Spirit Air ?'s

[2009CAN]

We are booked on Spirit for our trip this Sept. We booked in late March and now in May, the flight has gone up $160! I'm so glad we booked when we did.
There are six of us flying and we have 5 checked bags we had to pay for and I spent $15 PER TICKET for us to sit by each other. I could maybe see getting lucky with one person being willing to switch for a child to sit w/a parent, but we have three kids four and under to worry about. Even w/all those extra charges, it was STILL $60 per ticket cheaper than flying with Southwest. I really hope the flight takes off on time and is not canceled now.

 

[DisneyDiana]

I live 15 minutes outside of Atlantic City so we use Spirit whenever we go to Florida. I travel and fly quite frequently. In my experience, Spirit flights don't get canceled or delayed any more than any other fairly small airlines. As far as seats, at the 24 hour mark you are assigned seats automatically when you check in. I have flown Spirit over twenty times and have only been separated from my family once. I think when/if it happens once it really sticks with you. Finally, the seats are uncomfortable but I'm paying $168 RT for our flights to MCO in June. I'm not paying extra for seat assignments and my carry on will fit under my seat. The savings is worth it to me.

 

[Lewisc]

According to seatguru Spirit only has 5 Airbus 320, with 35 more on order. Those are the planes which don't recline and only have 28" pitch.

People who don't have an issue with seating might have flown older aircraft.

 

[disneyworldaddict]

I fly Spirit regularly because its the only airline at ACY. You can pay to choose seats together, we never so and have always been seated together, but if I were traveling with a young child I would pay at least for 2 seats. For a short 2 hr flight the lack of legroom isn't a big deal. The only customer service for routine problems is in India. They do things like call your home the night before a trip and tell you it may be overbooked and you may not get on. I suggest getting there early. The prices change all the time, for me it's like gambling, I can usually ft a flight for under $85 each way. My most recent was $59. We check a bag for a few and bring small carry-ins which are free. If you carry- on a bag that's too big they charge more than the checked bag. If I had another airport as close and convenient as ACY, I'd fly another airline, but I've learned how to stay a one step ahead with Spirit.

 

[ericm078]

I few weeks ago I booked Spirit our of Chicago for under $700 including buying 4 seats (4 and 8 year old) so we could all be together, 3 checked bags each way, and I had to buy their $9 fare club to get the cheaper price. We normally fly Southwest and they want $1700 for 4 seats with comparable flight times. I couldn't pass the deal up. I was a little worried about flying with them, but with the $1000 dollar savings it was to good to pass up.

 

[2009CAN]

I have flown Spirit over twenty times and have only been separated from my family once. I think when/if it happens once it really sticks with you.

It's good to know they at least try to keep families together But in our case, our three kids are four and under so I just can't risk it.

They do things like call your home the night before a trip and tell you it may be overbooked and you may not get on. I suggest getting there early

WHAT! Is this normal? Please tell me know.

 

[DisneyDiana]

If you check in at the 24 hour mark or have your seats purchased ahead of time you will not get bumped. They offer free air to any destination of your choice if you give up your seat on an overbooked flight. If you do have a seat assigned you will not get bumped. I always check in right as close to the 24 hour time as possible and have always gotten a seat.

 

[2009CAN]

If you check in at the 24 hour mark or have your seats purchased ahead of time you will not get bumped. They offer free air to any destination of your choice if you give up your seat on an overbooked flight. If you do have a seat assigned you will not get bumped. I always check in right as close to the 24 hour time as possible and have always gotten a seat.

Thank you! I feel MUCH better now. All 6 of our seats have been purchased and I'll be checking in at the 24-hour mark, too

 

[disneyworldaddict]

I always check in as soon as I can, 24 hrs before also. The lat time we flew with them they called us the evening before our 5:30am flight to tell us we may not get on. We arrived very early to the airport, not knowing what to expect, but we did get on. Hey were goin to bump people because there were no volunteers, but there ended up being a few no shows so everyone got on. It's important to arrive extremely early. As for seats together, if you pay for them they are guaranteed together. Spirit does not try to keep families together if you don't pay, it's just always worked out that way for us. Otherwise we lie flying with them. They are convenient and cheap, but when there's a problem you can't speak to anyone in the USA, or a manager etc.