Comparing Spirit Airlines’ 2 Premium Offerings: Go Big and Go Comfy

The author was a guest of Spirit Airlines. All opinions are the author’s own, and Spirit Airlines had no input in any part of this article.

Spirit Airlines offers 2 premium seating choices designed to improve passenger comfort: Go Big and Go Comfy.

Go Big resembles what you might anticipate in first class on single-aisle aircraft operated by domestic airlines like American and Delta.

Go Comfy serves as Spirit’s premium alternative. It offers a bundled fare that includes either an aisle or window seat with a blocked middle seat, similar to what is typically seen on European airlines, where the middle seat is left vacant in first class on short-haul flights.

During a recent round-trip flight from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to San Antonio (SAT), I had the opportunity to test both. Let’s take a look at the differences and similarities.

Seat

Go Big — Big Front Seat

Spirit Airlines‘ Go Big is an upgraded seating option featuring the Big Front Seat, which provides a more comfortable experience compared to the carrier’s standard economy seats.

The number of Big Front Seats on your Spirit flight varies based on the aircraft type, but they are always arranged in a 2-2 configuration at the front of the plane — so you don’t have to deal with a middle seat.

Here’s the breakdown of how many Big Front Seats there are by aircraft type:

• Airbus A319: 10 Big Front Seats (rows 1 to 3)
• Airbus A320 and A320neo: 8 Big Front Seats (rows 1 and 2)
• Airbus A321 and A321neo: 8 Big Front Seats (rows 1 and 2)

While you shouldn’t expect a full-service premium cabin experience here, you can look forward to a wider, more cushioned seat with up to 36 inches of pitch (legroom) and 18.5 inches of width — significantly more room than Spirit’s standard seats.

This was my second time flying in the Big Front Seat, and, I have to say, the experience felt just as comfortable as the first time. Even though there’s no inflight entertainment or meal service (although Go Big customers do get a choice of a complimentary snack and beverage), if I just want to be more relaxed on a Spirit flight, this is my top choice when I book my seats.

Go Comfy — Comfy Seat

As the name implies, Spirit’s Go Comfy seating offers increased comfort. It guarantees a blocked middle seat, giving passengers more space during their flight.

Go Comfy gives passengers the same seat pitch and width as Spirit’s standard economy seats (28 to 32 inches of pitch and 17 to 18 inches width), but with the middle seat blocked, passengers can enjoy a bit more personal space.

The number of Go Comfy seats available on each Spirit flight varies based on the specific configuration and route. Typically, these seats are in rows 4, 5, and 6, right after the Big Front Seats.

Though the Go Comfy arrangement reduces a flight’s total passenger capacity, it increases the comfort of those who book it, making it more attractive to travelers looking for value in exchange for greater space.

Many European airlines offer a blocked middle seat in first or business class on short-haul flights within Europe instead of the wider, premium seats in long-haul premium cabins. I’ve taken short-haul business class flights with Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa Airlines, and Air France in Europe, and Spirit’s Go Comfy seat brought those experiences to mind.

I appreciated the additional lateral legroom and personal space from the blocked middle seat. However, if you’re traveling with a toddler or young child and need to sit right beside them, these seats may not be the best choice, as the tray table is fixed in the middle seat, which prevents you from being directly next to your child.

Hot Tip:

While no Spirit co-branded card provides benefits for upgrading your seat when flying Spirit, if you have the Free Spirit^® Travel More World Elite Mastercard^®, you can achieve Free Spirit Silver status by spending $20,000 per year on the card, which grants you free seat selection, including standard seats.

Perks

Go Big

The Big Front Seat on Spirit feels like you’re in first class without the crazy price. Although you don’t receive a predeparture beverage or inflight meal as you would in business or first class with some of the top U.S. air carriers, you get a wider and more comfortable seat and additional preflight and inflight perks.

By booking Go Big, you secure a larger and more comfortable seat, but that’s not all. Your booking includes snacks and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, 1 carry-on bag, 1 checked bag, priority check-in and boarding, and free Wi-Fi. Furthermore, the Big Front Seat is at the front of the aircraft, allowing for quicker boarding and deplaning.

Hot Tip:

While you won’t be the first to board the plane when booking Go Big, you receive Zone 1 boarding, the first group after preboarding. Moreover, customers in Go Big enjoy exclusive access to a dedicated overhead bin above their seats.

Go Comfy

The Go Comfy option offers a wealth of included perks as part of its bundled package.

Although you’re still in a standard Spirit economy seat without the ability to recline, the middle seat is blocked, allowing you and a companion to have the row to yourselves.

Go Comfy also offers a variety of perks that make your experience with Spirit feel more akin to flying a full-service carrier.

This is what you get in the Go Comfy bundle package:

• Extra space (the middle seat in your row is blocked)
• A free carry-on bag
• Seat selection
• No change fees
• Dedicated overhead bin space

Bottom Line:

The biggest difference between Go Comfy and Go Big is the lack of complimentary alcoholic beverages, free Wi-Fi, and, of course, the larger seat itself. However, this package includes amenities vital to most passengers, such as a carry-on bag, assigned seating, 1 snack, and 1 beverage.

Price

The price difference between Go Big and Go Comfy on Spirit varies depending on the route and demand. You can almost always expect to pay more for Go Big than Go Comfy, as the former serves as Spirit’s version of first class.

That said, you might find that the price difference can sometimes be minimal between the 2 fares, requiring you to decide if you value paying more for a roomier seat or prefer a standard seat with a middle seat blocked. You also have to consider the valuable perks, such as free carry-on bags, priority boarding, and extra space, which can add up to a savings of hundreds of dollars with Spirit.

Before my trip, I looked into a dozen flights on Spirit’s website, from transcontinental routes like Newark (EWR) to Los Angeles (LAX) to shorter ones like Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Atlanta (ATL). The price difference between booking Go Big and Go Comfy ranged between $50 and $150.

For my specific flights to and from San Antonio (SAT), I found that the price to fly in Go Big one-way from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to San Antonio (SAT) was $364, while Go Comfy was priced at $259 — a $105 difference.

The fare difference between the 2 premium options for the return flight from San Antonio to Fort Lauderdale was slightly less, at $100.

Ultimately, if you’re seeking a seat comparable to domestic first class on other full-service airlines, you should probably consider booking Go Big.

However, if you’re looking for a more comfortable seat arrangement with extra personal space (thanks to the middle seat being blocked) and perks like a carry-on bag, priority boarding, and a snack, then Go Comfy is likely your best bet — especially if you want to save some money and avoid booking Spirit’s most premium seat choice.

Final Thoughts

Over the years, Spirit has progressively moved toward providing experiences that are more like premium offerings on other airlines.

While it continues to operate as a low-cost carrier, the Fort Lauderdale-based airline has made a conscious effort to attract travelers willing to spend a little extra for added comfort and convenience. The launch of 2 premium seating options in 2024, Go Big and Go Comfy, illustrates this point.

Even though I hold elite status with multiple legacy carriers such as American Airlines and Delta Air Lines and am passionate about experiencing premium flights like Emirates first class and Singapore First Class Suites, I’ve flown Spirit more times than I can count in the past.

I will continue to fly with Spirit provided its flight schedule meets my needs and the pricing for these 2 premium seats is reasonable.