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Spirit Airlines Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Fees & More

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Erin Miller

Erin Miller

Content Contributor

Countries Visited: 26U.S. States Visited: 28

An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publicat...
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This general review of Spirit Airlines has been compiled to give you a quick glance at the airline from the viewpoint of a viable customer.

Have you ever wondered — how much does Spirit charge for baggage fees? Do you get snacks and drinks when you fly Spirit? How often is Spirit delayed?

We’ve outlined some basic company statistics, ticketing options, added fees (including baggage fees), seat specs, inflight amenities, customer satisfaction ratings, and more.

Basic Information

Airline: Spirit Airlines

Alliance: N/A

Category: Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier

Frequent Flyer Program: Free Spirit

Tag Line: “Less Money. More Go.”

About/Mission Statement: “We live for More Go. It’s the big idea behind our business model, making it possible for more people to travel to more places, more often. And it’s what inspires us to Invest In The Guest, going beyond low fares to discover more ways to make our unique brand of customizable travel a great personal experience too.” (source)

Daily Flights: 500+ (pre-COVID-19)

Destinations: 65+ (U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean)

Fleet: 150+ planes

Main Hub: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)

FAQ Guide: Frequently Asked Questions About Flying Spirit Airlines

Spirit Ticketing Options

Customer checking in on Spirit Airlines. Image Credit: Spirit

Standard Fare

Spirit Airlines prides itself on offering “unbundled” fares. In a nutshell, this means advertising the lowest possible rate as a base fare. Spirit then gives customers the ability to add options that it calls À La Smarte options.

This means Spirit’s basic fare includes the most standard seat and 1 personal item. No refreshments, no seat recline, no Wi-Fi, etc. Spirit claims this generally lowers the cost of your ticket since with most other airlines all of these “frills” are included in your base fare, even if you don’t want them.

Additionally, while you can pay more for a little extra legroom, there are no traditional premium economy, business class, or first class fares on Spirit Airlines.

Spirit Saver$ Club

Spirit advertises a Spirit Saver$ Club (formerly known as the $9 Fare Club) that it claims gives customers exclusive access to some of the lowest fares available, as well as discounted baggage fees, seats, Flight Flex, Shortcut Security, and Shortcut Boarding. It also claims that Spirit Saver$ Club members are privy to special deals only available to members.

The cost of the program is $69.95 for 12 months, $99.90 for 18 months, or $129.90 for 24 months. The club’s discounts are also applicable for up to 8 persons on your itinerary if reserved under the same booking confirmation number.

Hot Tip: Remember that when booking with Spirit, an average traveler usually encounters added fees for options they generally don’t even consider when purchasing a typical airline ticket. For example, it’ll cost you $10 to print your boarding pass at the airport ticket counter vs. on your home computer. You can find more information on Spirit’s options/fees below.

Spirit Frequent Flyer Program

Spirit debuted a new and improved Free Spirit loyalty program in 2021, adding new perks like accelerated points earning, seat and baggage benefits, the ability to pool points with family and friends, and a longer expiration date for points.

Free Spirit is free to join and you can earn points by flying on Spirit, spending on its Bank of America co-branded credit cards, or participating with its partner programs.

You can redeem Free Spirit points on award flights or with select partner products and services.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our in-depth article on Spirit’s Free Spirit loyalty program.

Spirit Baggage and Other Fees

Image Credit: Spirit

Since Spirit Airlines starts with a stripped-down fare, there are a number of additional options that can be tacked on for an extra fee.

Baggage Fees

Spirit only includes 1 personal item with its standard fare. This means a carry-on and all checked bags are extra. Additionally, baggage prices increase the closer you get to take-off. So, your best bet is to pre-purchase your desired baggage allowance during your initial booking.

It’s important to note that Spirit Airlines has some pretty tight size/weight limitations for baggage:

  • Personal Item: 18 x 14 x 8 inches
  • Standard Carry-On: 22 x 18 x 10 inches
  • Checked Bag: max linear dimensions of 62 inches, max weight of 40 pounds

The following table displays general fees for MOST routes. However, for the most accurate baggage fee calculations, please use Spirit’s online baggage calculator tool here.

