Flying Spirit Airlines

[CharityLynn]

So my husband found a good flight time, a good price so i was thinking Yay! We haven't flown since 2005.

Well it is a Spirit Airlines flight out of DTW. SO I looked the airline up on Facebook and wow a lot of complaints. Is this an awful airline? Tell me your opinion story whatnot.

I don't want to make a huge mistake.

TIA,
Charity

 

[CharityLynn]

Ok I have read a ton of reviews online and I am trying to understand-

Most people complain about baggage fees...their website lists size/cost/weight on their website. So if I follow that I should be fine? I was thinking to prepay the baggage fees since that is a cheaper option.

Seat size..I am uh..."a small Pooh size" are the seats really as bad as they sound? The flight is only 2 and a half hours I wonder if that is doable lol

I've noticed mention of seat fees? Can anyone explain that?

 

[Iamthequeen]

You have to pay to choose your seats ahead of time. From what I understand, Spirit is a "no frills" airline. EVERYTHING is considered "extra" and has a fee, including carry-on luggage.

 

[mieuxmew]

Spirit has the narrowest seats and smallest seat pitch. Flying 2 1/2 hours for me is tolerable, but my husband complains the seats are too tight. Doubt I would consider a longer flight.

If you don't mind letting the computer choose a seat assignment at check in, that seat is free. If you want to be seated next to family/friend, you can choose your seats ahead of time from $10-40 per seat each way.

You are allowed a personal item to fit under the seat. All other bags must be paid for (even carry-ons). Checked bags have a 40 pound limit (most airlines are 50 pounds).

The airline will charge to print your boarding pass at the airport. Print it yourself at home.

No free snacks/drinks. No in flight entertainment. They sell food on the flight. We bring our own food/drinks.

Spirit is a no frills airline. Customer service at times can be very limited. Spirit does not work with other airlines. I have had good experiences with customer service over the phone.

Add the fees to the ticket price. Spirit may or may not be the best value.

We will only fly Spirit if we are saving a lot of money (at least $400), otherwise we prefer Jetblue or Southwest. We only consider flying Spirit during times when weather/snow/ice not likely to be an issue. Settle any customer service issues before arriving at the airport. Get to the airport early. We don't pay for a lot of bags. We have an Owners Locker. We ship a suitcase to our resort Fedex ground ahead of time (a few dollars more but much less hassle). Pay for bags 2 days ahead of the flight. If you wait until the 24 hour checkin, the price is higher and even worse paying at the airport. If you purchase bags sooner and you can't go, the seat and bag fees are not refundable.

 

[CharityLynn]

Spirit has the narrowest seats and smallest seat pitch. Flying 2 1/2 hours for me is tolerable, but my husband complains the seats are too tight. Doubt I would consider a longer flight.

If you don't mind letting the computer choose a seat assignment at check in, that seat is free. If you want to be seated next to family/friend, you can choose your seats ahead of time from $10-40 per seat each way.

You are allowed a personal item to fit under the seat. All other bags must be paid for (even carry-ons). Checked bags have a 40 pound limit (most airlines are 50 pounds).

The airline will charge to print your boarding pass at the airport. Print it yourself at home.

No free snacks/drinks. No in flight entertainment. They sell food on the flight. We bring our own food/drinks.

Spirit is a no frills airline. Customer service at times can be very limited. Spirit does not work with other airlines. I have had good experiences with customer service over the phone.

Add the fees to the ticket price. Spirit may or may not be the best value.

We will only fly Spirit if we are saving a lot of money (at least $400), otherwise we prefer Jetblue or Southwest. We only consider flying Spirit during times when weather/snow/ice not likely to be an issue. Settle any customer service issues before arriving at the airport. Get to the airport early. We don't pay for a lot of bags. We have an Owners Locker. We ship a suitcase to our resort Fedex ground ahead of time (a few dollars more but much less hassle). Pay for bags 2 days ahead of the flight. If you wait until the 24 hour checkin, the price is higher and even worse paying at the airport. If you purchase bags sooner and you can't go, the seat and bag fees are not refundable.

