Spirit Airlines Question

[TEK224]

I'm trying to book a flight to Myrtle Beach for my sister. We're looking at Spirit Airlines for a flight on Tuesday. The calendar for flights shows that the $9 fare club is available. But when I go to select a flight, it shows up as $65. Does the flight revert to $9 when we pay for it? Or does it have to be purchased weeks in advance?

Also, if I don't select a seat assignment, will they just give her what's available? Want to make sure she does have a seat.

Thanks!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Be sure you read and understand all fees before buying a ticket on Spirit. Seat selection fees are explained here:

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

I can't answer your ticket question, as you didn't give the entire route you're considering.

 

[TEK224]

She's flying from Philly to Myrtle Beach, leaving on Tuesday (I know it's short notice, but she's going to help out a sick relative). She ended up getting a fare of $79 one way (incl. taxes and fees). We saw the add-on fees for luggage, seat selection, etc.

She was asking me questions about the $9 fare club. I don't know much about it as I have never used it. So she called the number that printed on her confirmation to ask them about program. The person she spoke to told her "it's just called the $9 fare club, you don't actually get fares for $9". Is that correct? What's the purpose of joining then? Just trying to understand it as it sounds a little fishy to me.

 

[Tinkerbell58]

The $9 club is a paid membership. If the membership is in your name, you cannot buy a ticket for your sister UNLESS you are flying with her.

You have to be logged in to your account to get the club fares.

 

[eduk8r26]

I've heard you are nickel and dimed to death on Spirit. My nephew, who works at an airport, says he would never fly Spirit.

 

[angierae]

I fly Spirit, but my dd and I will share one checked bag and I don't buy into any of the other extras. We're flying nonstop to Orlando in October for about $400 including $55 for a checked bag. It's a two hour flight, I can deal with cheap.

 

[TEK224]

Tinkerbelle - she signed up for the $9 fare club. But when she called to get some questions answered, the person she spoke to acted like there are no $9 fares, it's just called the $9 fare club. Doesn't add up for me.

I'm not a fan of the nickel and dime stuff they do, especially the fee for carry-ons. But on such short notice, it was still the cheapest she could get for a direct flight.

 

[maxaroni]

She's flying from Philly to Myrtle Beach, leaving on Tuesday (I know it's short notice, but she's going to help out a sick relative). She ended up getting a fare of $79 one way (incl. taxes and fees). We saw the add-on fees for luggage, seat selection, etc.

She was asking me questions about the $9 fare club. I don't know much about it as I have never used it. So she called the number that printed on her confirmation to ask them about program. The person she spoke to told her "it's just called the $9 fare club, you don't actually get fares for $9". Is that correct? What's the purpose of joining then? Just trying to understand it as it sounds a little fishy to me.

My DS and his friend are going r/t from AC to myrtle beach for $87 later this month o spirit. Last time they flew out of Philly

 

[kaytieeldr]

Tinkerbelle - she signed up for the $9 fare club. But when she called to get some questions answered, the person she spoke to acted like there are no $9 fares, it's just called the $9 fare club. Doesn't add up for me.

I'm not a fan of the nickel and dime stuff they do, especially the fee for carry-ons. But on such short notice, it was still the cheapest she could get for a direct flight.

There are $9 fares, just not regularly and not between all city pairs. She should be signed up for e-mail alerts for notification.

I've heard you are nickel and dimed to death on Spirit. My nephew, who works at an airport, says he would never fly Spirit.

As far as I know, nobody's ever died in connection with Spirit's ubiquitous fees. Now, if an airport employee refuses go fly Spirit for any reason other than their charges for everything, it would be interesting to know those reasons.

 

[tinkfan]

There are $9 fares, just not regularly and not between all city pairs. She should be signed up for e-mail alerts for notification.


As far as I know, nobody's ever died in connection with Spirit's ubiquitous fees. Now, if an airport employee refuses go fly Spirit for any reason other than their charges for everything, it would be interesting to know those reasons.

The $9 fare club is a paid yearly membership. I think $60. It does get you some discounted fares on ceratin flights and discounts on bags. They do try to charge extras for everything. The checked bag fee is actually less than the carry on bag fee. Makes it easier not to have to lug that carry on. you do not have to pay extra for seat selection you will be assigned a seat . I have been able to change my seat at the airport at check in for free. I have gotten really good fares from Houston to Orlando so its been worth it for me.

 

[mjlewis23]

There are $9 fares with Spirit, but as other posters said, they are just *very* limited in which cities you can fly to/from with the $9 fares, and even more limited on the dates. You basically can fly from Tampa to Ft. Lauderdale, and that's it. (I only know about that one because my sister lived in Tampa and her boyfriend's family lived in Ft. Lauderdale). Add in the $35 per bag, each way fee, plus carryon charges, and charges if you want to select a seat (don't do it unless you have very small children, but even then, they will usually seat you together), and charges for *any* snack or beverage, even water. Before you know it, you are paying more for your flight than if you would have taken another carrier.

Plus, their flights have the worst presurization. I've seen water bottles literally collape upon descending, and have almost cried a few times because the ear pressure was so great. My 13 year old tells everyone she knows DO NOT FLY SPIRIT!!!! She makes me promise her not to book with them. That's saying something.

 

[TEK224]

Thanks for the replies!

 

[MsSpinShady]

Add in the $35 per bag, each way fee, plus carryon charges, and charges if you want to select a seat (don't do it unless you have very small children, but even then, they will usually seat you together)...

We are a family of six and had selected seats several months in advance. I called the day before we left to confirm our flights/seating arrangements. When we arrived at MCO for our flight home, we were informed at the counter that some of our seats had been reassigned because "they had people willing to pay for the window and aisle seats." They left our then 5-year-old in a seat in a row by herself near the front of the plane and moved my DH and I to the back. Spirit's staff were completely unwilling to help and told us to "work it out with the other passengers once we were onboard." (We ended up rearranging all of our family's seats so that she was not sitting alone.) Only one of the reasons we will never fly Spirit again....

 

[angierae]

Keep in mind you only pay carryon charges if you need to use the bin. You can bring a backpack/purse/whatever as long as it fits under the seat in front of you.

I wouldn't fly them with small children for reasons mentioned above, though.