During BookingBefore/During
Online Check-In
Airport
Reservation Desk
At the Gate
Carry-On$26 / $35$36 / $45$55 / $55$65 / $65
First Checked Bag$21 / $30$31 / $40$50 / $50$65 / $65
Second Checked Bag$31 / $40$41 / $50$60 / $60N/A
Spirit Saver$ Club / Standard Fare

Other Fees

Reservation Center Booking: Spirit Airlines charges $35 per reservation center phone booking for both standard bookings and Free Spirit award tickets. Save yourself some money and book online if possible.

Seat Assignment and Big Front Seat: Unless you pay an extra fee, Spirit randomly assigns you a seat at check-in. It also can’t guarantee you’ll get to sit with your friends or family with this free assignment. Spirit urges customers to purchase a seat assignment to choose the seat they really want.

Seat assignments begin at $1 and can cost up to $50, varying according to your specific route and the exact location of seats on the aircraft.

Additionally, customers can purchase a Big Front Seat that comes with about 6 inches of extra legroom (see seat specs below). Since these seats are limited (usually 4 to 10 per plane), you can expect the cost to fall between $12 to $150 in advance or $25 to $175 as an onboard upgrade. This price is based on availability and flight length.

Boarding Pass: Let’s be clear here: when flying Spirit, check-in online and print your boarding pass at home or select an email boarding passIf you wait until you get to the airport, Spirit Airlines will charge $2 per boarding pass printed at a kiosk and a hefty $10 per pass printed at its check-in counters. Spirit argues that it utilizes more of its time and resources to print a pass at the airport, so that’s why it charges for it.

Refreshments Onboard: Spirit provides a menu with variable pricing from which customers can make a drink/snack selection.

Soft drinks, juices, and water currently cost $3, with coffee and tea costing $2. You can expect to pay $8 to $11 for alcoholic beverages and snacks vary from $3 to $8.

Modification Fees: These are fees applied to change or cancel your reservation. If you purchase Flex Flight for $35 to $45 at the time of booking, you’re allowed 1 flight modification at no extra cost as long as it’s done more than 24 hours prior to your departure.

  • Change/Cancellation Fee: $90 (online); $100 (phone/in-person); $50 (group booking)

As an added benefit to canceling online, customers are issued a $10 voucher (per one-way fare) if the value of the reservation is less than the cost of cancellation.

Update: Due to COVID-19, Spirit is waiving all change and cancellation fees for travel booked by March 31, 2021. Refunds will be processed as a full purchase price reservation credit.

Priority Boarding: Customers who wish to acquire Zone 2 priority boarding (Shortcut Boarding) may pay $5.99+ per one-way ticket.

Standby Fee: The standby fee is currently $99 per one-way flight.

Infant (Lap Child) Fee: FREE (taxes may apply in certain countries)

Unaccompanied Minor Fee: $100 per customer, each way (includes snack and beverage)

Pet Transport Fee: $110 per pet container, each way (limited to 4 pets per cabin total)

How To Avoid Excess Fees

There’s an easy way to avoid a number of these excess fees, and it involves utilizing the member benefits of specific credit cards.

The following Capital One cards allow you to redeem Capital One miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit for certain added fees (baggage, inflight purchases, etc.) purchased within 90 days.

TOP PICK
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
22.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-840)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros

  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
  • Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
  • Add authorized users for no additional annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees

 

Cons

  • $395 annual fee
  • Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

 

  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more – you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 22.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$95
21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

As a frequent traveler with excellent credit, you’re always on the lookout for a credit card that comes with all the bells and whistles. And the easier it is to understand, the better!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great sign-up bonus, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Pros

  • 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • 2 complimentary visits to a Capital One Lounge or Plaza Premium Lounges each year
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Limited elite benefits
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase – or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating.We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
20,000 miles
$360
$0
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, the no-annual-fee version of the more popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Ability to use transfer partners
  • Access to Capital One Dining

Cons

  • Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
  • No luxury travel or elite benefits
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Spirit Inflight Amenities and Seat Specs

What will my flight on Spirit look like?

