OT: Spirit Airlines

[Uncle Ruckus]

Anyone flown Spirit? I can't tell if the reviews are from spoiled *****, or if it really is that bad. I'm flying from New Orleans to Miami, so it's not a long flight and it's the upgraded seating. Everyone is bitching about not getting free water and snacks, but it seems like the best way to solve that is to bring a water and snack with you. Delta flights would be close to $500 more for two tickets and there would be a layover. Is the money saved worth it?

 

[PointAfter]

My daughter flew out of Orlando to Memphis or Atlanta and she didn't have any problems with the flight. I guess you get what you pay for and the main thing is getting from Point A to Point B.

 

[civildawg88]

is it a nonstop flight? Also make sure you know all of the upcharges they do before hand. If it's a nonstop flight, you should be fine. They are going to charge you for a carry on unless it's under a certain size I believe.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Free check in in and free carry on with what we’re getting. I think most the people are bitching because they charge for water

 

[Allday.sixpack]

We flew it to the Orange Bowl in 2014.
I remember the seats were extra small and felt like a flying Teajuana Taxi

 

[Dawghouse]

We fly spirit all the time and it's great. For the ticket price you only get a seat on the plane. Everything else is extra.

If you want to choose your seat, extra
If you want to bring luggage bigger than a backpack, extra
If you want snacks, extra
If you want to check in at the counter, extra

But if you know what you are doing and don't mind a no frills experience, it's great.

I'm 6' 2" 240 and the seats aren't too bad. I fly with a family of 5 without paying extra to choose our seats and they've never separated us though I'm sure it can happen.

The biggest cost is if you don't do your luggage correctly. Pay for whatever luggage you need when you buy tickets. They charge more for a carryon than a checked bag and it's like $100 if you try to check a bag at the counter without paying ahead of time.

 

[Dawghouse]

Oh and the drink/snack prices are very reasonable. $2-3 for a water or coke. They don't take cash on the plane.

 

[benatmsu]

I just flew from New Orleans to Vegas on Spirit in March.
It was just me and my 7 year old who had never flown before.
It was fine. No issues at all.
Definitely no frills, so if the drinks and snacks are important to you, you won't like it.
It's slightly cramped, but definitely no worse than flying on one of those Canadair jets out of Jackson.
I would still recommend paying a couple bucks extra and getting the larger seats up front if they're available.

The only problem I have Spirit is that they are a "budget" airline, but they will nickel and dime you to death.
Carry-on (other than personal item like backpack,laptop, purse, etc.), checked bags, seat selection - all cost extra.
But if you're going on a short trip and don't need to check bags I think it's just fine.

Anyone flown Spirit? I can't tell if the reviews are from spoiled *****, or if it really is that bad. I'm flying from New Orleans to Miami, so it's not a long flight and it's the upgraded seating. Everyone is bitching about not getting free water and snacks, but it seems like the best way to solve that is to bring a water and snack with you. Delta flights would be close to $500 more for two tickets and there would be a layover. Is the money saved worth it?

 

[SWFLDawg]

I am no fan of spirit and will do what I can to avoid flying with them. A better choice and maybe a little more $$ is to fly JetBlue out of lauderdale . Direct nonstop and FLL is a much easier airport than MIA

 

[TaleofTwoDogs]

I've flown Spirit a number of times without problem. Upgrade your seat if possible as it is worth the extra charge. The key to flying Spirit is do everything online and buy only want you need. Once on board it's just like any other airline.

 

[fishwater99]

Oh and the drink/snack prices are very reasonable. $2-3 for a water or coke. They don't take cash on the plane.

Just take your own food and drink from the terminal and your all good..

 

[Faustdog]

The flights themselves are fine. But from my experience you lose most if not all of the savings by the time you pay for your seat selection and the high fees for both carry on and checked bags.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

We got a free upgrade to bigger seats, free luggage check and carry on, seat selection etc. With such **** reviews I figured the plane itself was garbage. I imagine we will try it out for price.

 

[Jgbishop]

I use them all the time flying from Houston to Nola to get back home. The round trip ticket is actually cheaper than driving for a weekend trip.

The only negative I’ve ever really had is delayed flights. Only happened a time or two but that’s a time or two that I haven’t had with other airlines (non-weather related delays that is)

 

[The_Pylon]

It's spoiled

Anyone flown Spirit? I can't tell if the reviews are from spoiled *****, or if it really is that bad. I'm flying from New Orleans to Miami, so it's not a long flight and it's the upgraded seating. Everyone is bitching about not getting free water and snacks, but it seems like the best way to solve that is to bring a water and snack with you. Delta flights would be close to $500 more for two tickets and there would be a layover. Is the money saved worth it?

