Just booked with Spirit for $171 r/t!(total cost)

[Mark P.]

Making for a grand total of $684 for the four of us, which I don't think is bad at all!

Our trip is in May, and we're flying out of Atlantic City.

Something I found odd, is that a couple of weeks ago Spirit sent a email promoting a 'special' fare of $84, which wound up to be $200 after taxes and fees. Not a bad price, but not what I would consider special, considering that we've flown Spirit in the past, and that's pretty much what we've paid during various times of the year.

So, today I found that Spirit is offering the $77 rate, which is lower the promo. rate they were offering earlier this month. Maybe they will announce it soon via email and on their homepage like before, but I'm glad I waited.

Heck, at this rate, maybe they'll come down even more, but I'm not willing to chance it...I'm satisfied with what I paid.

-Mark

 

[Trekker]

Congratulations - now if only the time would fly by until that trip - LOL! Have fun!

 

[mom23guys2]

That's a great rate depending on the days and time of year your flying. Usually they advertise the rates without all the taxes added on so $77 is really great. I'm flying a Easter and was able to get a $91 rate each way but that was quite a long time ago. Sunner if I remember so they have my money for all that time. I love the convenience of flying Spirit. The airport, the parking, and it's close to home.

 

[Tracy M]

Did you get those rates off the website? If you don't mind...what dates are you going in May? For that price, it gives me a good excuse to take a vacation

 

[Mark P.]

Start your packing, Tracy M!

Our trip is May 14-22, and I did book on Spirit's website.

Before I booked on-line, I called Spirit's 800# to book, as I'm a little uneasy with on-line purchases with that much money involved.
While on the phone with Spirit, the agent confirmed that the on-line price is $20 less per ticket than calling direct, so I went ahead and booked on-line, and everything went through just fine.

Not sure how long this fare will be around, as I've been following the fares for a few months now, and they seem to go from $84 to $90, which comes out to between $200 and $211 (r/t, total).
This $171 (r/t, total) fare is the lowest I've seen since I've been checking, but you never know, the fares might even come down lower. Kind of a gamble on that, I guess.

Also, it appears that flying during mid-week is key to getting the lower fare. Luckily, our schedules are flexible, and allow us to do just that.


Good Luck!

 

[dsnyfun]

We are flying Sprit out of AC for the first time next week Jan 7-12. For four tickets we have a price of $620, $155 ea. They even went as low as $138 but these are Jan prices, Florida tends to be cheaper and colder.

For those of you that flew Sprit, they recomend checking in 3 hours early. Is this due to the fact that seats are not asigned? We have never flown out of AC before and usually fly out of Philly. I would have thought checking in would be easier and not take as long at AC.

 

[nancyL]

I got the $138 for 1/15. I have to drive 3 hours to get to AC, but still thought 138 r/t was an amazing deal- I have a family of 5 so we really lucked out. My mom is coming w/ us and she booked a week later (I booked around 11/15) and got the 155 rate which is still a great deal. If you can get there, sometimes you can also get great rates out of ABE airport (Allentown, PA), just fyi.
I went via travelocity with no problems at all.
I am also interested in info about the 3 hour "window" to get there as well as parking etal- can anyone tell me all I need to know about the airport? (Is there a restuarant for lunch, gated parking etal?) Im picturing a sandy field inside a fence, a shack w/ some vending machines and an atm machine. grin
Thanks
NancyL

 

[Tracy M]

Hi Nancy:

Yes, the parking is gated. But very important & remember this.....DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PARKING TICKET INSIDE YOUR CAR. When you return, there is a machine inside the airport, right in the baggage claim area, where you pay your parking fee. You need your ticket to stick inside the machine & it will tell you what you owe, validate your ticket and you can pay cash or credit. I'm telling you this because I normally stick the ticket inside my visor and leave it in the car, like I think a number of people do. But Spirit doesn't have a cashier at the exit gate like normal airports. I had to run back to the car, get the ticket, & go back into the airport to pay the parking, then back to the car. So make sure you keep the ticket on you.

It's a small airport, there is some counter food I think & a little gift shop. The flight was great & quick.

Have a great trip!

 

[Tracy M]

Oh yeah...the 3 hour window. I really doubt you'll need that much time to check in, especially this time of year. I always fly out on the 7am flight and arrive at the airport about 5:30am. It takes about 1/2 hr at the most. I would call a day ahead about the seats....we were all seated together (2 adults & 2 children).

 

[Mark P.]

I saw those Jan. fares the other day, and they are super...I wasn't sure if I should've waited and took the chance of getting the same fares for May, but thought I should just take the $171 at that point.

 

[mom23guys2]

From what I've heard they don't even start giving out boarding passes until 5:30 AM so getting there at 4 would not be necessary. I'm not sure if things changed after January 1 though. The parking is gated and close by. Very easy access. They only charge 3.50 a day. I love flying Spirit and AC Airport is great.
The only food is counterservice upstairs after you go through security. There are two sides, ine a bar the other just a cafeteria style dining room. The food is not bad by airport standards but there is not a great selection. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Aisling]

Is Spirit one of those little planes? I mean, how many passengers does it hold? I'm looking at all options for my summer trip, but I'm nervous about flying in really small planes. Thanks!

 

[karin037]

I found this info at the Spirit Air web-site:

Spirit Air has planes that carry 110-156 passengers. The Spirit Airlines all jet fleet consists of McDonnell Douglas MD-80's and DC-9's. These aircraft are known for their high reliability, low maintenance and great fuel efficiency which helps to keep Spirit fares affordable.

 

[I Need Magic]

Originally posted by mom23guys2
From what I've heard they don't even start giving out boarding passes until 5:30 AM so getting there at 4 would not be necessary. I'm not sure if things changed after January 1 though. The parking is gated and close by. Very easy access. They only charge 3.50 a day. I love flying Spirit and AC Airport is great.

Thank you for this information. I am considering going out of AC on Spirit. I'm only 20 minutes outside of Newark but am not finding convienient times/bargain prices/ non-stops to my liking. It's about 2 hours to AC from here, but now that I know parking deal, I might go that route!

 

[nancyL]

I think I said this before, but if you're in North Jersey, ABE (Allentown Bethlehem Airport) is also a good secondary airport for inexpensive flights.
NancyL

 

[Aisling]

Thanks, Karin. I'm in Brooklyn, so I don't know if it would be worth it to drive all the way to AC. But now at least it's an option, since Spirit doesn't use those teeny planes!

 

[Debi]

I've flown Spirit many times out of ACY and have never had a problem. I actually paid $139 r/t for my trip later this month - I'm really excited! Now, if only Spirit could offer those fares year round, there would be many happy customers.

 

[lizzie64]

Thanks for all the info on Atlantic City airport. I am a new resident of New Jersey and Newark airport was giving me all kinds of problems.

I have an hour or so drive to Atlantic City and I'm flying out on the 7 am Spirit flight. Was going to leave the house around 3 am, but Mark P suggested staying overnight near ACY.

Is it really ok to park the car for 10 days there? Never done it before. We were going to take a limo or car to and from the airport.

But I really like the idea of only being 15 minutes from the airport.

 

[CookieGVB]

I left my car there for a week last month. It's like renting a car - if you park at 5 a.m. and leave at 2 p.m., you're paying for that 8th day.

And the per day price is now $4 - I paid $32 to park there.

Spirit also flies out of LaGuardia, and those prices have been pretty decent to Orlando.

I almost booked at $171 a week or so ago for a trip in May, but was waiting to be sure a friend was going, too. Now the prices are back up to @ $200 again. Now I'll have to wait for those "weekend specials" to include that time frame.