Spirit cabin interior. Image Credit: Spirit

Inflight Amenities: As mentioned above, Spirit prides itself on offering the lowest possible base fare. This means a lot of inflight amenities many travelers are used to are simply unavailable.

  • Spirit does not provide in-flight Wi-Fi, video streaming capabilities, or any onboard entertainment
  • Refreshment service is limited to paid beverages and snacks only

Seat Specs: Seat specs for Spirit Airlines flights vary slightly depending on plane style. However, Spirit is notorious for having one of the shortest economy pitches of all domestic carriers. We’ve combined information from Spirit Airlines and SeatGuru to aggregate the following seat specs.

In general, dimensions are as follows:

  • Big Front Seats — 36-inch pitch, 18.5-inch width
  • Standard economy seats — 28-inch pitch, 17.75-inch width
 StyleTotal Number
of Seats
Big Front SeatsEconomy Seats
Airbus A319-10014510135
Airbus A320-200 (Layout 1)1828174
Airbus A320-200 (Layout 2)1740174
Airbus A320neo1828174
Airbus A321-2002288220

Hot Tip: You can find information on Spirit’s boarding zones and boarding process here.

Spirit Customer Satisfaction

Are customers happy with Spirit Airlines?

While Spirit Airlines doesn’t drum up a lot of positive press when it comes to customer satisfaction, it is working hard to change the narrative.

Image Credit: Spirit

Spirit’s new tactic involves talking up its standard fare and emphasizing the fact that stripped-down services are necessary to provide you, the customer, with the cheapest possible ticket option.

Here are a few examples:

Instead of hiding the fact that its seat specs are a little tight, Spirit states: “We’re a cozy airline; We add extra seats to our planes so we can fly with more people. This lowers ticket prices for everyone, just like a carpool.”

To justify its increasing baggage fee scale, Spirit says: “It costs time and resources to process at the airport, which means it costs you more money.”

To address its “no refunds” policy, Spirit claims it’s “trying to resell your ticket raises fares for everyone, so we don’t give refunds if your plans change. Insurance is available to protect you from the unexpected.”

Honesty and Transparency: One thing you can’t fault Spirit on is its honesty. It is very clear on its website that it is attempting to offer the best possible price by cutting unnecessary expenditures. It even states it’s proud to have broken some rules along the way.

Transparency on the other hand… not so much. With Spirit, it’s tough to determine your total costs until you’ve selected all your specifics, including destination, departure dates, add ons, etc. Without going through the motions all the way to your purchase point, customers are simply given quotes like “fees starting at $5.”

Most Common Complaints

What are the most common Spirit Airlines complaints?

The December 2020 Air Travel Consumer Report filed by the DOT ranks Spirit Airlines as having the fourth-highest number of consumer complaints across 13 reporting U.S. carriers (for October 2020).

For October 2020, there were 109 complaints out of 1,519,759 system-wide enplanements, or 7.17 complaints per 100,000 passengers. By comparison, Southwest had just 1.34 complaints per 100,000 passengers.

  • Flight Problems (cancellation, delay, or misconnection): 5 / 4.6%
  • Oversales: 1 / 0.9%
  • Reservation, Ticketing, Boarding: 8 / 7.3%
  • Fares: 6 / 5.5%
  • Refunds: 67 / 61.5%
  • Customer Service: 8 / 7.3%
  • Baggage: 6 / 5.5%
  • Disability: 6 / 5.5%
  • Other: 2 / 1.8%

Consumer Rankings, Ratings, Etc. 

It’s difficult to compile all the rankings, ratings, reviews, and performance statistics into a single short synopsis, mainly because there are so many out there. Instead, we’ve listed a few of the more reputable options for a quick overview.