***** that don't or refuse to read directions, then are surprised when someone reads them the rules.
Disgruntled Spirit Reviewers are like landsharks.

 

[aTotal360]

It's not bad. I've flown out west a couple times with them and the plane was clean, every seat had a tv, and the backed cookies. The only drawback is they try to sell you their credit card 3 times during the flight.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

It's the same as Frontier. Shorter flights it's manageable, but longer ones are worth the extra bucks especially if you're a large fella or have back pains.

Seats don't fold back.
Very small amount of leg room.
Seats are smaller.
Fees and extra costs for anything other than your seat and carry on bag.

Just go into with very low expectations and you won't be disappointed. It's cheap and your basically just hitching a ride on an airplane for a few hours. There is absolutely nothing special about it, but your wallet will thank you later.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

I use them all the time flying from Houston to Nola to get back home. The round trip ticket is actually cheaper than driving for a weekend trip.

The only negative I’ve ever really had is delayed flights. Only happened a time or two but that’s a time or two that I haven’t had with other airlines (non-weather related delays that is)

They have a pilot shortage is why they have frequent delays.

 

[Cooterpoot]

Spirit is a lesser quality option. Not bad for short trips. Hell for longer ones. Seats are tight. Upcharges are big.

 

[kired]

I've never flown Spirit, but I avoid the budget airlines if at all possible. I tried Frontier a few times back 3-4 years ago... but never again.

The Nashville airport used to have (maybe still has) only one or two counters for Frontier to check in - so you stand in line with 100 people for 45 minutes to check your bag.

Once I was delayed for about 10 hours - which happens - but the problem I have was they just kept announcing 30-60 minute delays. So they pushed the flight back about 10 times instead of just announcing a long delay and letting us go about finding something to do for a few hours or finding another flight.

Then I had a flight cancelled from Denver to Memphis due to snow --- it was going to be 4 days before they could get me on another flight. I wouldn't fly with them again if they offered me free flights.

 

[goodknight]

Good luck. Booked a flight 3 months ahead. Notified 3 weeks before flight instead of going from Atl to Denver direct non-stop now had 2 legs Atl to Miami 3 hr layover then Miami to Denver same price but required us leaving 6 hrs earlier. I’ll never use them again

 

[anon1787432961]

If it's more than just you, join their 59 dollar members club. Buy the tickets. Cancel the membership in 11 months. It's cheap and like the subway or Marta. It's lower than third class. But it beats driving.

 

[dawgatUSM]

This is my thing. I was on southwest from Newark to Memphis for work. Southwest wasn’t going to get me out until 2 days later. Got my company to transfer me to delta and after taking a taxi to leguardia ($120!!) I was home in 3 hours.

That and there was a 60 minutes piece on budget Airlines recently that I’d recommend you watch.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

That 60 Minutes piece was on Allegiant. Link.

I’ve flown Allegiant the last couple times I’ve visited family and friends in North Carolina— nonstop flights between New Orleans and RDU & Concord are nice. I’ve not been on the MD-80s that were mentioned— all flights have used Airbus planes.

 

[HumpDawgy]

I remember flying Valujet to Tampa only months before they crashed in the Everglades. I think I will stick with the overpriced big boys. You usually don't walk away from an airline mistake.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Coincidentally enough, Allegiant's current CEO formerly had the same position with Valujet. Link.

 

[blacklistedbully]

One thing not mentioned yet that is a big plus is they will email you specials. Plenty of 75% off, sometimes 90% off. You have to be willing to fly mid-week, and certain dates, like national holidays are usually excluded. But if you are flexible on when you can take your trips, those deals are amazing.

You have to sign up and check your emails regularly, as sometimes those things are 1-day sales.

 

[Bulldogg31]

One thing nobody has mentioned is flight delays. When you fly a larger airline and a flight is delayed or cancelled, they have plenty of other flights/options to get you where you're going. Not always the case with the budget flights. I know from experience.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Spirit is awesome in it's own way. I have a friend who has a special needs child that needs to be at a special school in the Orlando area. Its a catch 22, in that it's the only school of it's kind in the country and he can only afford by running his business in Dallas.

He moved his wife and daughter to Winter Park. He has figured out a way to commute every other Friday afternoon and Monday morning back and forth for under $450 per month, including a train pass in Dallas to get to his apartment. He basically sold his car, bought a POS to use locally and spent the payment on his flights. He swears they could not have done it without Spirit.