTAL in the end? When I punch in our dates on the site...I get a total of $15388.00 for 6 of us round trip. We always bring three checked bags (hope I can keep them under 40 lbs. each!!)...and then we each have a carryon...so 6...but I have a backpack too but other airlines call that a purse...right?. By the way...I LOVE your pictures at the bottom...how your family has grown at WDW over the years!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

wow...that is quite a savings!! Okay...can someone help me figure out all these fees and how much it would cost TOTAL in the end? When I punch in our dates on the site...I get a total of $15388.00 for 6 of us round trip. We always bring three checked bags (hope I can keep them under 40 lbs. each!!)...and then we each have a carryon...so 6...but I have a backpack too but other airlines call that a purse...right?. By the way...I LOVE your pictures at the bottom...how your family has grown at WDW over the years!

$28 for a checked bag, pp each way
$30 for a carryon in the overhead bin, pp each way
$10+ to choose your seat, pp each way
A bag that fits under the seat (backpack, purse, laptop, etc.) is free.

Oh, and thank you! I actually need to add another one (picture, not kid ) from our last trip.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Oh.my.word!! Those fees are crazy!!! Would add on hundreds for us!! I think I will wait it out a while.....

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Oh.my.word!! Those fees are crazy!!! Would add on hundreds for us!! I think I will wait it out a while.....

For us, the one way far is $69 right now, so even with adding $40 pp each way in bag and seat fees, that puts us at $109 each way. AA and Southwest (the other major airlines out of Dallas) want $200+ each way.

 

[aubriee]

$28 for a checked bag, pp each way
$30 for a carryon in the overhead bin, pp each way
$10+ to choose your seat, pp each way
A bag that fits under the seat (backpack, purse, laptop, etc.) is free.

Oh, and thank you! I actually need to add another one (picture, not kid ) from our last trip.

I hadn't noticed that they charge less for a checked bag than a carry on? I was thinking about using them for my May trip and doing carry on only to save on paying checked bag fees. Looks like it's be cheaper to do a checked bag and since I use a very lightweight duffel I could carry more for a cheaper price. That doesn't make sense.

 

[KelnRon]

Okay, 1st of Spirit does not seperate you from your children. I have 4 children, we fly Spirit every year and not one single time have my husband or I ever not sat w/ all 4 children! I'm assuming the above poster has never flown Spirit. The actually have gone out of the way (I've seen it personally) to get you to sit with your family member. We have never bought seats. Our tickets for our next flight cost us $54.90 round trip!! Can't beat that! As for luggage we check in 3 large suitcases for the 6 of us. We do have a w/d where we are going so that helps! I should add that you do NOT have to immediately pay for luggage at time of reservation. You can go back anytime and add luggage later or even pay on seperate occasions. We check in 2 strollers and 2 carseats and no charge for those! We don't take on carry on's. We are $9 fare club members. I posted a review on Spirit the other day that I can C&P for you:

I have flown spirit a couple times a year for the past 10 years! I have a family of 6 and if we want to go to Disney that is what we have to do or drive! So I have a lot of experience with them. Are they great,no BUT IMO they get us there safely. We have never had any major issues! A delay maybe here and there but not more then 30ish min. etc. I have flown to Vegas, Mexico, NY, various cities in FL & Myrtle Beach w/ them over the years. The planes are not the cleanest and that probably is my biggest peave but I can deal! I agree w/ above poster if you know what you are getting and prepared for the extra fee's it's not so horrible!

Our tickets for our next trip in 3 weeks cost us $55 TOTAL w/ taxes and fee's each!! ($54.90 to be exact ) That is the RT price! How can we beat that!? We never pay for seats, we always sit together and they will go out of there way to accomadate you if you want an aisle seat etc. If concerned just get to the check in a little early. We stay in a 2 or 3 bedroom resort so we always have a washer/dryer so we don't overpack. Our trip last June we took 3 large suitcases for the 6 of us and it worked well for us.