SkyTrax Ranking: 3 Star Airline (out of 5)

SkyTrax Customer Rating: 3/10 (average from 3,402 reviews)

ACSI Rating (American Customer Satisfaction Index): 65 (lowest of 12 largest U.S. carriers in 2020)

AQR (Airline Quality Rating): 8th of 10 Overall

TripAdvisor Airline Review Rating: 3/5 (average from 21,702 reviews)

Performance

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

  • Percent Flights Canceled: 2.31% (2020)
  • Average Departure Delay, All Flights: 3.8 minutes (2020)
  • Average Departure Delay, Late Flights: 59.63 minutes (2020)

Final Thoughts

Image Credit: Spirit

People who speak positively about Spirit seem to be those who know exactly what they want out of a cheap flight: getting from Point A to Point B, and that’s about it. They’re expecting a stripped-down experience, and they’re expecting to encounter some surprise fees during the booking process.

They know what to pay for and when to pay for it, as well as where and what time to fly in order to secure some seriously cheap fares.

All in all, there are a number of factors that consistently land Spirit in the proverbial hot seat when it comes to customer satisfaction. Ticketing options are limited, extra fees abound, seat specs are tight, and inflight amenities are certainly lacking. Not to mention that the general consensus surrounding flying Spirit seems to be: don’t.

However, if you’re looking for an especially cheap fare, don’t mind a bare-bones flight experience, and aren’t too bothered about potential complaint-worthy hiccups, by all means… go ahead and book yourself a Spirit Airlines flight!

Frequently Asked Questions

The following table displays general fees for MOST routes. However, for the most accurate baggage fee calculations, please use Spirit’s online baggage calculator tool here.

During BookingBefore/During
Online Check-In
Airport
Reservation Desk
At the Gate
Carry-On$26 / $35$36 / $45$55 / $55$65 / $65
First Checked Bag$21 / $30$31 / $40$50 / $50$65 / $65
Second Checked Bag$31 / $40$41 / $50$60 / $60N/A
Spirit Saver$ Club / Standard Fare

Spirit flies to over 65 destinations across the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The December 2020 Air Travel Consumer Report filed by the DOT ranks Spirit Airlines as having the fourth-highest number of consumer complaints across 13 reporting U.S. carriers (for October 2020), with refunds being the top complaint.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics:

  • Percent Flights Canceled: 2.31% (2020)
  • Average Departure Delay, All Flights: 3.8 minutes (2020)
  • Average Departure Delay, Late Flights: 59.63 minutes (2020)

Spirit attempts to offer the best possible price by cutting unnecessary expenditures — seat specs are tight and inflight amenities are certainly lacking.

Spirit debuted a new and improved Free Spirit loyalty program in 2021, adding new perks like accelerated points earning, seat and baggage benefits, the ability to pool points with family and friends, and a longer expiration date for points.

Free Spirit is free to join and you can earn points by flying on Spirit, spending on its Bank of America co-branded credit cards, or participating with its partner programs.

You can redeem Free Spirit points on award flights or with select partner products and services.

About Erin Miller

An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.

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40 comments

Fabiola Anixter

June 07, 2018

I’m flying with my dog in Sept 2018 and he weighs 17 lbs and he fits in the bag approved by the airline. However, should I spend the extra money to purchase the big front seat with Spirit airlines so he can have more room? Please advise.

Erin Miller

June 07, 2018

Hi Fabiola, this is HIGHLY DEPENDENT on which plane model you’re flying on! PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that if you choose a bulkhead seat (one where there is no seat in front of you) all of your belongings must go into an overhead compartment – you can’t keep anything at your feet and the space under your seat is reserved for the passengers sitting behind you.

If you are flying on an A320 V1 or A321 V1, there are only 4 “Big Front” seats and these are at the bulkhead so this could be a big no-go. If you are flying on an A319, A320 V2 or A321 V3, these have a select number of “Big Front” seats that aren’t at the bulkhead but these are VERY limited!