Thank you. I think I am going to urge my husband to wait for SW to release their flights. I have read about the bags so I feel prepared for that. I messed around with what I would get and it had us around $550 for the two of us. (1 carry on and 1 checked, we probably won't need the carry on though so that would save $35)

I understand the whole no frills part of it and have read people comparing it to the public bus or other public transportation. So I feel prepared for that. I am a little worried about sitting uncomfortably though. Granted I did need pee for most of Les Miserables and boy is that movie long..i was fairly miserable but I made it lol

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

http://www.disboards.com/search.php?searchid=46346349

 

[schrammalot]

Spirit, for us, in March right now, including all fees and upgrading to the big seats up front: $150/ticket

Southwest, base ticket: $425, same flight.

 

[kjbcmu]

So my husband found a good flight time, a good price so i was thinking Yay! We haven't flown since 2005. Well it is a Spirit Airlines flight out of DTW. SO I looked the airline up on Facebook and wow a lot of complaints. Is this an awful airline? Tell me your opinion story whatnot. I don't want to make a huge mistake. TIA, Charity

Idk where you live, but have you checked southwest out of flint? Cheap, direct flights. Not too far from dtw either, depending on where you live.

 

[CharityLynn]

There is also SW out of GRR which was my first choice but their flights aren't released yet. But like a previous poster those flights are around $300ish more in total (estimate based on current prices since our time is not released)

 

[Shock13]

I flew Spirit last year RT from PHX-FLL with a layover in Dallas. I had absolutely no complaints. I usually fly SW but even the added baggage fees and seat assignments, the price was much cheaper. I honestly didn't feel much difference in the seat size (I'm short and Pooh-sized) and I found their flight attendants very nice and attentive. I did pay for a snack bag (around $5 I think) and it was huge. I didn't even finish it. It is a basic airline but I found the aircraft nicer than some of the SW ones and the employees friendly.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Ok I have read a ton of reviews online and I am trying to understand-

Most people complain about baggage fees...their website lists size/cost/weight on their website. So if I follow that I should be fine? I was thinking to prepay the baggage fees since that is a cheaper option.

Seat size..I am uh..."a small Pooh size" are the seats really as bad as they sound? The flight is only 2 and a half hours I wonder if that is doable lol

I've noticed mention of seat fees? Can anyone explain that?

Yeah, seats are as bad as they sound. Service is worse.

Good Luck!

The deal with Spirit is everyone loves them until something happens (weather, mechanical etc..) and then you discover that the President of the company meant it when he said "we don't do customer service" Waiting a week for a new flight home is NOT an uncommon experience.

And they are INCREDIBLY strict on luggage. Be sure you FULLY understand the rules on weight and sizes!

 

[njmom47]

You can probably find me as a fan of Spirit on the other thread.
But I too am Pooh sized, dh and ds are 6'2 and 6'5 respectively, and for a 2 hour flight, we just do it.

If you can get your tickets directly from the airport, they don't charge the extra fee (depending on how close you live, it may or may not be worth it).

We aren't overpackers so that helps...and paying for your bag(s) at least 24 hours before your flight online is the cheapest way.

The only thing I can think of is since Sprit is the only airline at Atlantic City airport, that may be why it's just awesome for us.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

....
The only thing I can think of is since Sprit is the only airline at Atlantic City airport, that may be why it's just awesome for us.

United also flies from Atlantic City (although not to MCO).

 

[LBIJim]

United also flies from Atlantic City (although not to MCO).

Not until April 1. United will offer one flight a day each to Chicago and Houston.

Spirit has the narrowest seats and smallest seat pitch. Flying 2 1/2 hours for me is tolerable, but my husband complains the seats are too tight. Doubt I would consider a longer flight.

.

Yes, Spirit has probably the smallest seat pitch (legroom) of any airline. But their seats are not more narrow than any other airline flying the same types of planes. Granted, the seats are tight enough, and maybe the lack of legroom makes the seats SEEM narrower, but Spirit didn't install special extra-narrow seats to increase the width of the aisle.

Jim

 

[hill6]

Spirit has you pay for everything extra but you can get some great fares particularly if you join the $9 club. It can pay for itself first use with fare reductions, bag and seat fee pricing.

I have used it once and it was good. My boss loves them.

 

[Tinkerbell58]

I print my boarding pass from their kiosk at MCO and never had to pay to print the pass and have used Spirit for many years.