Spirit Air- anyone have okay experiences?

[MamaBearJohnson]

I just booked our flights for Nov. Chicago to Orlando. We're flying with our two young children and are on an extremely tight budget. I was soooooo excited to get our tickets and luggage for $525 total for the four of us. But now I've been reading the horror stories online about delayed and canceled flights and I'm having a mild panic attack over it! I don't expect amazing service or anything, but now I'm afraid that they're going to cancel our flights for three days or something and the kids would be devastated. Does anyone have any reassurance at all for me? If they do cancel flights, do they usually go out the next day or will we be stuck paying really expensive last minute fare with someone else? We have travel insurance, would that help us out at all? Now I'm wishing I would have waited and paid more with someone else, but it's too late for that. Anyone have okay experiences with them? Thanks!

 

[JoMcnees]

We have flown Spirit many times (15) with young children, teenagers and adults. We generally fly out of Detroit for their direct flight to Orlando. I don't find them to delay their flights anymore than other airlines. We had one experience a few years ago and our evening flight was cancelled and they booked us on the next flight we did go to Ft. lauderdale and then to Detroit but they informed us a week a head and I called Disney right away explained the situation and they found us a flex room (they called it )at a portion of what the room would of cost. We have found the stewards to be very polite and helpful and for the price it is great. Nothing fancy on the plane but hey you get to go to Disney. I am not sure when you are flying but we have flown spring, summer, fall and winter and have had on a whole good flights. Everything will be fine, enjoy your trip and the memories you will make.

 

[MamaBearJohnson]

Thank you!!!! I needed to hear that!

 

[tuckerkeys]

We fly Spirit all the time. Out of AC. We always fly the 1st flight of the day and avoid the last one out, as this one is usually the one to be canceled b/c they use planes that fly all day & if something gets delayed, then you're going to be in trouble....

It is def. no frills. We know this. We pay for our 1st luggage bags ( which is now a 40 lb limit!!). Our kids car seat bags are free, as are any strollers. Also if you don't know this, you DON'T have to pick your seat when booking ( and pay for it ) they will assign you a seat for you the morning of your flight for free. If you notice when booking, the 1st 8-10 rows are blocked out from picking a seat there. This is where they always put us. Since we travel with 2 small kids they also always have put us together...When everyone gets older I have no problem being separated for 2 hrs to save money....

We use them at least 4-6x a year. so far, so good.....I have heard horror stories but these come with the LAST ( 9:30 ish) flights of the day....

 

[MamaBearJohnson]

Oh thank you!!! And thank you for commenting on the seat choice. I skipped picking it because we really are on a tight budget and I'd rather spend the money on autograph books for our kids or something and I was starting to think, what if they put our two year old by herself! Good luck to whoever got stuck by her. Glad to hear they'll put us together...even if they separate us 2 and 2 that will be fine, as long as the kids aren't alone since they've never flown before (they're 2 and 4). We'll do online check in 24 hours beforehand, so hopefully that will help with that too. Thanks!

 

[njmom47]

It is a no-frills airline but we've flown Spirit quite a few times (also out of AC ) with no issues. I will fly them again for sure!

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

We have flown out of Detroit on Spirit many times and have had no issues at all. The flights were on time, planes were good and the stewards were very helpful.