I don’t know how Spirit Airlines deals with passengers who have brought a pet and have purchased one of these seats but with all the pet safety concerns on airlines recently, I wouldn’t risk it! If your pet fits in the approved sized pet carrier, it should fit comfortably under the seat in front of you regardless of which seat type you choose.

Since we don’t know Spirit’s official policies on this subject, we would recommend calling Spirit Customer Care at 1-801-401-2222 and inquiring with them directly.

Tiago Galdino Da La Silva

December 11, 2018

I arrived on Nov. 12, 2018 to Orlando on flight #433 from Boston, I was the last passenger out of the plane. When I got to baggage claim I realized I had left my new iPad and a towel on the aircraft. I immediately went to the counter and told them what happened. They send an employee from Spirit to go to the gate and see if he could locate my iPad and towel, he comes back and said that a airline employee saw the towel on the plane so he ask for some one go to get it inside the plane. They went then came out and said, “I’m sorry but I could not find it”, I call the police. He interviewed same personnel and they told him the same story. Unbelievable!!! Police Report was file and a complaint to Spirit Airlines too but no answer…
wrote to Consumer Report and it’s published. next to go to the TV News!!!

Armond Jack

August 29, 2021

Telling everybody that I know do not to use Spirit Airlines. They take your money, lie to you, and they canceled my flight and won’t give me my money back or rebook my flight. I’m a senior on a fixed income and they just took my money without telling me why the flight was canceled.

December 02, 2022

Totally agree! I flew from Raleigh to Orlando, Orlando to Detroit, and I paid $70 for my bag and they lost. It’s been since November 19. I will never ever fly Spirit again.

Debra Thomas

May 28, 2023

They explain their policies, but even if I am in a dire situation, I will never fly this airline again. Lost a lot of money after being held up in a long line to check in and told no time to get to plane. I was on time, but the line was delayed for some person’s problem.

Stefanie Lange

January 04, 2019

We flew spirit in October 2018 for the first time. We went from Cleveland to Orlando. Our experience was great. Yes it’s only 40 lbs for a checked bag and if you want to sit together it’s extra, but the flight was great. We got there earlier than expected. The people were all very nice. Coming home they upgraded our seats plus we had tsa pre check. All in all a great experience.

Alex Miller

January 05, 2019

Thanks for sharing your experience, Stefanie!

Sunshine Baxter

August 16, 2019

Your staff at the check in and baggage was very ride and stuck up. I really think your whole luggage rule really sucks and is ridiculous. My suitcase alone with nothing in it weighs about 10-15lbs and you say 40lbs max, well that leaves it it where I can barely put anything in it. Then if it’s over 50lbs it’s $55 and over 60 it’s $100. Plus a carry on bag $47, I mean that is a straight rip off. I think really need to check your employees for their rudeness. Really disappointing

Jarrod West

August 17, 2019

Hi Sunshine,

I’m sorry you had such a negative experience, that sounds very frustrating. But please be advised that we are not Spirit Airlines, we are Upgraded Points. If you’d like to bring these concerns up to Spirit Airlines you can contact their customer support number at (801) 401-2222.

Thanks for reading!

Robert McWilliams

November 08, 2019

I’m trying to book a flight but don’t remember my password. How do I change my password?

Jarrod West

November 08, 2019

Hi Robert,

We do not represent Spirit Airlines, we are Upgraded Points, a website that publishes helpful travel information. With that said, there should be a link for you to click on the login page that says “forgot password”, which will allow you to reset it. If you need further assistance I suggest you contact the Spirit customer service team directly.

Noreen RYAN

November 23, 2019

What is flight flex?

Jarrod West

November 24, 2019

Hi Noreen,

Flight Flex allows you to make changes to your Spirit Airlines ticket, you can read about it in our post here: /how-to-cancel-a-spirit-airlines-flight/

Lora Britton

January 07, 2020

I just received on update on an upcoming flight…the times are the same but they added Class T to my departure and Class R for return flight what does this mean?

