Regretting Making Reservation with Spirit Airlines.. Why Southwest is Better/Cheaper

[disneykittin]

I booked our flights to and from Disney on Spirit Airlines, because they appeared to be cheaper than Southwest when I searched prices online. I then (the next day) wanted to add an extra day onto our Disney Vacation, so called to change my flight. I was told that there would be a change fee of $240. Come to find out later, Southwest has no change fees... so I could've rebooked for free with them and gotten the extra day I wanted.

I had originally booked my flights on Spirit because their prices were cheaper on the site than Southwest's prices. I didn't know that I'd end up having to pay an extra $120 just for our bags to be checked. I figured all airlines had those extra fees for bags. I found out later that Southwest also would've given me free bags!! UGH.

I know this is my fault for not doing enough research before I booked my flight... but boy, it would've been WAY easier, cheaper, and I would've gotten the extra day I wanted if I would've booked with Southwest. Don't be fooled by just "comparing prices", as I was. There is a lot more to the story! I've learned my lesson for next time, and I hope this will keep someone else from making the same mistake I did.

 

[Leajess99]

I'm sorry and I am sure someone else will be thankful for your information. On Southwest, if they lower your flight cost you can also get a credit even if it is a nonrefundable flight. My son actually has credit to use before the middle of June. Trying to figure out where to send him for a quick trip.

 

[tink576]

I'm sorry, that stinks. At least for your next trip you know to aim for southwest. We love southwest because of the flexibility it gives us.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

2 free bags per person, no change fee's, friendly crew, makes Southwest our favorite airline.

 

[vickalamode]

I pretty much always find myself booking with Southwest...they are almost ALWAYS cheaper just on the upfront ticket price, especially when you figure in that the price also includes your checked luggage. I always shop around when I am looking for a plane ticket, but have only ended up on an airline other than Southwest twice in the last 6 years, and it was Jet Blue which is also pretty good and allows one checked bag. Someone correct me if I'm wrong (because I very well could be), but it seems like from my shopping around for plane tickets Southwest and Jet Blue are the only airlines that don't charge extra for checked luggage?

 

[mickeypedia]

don't forget also, if you are bringing your family.....and you want to make sure all of you sit together.....you also have to purchase the seats....I know exactly how you feel. I was on a daughter and me trip and she was 6 at the time when they started all this and they told me for her to sit next to me for sure I would have to pay to pick my seats. I have only fly on Spirit now when I am solo.

 

[Gymbomom]

So sorry OP!!! I was actually pricing flights with them this morning. It took me FOREVER to find their fees. and OMG!!!!! Wow!!!
$2.00 if a computer prints your boarding pass?????
Their overweight limit isn't 50lbs either. It is 40.
At first I was like oh, the $80 each way is a steal......um no it is not.
All you can take with you is a purse or backpack. A carry on is something like 30.00?

It might be great for day business travelers, but for families - going to Disney and bringing back all the stuff you bring back (we always take an extra duffel for that reason alone). It's horrible.

 

[girli565]

That sucks.

Spirit sucks! My husband and I refuse to fly them anymore. We flew them to Vegas and my husband said never again! We paid over $100 for the "big front seats" on the flight home because he was so upset about the space.

 

[tink576]

don't forget also, if you are bringing your family.....and you want to make sure all of you sit together.....you also have to purchase the seats....I know exactly how you feel. I was on a daughter and me trip and she was 6 at the time when they started all this and they told me for her to sit next to me for sure I would have to pay to pick my seats. I have only fly on Spirit now when I am solo.

Southwest is not bad with families boarding together as long as you are on top of how they function. As long as you check in online at the 24 hr mark or have an A or B boarding pass there's almost no way you'll be split up. They also have family boarding after A but before B group boards, and I'm not sure how young your child has to be to qualify but is never a big deal.

 

[disneykittin]

don't forget also, if you are bringing your family.....and you want to make sure all of you sit together.....you also have to purchase the seats....I know exactly how you feel. I was on a daughter and me trip and she was 6 at the time when they started all this and they told me for her to sit next to me for sure I would have to pay to pick my seats. I have only fly on Spirit now when I am solo.

So sorry OP!!! I was actually pricing flights with them this morning. It took me FOREVER to find their fees. and OMG!!!!! Wow!!!
$2.00 if a computer prints your boarding pass?????
Their overweight limit isn't 50lbs either. It is 40.
At first I was like oh, the $80 each way is a steal......um no it is not.
All you can take with you is a purse or backpack. A carry on is something like 30.00?

It might be great for day business travelers, but for families - going to Disney and bringing back all the stuff you bring back (we always take an extra duffel for that reason alone). It's horrible.

That sucks.

Spirit sucks! My husband and I refuse to fly them anymore. We flew them to Vegas and my husband said never again! We paid over $100 for the "big front seats" on the flight home because he was so upset about the space.

Wow, this keeps getting worse and worse! I didn't even know about the fees to print our boarding passes, lack of room, and that we had to purchase the specific seats to be together! I didn't do that and my daughter is only 10, I sure hope they sit her next to me. Wow.. just wow.

