Anyone belong to the Spirit $9 Club???

[roscoepc1]

Is it worth it? Any hidden charges?

I was thinking I'd have to drive this time to Disney to keep the costs down, but looking at the $9 club, it might be cheaper to fly! I just don't want to pay the membership fee, then find out there's a catch, kwim? I did read all of the member's handbook etc, and I realize you still have to pay for bags etc...

The flights I'd want are $39 one way for the dates/times I want, with the membership....I'd save over $120 on one trip alone....on the surface of things, anyways...

TIA for any help!

 

[Nadjalu]

It is not a hidden fee, but hopefully you are aware that they charge for carry on bags as well as checked bags.

 

[roscoepc1]

Yes, I saw that...thanks. I "think" we can get away with just our checked bag....I can't imagine they charge for a small purse, do they? Even if they do, it'll still be a LOT cheaper than anything else I've found....

 

[Disneyforus]

and they also charge to pick your seat.....cheapest option is $10 each way.
Taxes for 7 tickets I was going to purchase came out to $261...so what is that about $37/ticket????

I was very disappointed once I got in and started adding things....it was more than Delta.

 

[roscoepc1]

This is just for the two of us....do you HAVE to pick your seat? Or can we just sit where they stick us and not pay?

 

[Disneyforus]

you have to pick a seat as far as i can tell...there doesn't seem to be a way to get by that screen without doing so.

If you want to have me run your itinerary through my $9 fare club so you could see the actual end price just PM me....we can then just bail out at the end.

 

[Lewisc]

Spirit will be charging extra (overweight charge) if bags weigh over 40lbs. Industry standard is 50lbs.

 

[buzzmom3]

You don't have to pick your seats, you can skip that part and then pick at check in, as long as you don't really care if you sit together. A small purse is fine, we took backpacks, just check the website for dimensions. I booked to fly in September and even with the baggage fees, which are cheaper for $9 club memebers, and seat fees(we have little kids so I always pay to make sure we are together) it was still cheap.

 

[cathynmichigan]

We have flown Spirit the last 3 times we have gone to Disney and we joined the Club also.
There are no hidden fees once you pay for the membership, except for the normal stuff like: checking/carry on luggage, picking your seats, etc.
As for seat assignments, we never pay for those. We wait until we get to the airport, when you check in the computer will assign you seats, but you can change those selections before printing your pass. We have never had any issues sitting together (there was 5 of us for 2 trips and the last trip we had 9 people).
The weight limit on luggage is 50 pounds for checked baggage. We cut that close (46-49lbs). You can weigh your luggage at the resort prior to boarding Magical Express to make sure you are within the 50 pound limit.
Oh and another thing, with paying for your bags, you get a discount (roughly $10) on purchasing baggage online before your trip if you belong to the $9 Club.
Hope this helps!
Have a great vacation!

 

[Nadjalu]

Just an fyi, Spirit changed the overweight bag charge, it is new this year (think it starts after Feb 1).

It will charge extra if the bag weighs more than 40lbs. Standard is 50lbs, but Spirit is now different. Just be aware.

10lbs doesn't seem like a lot, but when people are trying to fit everything in the checked bag because they don't want the carry on fee....they are hit with a larger charge for an overweight bag.

 

[roscoepc1]

you have to pick a seat as far as i can tell...there doesn't seem to be a way to get by that screen without doing so.

If you want to have me run your itinerary through my $9 fare club so you could see the actual end price just PM me....we can then just bail out at the end.

You have a pm! If we don't HAVE to pick seats, I'd rather not...penny saved, you know!

 

[Karlzmom]

Op- a request, please......when you get your answer to your PM, would you please post the "real cost" for us, I'm curious what the true price tage is! Thanks!

 

[roscoepc1]

Sure! I don't see why not!

 

[bcvprincesses]

You have a pm! If we don't HAVE to pick seats, I'd rather not...penny saved, you know!

No, you don't have to pick seats. We have flown over 50 times on Spirit and have never paid for our seats. You can check in online 24 hours before you flight and you will be assigned a seat for free. Our family of four have always been assigned seats together. You can take a bag on the plane for free as long as it fits under your seat.