Catherine Luther

January 08, 2020

Hi Lora,

These would be airline booking codes. T indicates a discount economy fare and R would indicate that it’s a return fare.

M Horton

January 21, 2020

Flew from Baltimore to Orlando with a stop in Charleston. Other than the stop in Charleston it was not a bad flight. I’ve been on much worse that costs much more. I’d take this puddle jumper type flight over the drawn out standard any day of the week. A flight for those needing to get from point A to point B as quickly and efficiently as possible. This is my first of many flights between the 2 cities and my opinion may change, but as for now.. An OK flight

Voeun

February 25, 2020

Flew from Las Vegas to MSP airport flight 170.
Pay for window seat, 30 min before landing flight attendants open overhead light in cabin so you can’t enjoy night views through the window. On top of that they are rude, they need to work on their customer service experience.

Donna Gordon

February 26, 2020

Donna
On February 26th 2020, I happened to travel with Spirit Airlines via Bradley International airport. It was my first time traveling with Spirit and for all my years of traveling it was my best experience dealing with a ticketing staff. Armando is the kindest, most pleasant, and knowledgeable customer service rep. He was able to answer all my questions and willingly assisted me with my check in process. Thanks Armando, your kindness was much appreciated. Customer service at its best.

brian a opert

May 14, 2020

Spirit shows a lot of fluff while screwing their passengers. I purchased a cheap nonrefundable one way ticket last January, and for obvious reasons canceled before my travel in April. They offer a one year credit – no refunds. Now that the world is beginning to get back on its feet, we know that we will never live the same life again. and a ticket that expires in January 2020 is the same as throwing $200 over my shoulder. Does ANYONE know what our world will look like in January 2020? So I called and asked for a refund (again). the agent read the script and bottom line – nope and no extensions. For the first time ever, the agent and I (we) are all in the same boat. And we discussed that. So, in an effort to see what they could do, the agent (Chris) had a supervisor call me back. Kier did call me and read the same script. And his response: tough! Use the ticket by January 2020 or you are out $200.00. The most amazing thing about this is that I purchased a comparable ticket on Southwest at the same time (for the return trip.) And today I was advised that Southwest’s “use in one year” policy has already been extended until – ready? – January 2022! I never even had to ask. Amazing what a REAL airline can do – Spirit sucks, always has and obviously always will suck! Stay away! And these pretty pictures offer zero but wallpaper. Money counts – cute pics don’t.

JBradley

October 16, 2020

I took a round trip flight to O’Hara from lax. Going was like being squished between two sumo wrestlers but bearable. My ticket covered one checked bag – no issues there until the return trip.
I actually was concerned I had more weight so went to their sight the 2nd of October to confirm flight and check weight restrictions for a standard bag. The sight stated 50 lbs for standard NOT 40 lbs. I didn’t know the 40 lb restriction until I had to self check for baggage tags etc. they automatically charged for 44 lbs an additional $30.00. No option to weigh prior to check-in nor just take items out to meet weight.
I tried to resolve the charge with the agent but she blew it off and had absolutely no idea what their site said. I guess they figured I’m a senile old person who just pulled that weight of 50 lbs out of thin air!! So screw the senior flyer. I contacted customer service today but obviously, their agents aren’t authorized to actually do anything to resolve or assist. Bad enough your herded like cattle, charged even for water but not ice (seems they have to load and serve that too so kinda blows that excuse on why they charge for water) and squeeze you into a spot where people even passing by hit you.
I suggest anyone flying, they choose some other airline! Too bad Southwest doesn’t fly to O’Hare – they’d make a killing as everyone would bail on spirit! I’ve had two different experiences with spirit and both sucked! Never again – no future aggravating situations.

Jennifer Pierce

November 10, 2020

Will I be charged for a carry on bag?

Jarrod West

November 11, 2020

Hi Jennifer,

Spirit does charge for carry on bags.