I really hope our suitcases can stay under 40 lbs, I'll be weighing them for sure before we leave. I wonder how much of a fee they'd hit us with if they checked in over 40 lbs...

 

[PatMcDuck]

i used to fly Spirit out of AC once in awhile, and had no problems.

But, with all those fees, I am done with them. The one that REALLY got me was the one to pick your seats. It seemed so hidden to me, I did not see it until I was almost done booking.

Now we fly SW out of Philly almost exclusively. Largely for the fares, and the ability to change flights with no charge. And the free bags, like you said, add it up, and SW is the way to go..

 

[ccgirl]

Wow, this keeps getting worse and worse! I didn't even know about the fees to print our boarding passes, lack of room, and that we had to purchase the specific seats to be together! I didn't do that and my daughter is only 10, I sure hope they sit her next to me. Wow.. just wow.

I really hope our suitcases can stay under 40 lbs, I'll be weighing them for sure before we leave. I wonder how much of a fee they'd hit us with if they checked in over 40 lbs...

If you don't purchase seats prior they will assign them to you. They assign by what is left. Often, those are only middle seats. Sadly if it is that important to sit with her I would pay the fee now and call this a lesson learned. Also, make sure you get your drinks/snacks before you board because they charge for those too.

 

[Gymbomom]

Here is the link op.

http://www.spirit.com/OptionalFees.aspx

One of the things I noticed it seems cheaper to do everything at home before you arrive at the airport. So, hopefully with some thought and plans, you can minimize your expense. Notice it is cheaper to bring a checked bag than a carry-on. And if you price their carry on compared to a regular airline, it is comparable.

Another thing I noticed, if you wait to have them assign seats, you have to pay to print your boarding passes. It might be worth spending the $$ on assigned seats and printing your passes from home.

 

[disneykittin]

If you don't purchase seats prior they will assign them to you. They assign by what is left. Often, those are only middle seats. Sadly if it is that important to sit with her I would pay the fee now and call this a lesson learned. Also, make sure you get your drinks/snacks before you board because they charge for those too.

Here is the link op.

http://www.spirit.com/OptionalFees.aspx

One of the things I noticed it seems cheaper to do everything at home before you arrive at the airport. So, hopefully with some thought and plans, you can minimize your expense. Notice it is cheaper to bring a checked bag than a carry-on. And if you price their carry on compared to a regular airline, it is comparable.

Another thing I noticed, if you wait to have them assign seats, you have to pay to print your boarding passes. It might be worth spending the $$ on assigned seats and printing your passes from home.

Thanks so much to both of you for the information! I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I just looked at your link, Gymbomom. It was very helpful! I think I'm going to try to just get to the airport a lot earlier than I normally would, and ask at the check-in if they have 2 seats together still, if they do then I'll have them printed. If they don't then I guess I'll just go to the kiosk and print my tickets for free (thank goodness the fee for THAT hasn't started yet) and hope someone will be kind enough to let me and my daughter sit together. If they don't, I guess I'll just deal with it since I'd rather do that then give this airline even more of my hard-earned money!!

 

[shelwoj]

That sucks.

Spirit sucks! My husband and I refuse to fly them anymore. We flew them to Vegas and my husband said never again! We paid over $100 for the "big front seats" on the flight home because he was so upset about the space.

We too found out the hard way that we HATE Spirit when we went to Vegas. I think the thing that got me, even more than the luggage fees, was that there was only ONE bathroom on the plane.

OP,so sorry you found out too late.

 

[FunFamily]

I will never fly Spirit again. I consider it a hard lesson learned.

 

[mieuxmew]

We have flown Spirit a few times. We have never had a problem, but I know the rules so I avoid the extra fees (which are quite numerous). This time, I was able to book a flight on Jet Blue for the same price I flew Spirit same time last year!

Some words of advice since you are stuck with Spirit for now.

The two most annoying things to me about Spirit are the 40 pound limit on checked bags (industry standard is 50 pounds). Most suitcases weight 10 pounds empty and you can't chance being too close, so only 37-38 pounds, which only leaves 27-28 pounds of your things. I don't mind paying for an extra suitcase, but the extra bag is one more cumbersome item to drag around when most of us have little kids, strollers, etc. Plus, an extra suitcase may not fit in rental car. About a week before we go, I ship a box with our small, heavy items (think toiletries, etc). Ship it to the hotel. Our box is usually 20 pounds and eliminates dragging around an extra suitcase and costs less than checking an extra suitcase. The box can then be shipped back via USPS or FedEx/Kinkos (there is a Fedex right near downtown Disney.) If you are staying on Disney property, Magical Express will take your bags so probably not very helpful, but we usually stay offsite.

If you did not purchase the 9$ fare club, Spirit has a 60 day trial membership - look into paying for that before your trip. Saving on checked bags may be worth it.

An other thing - bag fees are cheapest if you pay for your bags more than 24 hours before flight. Baggage fees go up if you pay for them inside the 24 hour preflight. Website says fees increase at check in but they mean 24 hours. Pay for your bags two days before your flight to avoid being more overcharged.