Spirit is the reason that we are able to travel to Disney at least four times a year. We just wait until they have a special for $9 members and book it. We have paid anywhere from 1 cent each way up to $39 each way. We have never had a problem with our flights that was not weather related and even then we only had to wait an extra hour.

 

[roscoepc1]

Awesome to hear! So....do I have this right? I could take on a medium sized purse/shoulder bag for free, as long as it will slide under the seat? How big, approx, would you say the space is? 12"x 9"x 9" or so???

No, you don't have to pick seats. We have flown over 50 times on Spirit and have never paid for our seats. You can check in online 24 hours before you flight and you will be assigned a seat for free. Our family of four have always been assigned seats together. You can take a bag on the plane for free as long as it fits under your seat.

Spirit is the reason that we are able to travel to Disney at least four times a year. We just wait until they have a special for $9 members and book it. We have paid anywhere from 1 cent each way up to $39 each way. We have never had a problem with our flights that was not weather related and even then we only had to wait an extra hour.

 

[roscoepc1]

Ok, Disneyforus was kind enough to run some numbers through her membership for me....this is what she found:

DTW-MCO
9:30am-depart, arrive 12:30pm
nonstop $39
7:57pm-depart, arrive 10:33pm
nonstop $39

Air $156 ($46.48 for the air, plus $109.52 for fuel)
Bags $76 roundtrip (1 carryon, 1 checked)
Seats $40 roundtrip (the cheapest $10 seats)
Taxes & Fees $74
TOTAL: $346

If I'm right, I think it ends up at $476 + $59.99 membership fee = $535.99



Sooo.....I think, with the fuel etc, it's not really any better than Delta. In fact I think it's a bit higher....By the time you add sleep/park/fly ($98), I'm not sure whether it's cheaper than driving or not.

Travelocity is quoting me Delta at $177 each, round trip, with a $25 bag charge. So, $404 total, unless I'm missing something.

If I drive, I'm looking at 1371 miles, 23 hours of driving. One hotel, each way.

So....assuming I could find hotels around $70, that's another $140, plus gas. Plus exhaustion and 3 days more travel...

So far, it looks like Delta is the cheapest! I'm kind of surprised at that....the $39 with Spirit looks good, but then you have all those add-ons....

 

[NJFireman22]

We have flow with Spirit over 40+ times out of ACY and have only been seated apart 2 times, and both times we were a row apart and havent payed for a seat yet. We have been $9.00 members since its inseption and never had any problems with "hidden fees".
A few people on this board will "bash" Spirit everytime there name is mentioned. We have never had any problems with them, and yes we have used there customer service, in person and on the phone, and they have always been professional. A lot better than the "Big Boy" Carriers.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Went by the Spirt counter at the airport tonight... HUGE HUGE LINE! One woman was standing there very upset. Due to weather they had cancelled her flight. The counter agents told her "you have to call we can't help you find a flight" and of course the phone was busy. She said another passenger had told her that when she called Spirit she was told "we won't be able to book you until we see how bad the storm is" I have NO idea if this is true, but it does sound like something they would do. (Wouldn't get on them if you PAID me, no way would I give them $$$)

 

[Karlzmom]

Thanks for sharing the numbers, that $39 tickets gets spendy.....good info!

 

[bcvprincesses]

Ok, Disneyforus was kind enough to run some numbers through her membership for me....this is what she found:

DTW-MCO
9:30am-depart, arrive 12:30pm
nonstop $39
7:57pm-depart, arrive 10:33pm
nonstop $39

Air $156 ($46.48 for the air, plus $109.52 for fuel)
Bags $76 roundtrip (1 carryon, 1 checked)
Seats $40 roundtrip (the cheapest $10 seats)
Taxes & Fees $74
TOTAL: $346

If I'm right, I think it ends up at $476 + $59.99 membership fee = $535.99

I'm not sure of the dates you are looking for but we have not paid more then $100 RT including all taxes from Detroit in years. We usually check two bags and our carry ons fit under the seats so they are free. From their website: Fees apply for carry-on baggage that will not fit in the under seat space (max size of under seat space is 16”x14”x12”).

Our trip coming up Jan 19-25 total price for four people with two bags total is $404.24.