Ann Harris

May 10, 2021

We are flying out on June 11th for our honeymoon. It will be my first time flying. I’m super excited but all the comments about everyone’s experience are kinda scary, but most of them are awesome comments. I sure hope that the flight is awesome even though it’s only a 4-hour flight. Everyone have a good day!

Dwan

May 10, 2021

Worst airline ever. Two days ago I was removed from the plane because they said my mask was not over my face. The flight attendant clearly did not see I was eating.

No warning…just asked to get off. They would not let me speak to the pilot and escorted me off without one single warning. I took pictures and videos. I’m hiring an attorney.

They left a 62-year-old woman stranded in a strange city at night with no other flights out! I was terrified! What cold-hearted person does that? Please never give these people your money!

Jalil Charles

May 16, 2021

Bad experience. Spirit airlines in Haiti has no customer service at all.
Employees begging travelers for money at the security check point.

Jose Ortiz

July 05, 2021

This Airline is the worst airline service in America. They do not take care of passengers and charge you for everything. I would rather pay a little more for American or another continental airline before flying Spirit ever again.

Robb

August 01, 2021

Spirit Airlines in fact does have WiFi on most of the planes. Currently, with 165+ planes and with 15 more to be delivered by the end of the year, they will be installing Wi-Fi on All new planes and the others as well.
As for those who are posting negative comments on Spirit Airlines? They are named 1 of the Best Companies in 2021 by Forbes!

Teresa Lively

September 28, 2021

Thank you for this information I am trying to find out if Airbus A321 offers wifi and am having a heck of a time. Do you know of any way to find out this informative?

Jarrod West

October 03, 2021

Hi Teresa,

Yes, Spirit’s A321’s should offer Wi-fi. Safe travels!

Deserie Mitchell

December 30, 2021

I would like to make a complaint about the way I was treated trying to board a flight. The first day I was refused to be let on by two spirit workers whose i.d badges were not visible. I was told to step aside while they let everyone aboard but me and another person who I was with who was legally blind. They allowed her to purchase priority seating but when it was time to get on the plane she was told that she cannot have the seating because it was emergency exit seats due to her handicap. The young lady stated she was going to make sure we missed the flight and she did with our luggage already on the plane headed to San Juan. At this point, I’m crying, mad, and upset trying to get answers. By the time they rebooked our flight for 12:30 that night after making us miss the 2:27 flight they laughed amongst each other of the fact they canceled our flight. Meanwhile, they then sent a text saying that the 12:30 was changed to 11:30 when it really wasn’t, so they texted false information to make us miss the original flight which made us have to stay there until the next day, only to find out that flight leaves at 2:27 which was the same time as yesterday. Okay now as we’re waiting the workers that come in early start harassing us and again threatened to cancel both flights going and coming. I then had to walk around the airport to find a Baltimore City police officer to address the situation as I could no longer be harassed by the two employees, one of which was a manager. I never felt so humiliated and embarrassed. It’s hard to explain when someone is treating you like an animal when you pay your way and the only thing you want is to go on a good vacation and have a great time.

Alicia

December 13, 2021

You must be one in a million satisfied customer. Spirit sucks they have the worst customer service and cancelled your fight for no reason and just steal your money. They charge for everything. I will never ever fly with them again

Tracy Snide

August 10, 2021

I’ll never fly with Spirit again! My flight home to Florida was cancelled and I was told my refund would take 3 days. They lied…they’ve given me the runaround, won’t answer their phones, and told me my name and email didn’t match the flight I was on but yet they emailed me to tell me that, huh? Their customer service sucks! If I don’t receive my refund by Friday, I will contact the people I need to and they’ll give more than my refund, that’s a promise!

J Awls

September 22, 2021

I’m alright with the baggage charge but why just 40 pounds per bag? Most of the other carriers weight for baggage is 50 pounds. I feel Spirit should increase the baggage weight to 50 pounds. It definitely would make customers happier. I’m always 3 to 5 pounds over which requires me to reorganize my bag by placing items in my book bag or paying an extra charge. If anyone feels how I feel, let Spirit know.