Regarding seat fees. Spirit airlines wants to charge/collect fees. Most passengers do pay for their seats, which makes it difficult for families that do not purchase seats, as there are not many seats left at check in. Spirit will try to sit your family together if split up, but Spirit customers who have paid for their seats for the most part will not give them up. To avoid the stress, I paid for three seats (husband and two kids). My seat would then be picked by computer at check in. Every trip I checked in at the 24 hour mark on my smart phone and the computer assigned me a seat near my family every time. Once, curbside check in agent even got me a better seat right next to my husband and kids. Worse case, I would be sitting by myself on the plane with strangers, which is no big deal (for me) on a 2 hour flight (I can watch a movie on my iPad in peace). I can afford an extra $20, but I really despise the fees. Please don't wait to check in at the airport - you will get the absolute worst seats!


Hope it helps! Have a safe trip!
I can't say I would never fly Spirit again, but would only consider it if the total price was MUCH, MUCH cheaper than any other airline! One time I got 4 round trip tickets for $290! My parents last year paid $54 each round trip. That is hard to beat even when you add in all the fees!

 

[mieuxmew]

We too found out the hard way that we HATE Spirit when we went to Vegas. I think the thing that got me, even more than the luggage fees, was that there was only ONE bathroom on the plane.

OP,so sorry you found out too late.

Spirit someday is going to resolve this problem of the long waits to use the only bathroom on the plane...they will charge you to use the bathroom so there will be less people using it! There will be a Visa/Mastercard machine on the door. Don't laugh - Ryan airline already charges to use the bathroom!

Anytime Spirit has announced a new fee, they always have some justification for doing so that spins it so it looks good (charge for carryons means faster boarding, lower costs for those who print boarding passes at home, etc)

 

[disneykittin]

We have flown Spirit a few times. We have never had a problem, but I know the rules so I avoid the extra fees (which are quite numerous). This time, I was able to book a flight on Jet Blue for the same price I flew Spirit same time last year!

Some words of advice since you are stuck with Spirit for now.

The two most annoying things to me about Spirit are the 40 pound limit on checked bags (industry standard is 50 pounds). Most suitcases weight 10 pounds empty and you can't chance being too close, so only 37-38 pounds, which only leaves 27-28 pounds of your things. I don't mind paying for an extra suitcase, but the extra bag is one more cumbersome item to drag around when most of us have little kids, strollers, etc. Plus, an extra suitcase may not fit in rental car. About a week before we go, I ship a box with our small, heavy items (think toiletries, etc). Ship it to the hotel. Our box is usually 20 pounds and eliminates dragging around an extra suitcase and costs less than checking an extra suitcase. The box can then be shipped back via USPS or FedEx/Kinkos (there is a Fedex right near downtown Disney.) If you are staying on Disney property, Magical Express will take your bags so probably not very helpful, but we usually stay offsite.

If you did not purchase the 9$ fare club, Spirit has a 60 day trial membership - look into paying for that before your trip. Saving on checked bags may be worth it.

An other thing - bag fees are cheapest if you pay for your bags more than 24 hours before flight. Baggage fees go up if you pay for them inside the 24 hour preflight. Website says fees increase at check in but they mean 24 hours. Pay for your bags two days before your flight to avoid being more overcharged.

Regarding seat fees. Spirit airlines wants to charge/collect fees. Most passengers do pay for their seats, which makes it difficult for families that do not purchase seats, as there are not many seats left at check in. Spirit will try to sit your family together if split up, but Spirit customers who have paid for their seats for the most part will not give them up. To avoid the stress, I paid for three seats (husband and two kids). My seat would then be picked by computer at check in. Every trip I checked in at the 24 hour mark on my smart phone and the computer assigned me a seat near my family every time. Once, curbside check in agent even got me a better seat right next to my husband and kids. Worse case, I would be sitting by myself on the plane with strangers, which is no big deal (for me) on a 2 hour flight (I can watch a movie on my iPad in peace). I can afford an extra $20, but I really despise the fees. Please don't wait to check in at the airport - you will get the absolute worst seats!


Hope it helps! Have a safe trip!
I can't say I would never fly Spirit again, but would only consider it if the total price was MUCH, MUCH cheaper than any other airline! One time I got 4 round trip tickets for $290! My parents last year paid $54 each round trip. That is hard to beat even when you add in all the fees!

Wow.. thank you SO much for that valuable advice!! Especially about checking in 24 hours in advance to get seated together. I didn't realize that if I checked in from home, they'd give us our seat assignments right then! It's just my daughter and I flying, so hopefully our chances of being together will be good! I will make sure I do it right on the 24 hour mark! Thanks again, I appreciate it SOOO much!

 

[disneykittin]

Spirit someday is going to resolve this problem of the long waits to use the only bathroom on the plane...they will charge you to use the bathroom so there will be less people using it! There will be a Visa/Mastercard machine on the door. Don't laugh - Ryan airline already charges to use the bathroom!

Anytime Spirit has announced a new fee, they always have some justification for doing so that spins it so it looks good (charge for carryons means faster boarding, lower costs for those who print boarding passes at home, etc)

Why can I totally see that happening?