I haven't heard about paying for your boarding pass so can't answer to that. I understand that some people won't fly them and that is okay. We do because of the cost and they are not as horrible as some make them out to be!
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[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Okay, 1st of Spirit does not seperate you from your children. I have 4 children, we fly Spirit every year and not one single time have my husband or I ever not sat w/ all 4 children! I'm assuming the above poster has never flown Spirit. The actually have gone out of the way (I've seen it personally) to get you to sit with your family member. We have never bought seats. Our tickets for our next flight cost us $54.90 round trip!! Can't beat that! As for luggage we check in 3 large suitcases for the 6 of us. We do have a w/d where we are going so that helps! I should add that you do NOT have to immediately pay for luggage at time of reservation. You can go back anytime and add luggage later or even pay on seperate occasions. We check in 2 strollers and 2 carseats and no charge for those! We don't take on carry on's. We are $9 fare club members. I posted a review on Spirit the other day that I can C&P for you:

I have flown spirit a couple times a year for the past 10 years! I have a family of 6 and if we want to go to Disney that is what we have to do or drive! So I have a lot of experience with them. Are they great,no BUT IMO they get us there safely. We have never had any major issues! A delay maybe here and there but not more then 30ish min. etc. I have flown to Vegas, Mexico, NY, various cities in FL & Myrtle Beach w/ them over the years. The planes are not the cleanest and that probably is my biggest peave but I can deal! I agree w/ above poster if you know what you are getting and prepared for the extra fee's it's not so horrible!

Our tickets for our next trip in 3 weeks cost us $55 TOTAL w/ taxes and fee's each!! ($54.90 to be exact ) That is the RT price! How can we beat that!? We never pay for seats, we always sit together and they will go out of there way to accomadate you if you want an aisle seat etc. If concerned just get to the check in a little early. We stay in a 2 or 3 bedroom resort so we always have a washer/dryer so we don't overpack. Our trip last June we took 3 large suitcases for the 6 of us and it worked well for us.

I haven't heard about paying for your boarding pass so can't answer to that. I understand that some people won't fly them and that is okay. We do because of the cost and they are not as horrible as some make them out to be!
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Thanks for the review! Now you have me thinking...a few questions...how far out/close to your departure date did you book for those crazy low prices?! What month and days of the week did you travel?! Our dates are set in stone due to DH's work schedule (Aug. 26-Sept.1)...so flying on a Sat. and Sun. doesn't help with pricing. Right now they have a $50 off coupon...which total to $1200 for the 6 of us before baggage fees...wondering if I should hold off...our dates are currently at 100 each way. I just don't know how close to the date I can hold off and feel secure...I can wait another month or two I think. Also, for the $9 fare club...does everyone in your family need to be a member or just you? So I should add $59 to the total? Although on the website I see they have a trial for $20? I would KILL for your ticket prices!!! Please share your secrets!!!

 

[danjoealexis3006]

As of Nov. a carry on is defined as anything with wheels according to the ticket counter. It won't be long and airlines will be charging for the seat belt!

 

[KelnRon]

Thanks for the review! Now you have me thinking...a few questions...how far out/close to your departure date did you book for those crazy low prices?! What month and days of the week did you travel?! Our dates are set in stone due to DH's work schedule (Aug. 26-Sept.1)...so flying on a Sat. and Sun. doesn't help with pricing. Right now they have a $50 off coupon...which total to $1200 for the 6 of us before baggage fees...wondering if I should hold off...our dates are currently at 100 each way. I just don't know how close to the date I can hold off and feel secure...I can wait another month or two I think. Also, for the $9 fare club...does everyone in your family need to be a member or just you? So I should add $59 to the total? Although on the website I see they have a trial for $20? I would KILL for your ticket prices!!! Please share your secrets!!!

I have never paid more then $120 RT (and that is on the high end) to fly to Orlando and we go every year, sometimes twice. As a family of 6 seriously Spirit is the only reason we can go that cheap.

Our dates are never set in stone so that is a reason we get so low of prices. We plan our vacation after we get our plane tickets. We bought these $55 tickets in November and our trip is at the end of this month. So usually about 2 or so months before the trip.

We have been members of the $9 club for years now (since it first came out), only one member of the family needs the club. Sign up for the emails and then just start stalking the site. It use to be Tuesdays when the sales came out but I'm not positive if that is the case anymore. The sales are posted online BEFORE you get the emails though so if you are regularly stalking you should be able to jump on a good deal! Make sure you are signed in when searching. When you do find your "too good to pass up deal" you need to jump on it, not wait b/c if you "think" about it the rates will have gone up.

To get an idea try seeing what the specials are now for your airport going to MCO to even see if there are good deals. For example I know DTW to LAS really never has good deals so we always have to pay more for those flights.