Alicia

December 14, 2021

Spirit sucks, I had my schedule fight from Burbank to Las Vegas for 12/10/21, I arrived 20 minutes before departure the plane was still there and they didn’t allowed us to board the plane, I guess they had already sold our assigned seats to a stand by waiting, they told us they can reschedule for Sunday 12/12/21, which was not an option for us, we needed to be in Vegas that Friday 12/10/21, they failed to inform us that our fight back home gets canceled automatically, so we rented a car to travel to Vegas one way, thinking that our schedule fight back home was still valid, until we tried to check in on line it said the fight was no longer active, I called to find out out was was going on, and that’s when I was told my fight got automatically canceled since we missed our fight, I told the representative that I did not missed the fight that I was not allowed to board the fight and they said there was nothing they could do, employees are very rude, customer service sucks also they take forever to answer the phone and they keep disconnecting, we took a taxi to the airport and luckily they managed to reschedule our fight but we got the very last sits number 31 ABC when we had purchased the boosted and had paid extra for seats 13 ABC, we got screw, they also damaged my luggage, my daughter’s luggage and her Lap top got damaged also. So no I would never ever use Spirit again.

Ken V

March 15, 2022

The worst airline, totally feels like I got ripped off. All up charges, horrible service, customer service is the worst. Spent 3 hours trying to communicate via phone to get put on hold for an hour then get disconnected from their end. Ended up paying 3 times more than what original tickets were to be seated next to my 9 year old daughter with 1 checked in bag. Will never travel with them again.

Ari Ner

March 16, 2022

Horrible airlines. I can understand that they charge extra for luggage and extra space. But there is no excuse for the flights being late or making you wait 90 plus minutes to get your bag, especially when they are changing extra for it.

Katie Seemann

March 17, 2022

Hi Ari,
That’s no fun having to wait for your bag for over 90 minutes! Hopefully you’ll have better luck on your next flight.

Aimee Tokarski

April 11, 2022

I’m sorry for the bad experiences some had. Not us. We flew Spirit on March 30th and April 7th and had no problems. Even with the weather coming from Florida to Michigan our flight was not delayed or canceled. The pilot was a riot and all flight attendants were kind and courteous. It was a great flight.

Greg

July 25, 2023

Do not fly Spirit Airlines, worst for both flight and customer service. Planned a three day trip to Vegas. Flew Spirit out of Detroit. The flight was delayed 9+ hours. Boarding should have occurred on or about 9:20 pm on June 1 with a take off of 10:02 pm. The flight took off at 6:20 am the following morning June 2. The gate agents provided very little information during the delay other than they were waiting on a pilot to come in off another flight. During the wait time, the pilot that did show up “timed out”. Eventually the staff announced the flight would not leave until 5:15 am the next morning. Frustrated customers were given the choice for refund or to book on another Spirit Flight. Customers were so angry with the gate agents and Spirit for the delays, lack of communication and overall attitude that local police were brought to the gate to supervise Spirit’s shenanigans. Vendors close early at Detroit Airport. For those of us that could not rebook a flight, no food vouchers were offered, no hotel vouchers offered and if you wanted to rebook a flight, only Sprit was offered (no other Airlines) forcing Spirt customers additional days of delays. When it came time fly out the following morning, a pilot was late causing a flight attendant to time out. In 9+ hours, Spirit couldn’t get their stuff together even leave close to on time the next morning. Tried to resolve with customer service. No response from Spirit’s CEO, and Spirit’s customer service agent was useless. Do not fly this airline! They do not deserve you! During the process of dealing with customer service, I had booked a flight with Spirit in September for which I asked them to cancel and refund. Even with all the issues, they would only provide a credit for the flight and charged a $69 cancellation fee.. I advised them to donate my credit to charity. I will not fly Spirit again. I advise you to reconsider Spirit in favour of an Airline that will treat you with respect. What a disgusting experience both with the flight and the very poor customer service.

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