Spirit was named the second-worst airline in the US. Here's how I managed surprise fees on a flight from New York to Miami as a veteran low-cost traveler.

Sun, 07/30/2023 - 08:30

Flying on Spirit from New York to Miami. — Low-cost Spirit Airlines was named the second-worst airline in the US for 2023, according to a recent report from AirAdvisor. But, it's not impossible to have a good flight on Spirit.
Taylor Rains/Insider

Spirit Airlines is commonly named one of the worst airlines, coming in second-worst in a new ranking.
The bad reputation is due to mediocre on-time performance and sometimes unexpected extra costs.
Here's how I managed add-on fees from New York to Miami to make my Spirit flight more enjoyable.

Low-cost giant Spirit Airlines is infamous for its bare-bones yellow planes and costly add-on fees.

The Florida-based carrier runs on an a-la-carte business model, meaning customers only get an unassigned seat and a personal item in the basic fare.

Anything more than that, like bags and inflight snacks, will cost extra — and there are strict size and weight limits.

For veteran travelers like myself, flying Spirit is no big deal because I know what to expect and the consequences of not pre-booking add-ons — particularly bags — before getting to the airport.

But, for those looking for a cheap flight with little experience traveling on a budget airline, it may come as a shock when you're asked to pony up hundreds of dollars for luggage at the ticket counter or gate.

And this sometimes confusing — and, at least for passengers, costly — business model means Spirit has a less-than-stellar image, even ranking as the US' second-worst airline in 2023, according to management company AirAdvisor.

In November, I flew on Spirit from New York to Miami to once again experience the full no-frills experience. Here's how it went, and how I managed the add-on fees.

My journey started with the booking process, which I think is the most important step to pay attention to if you want to avoid any unexpected costs.

Spirit is very clear online that most amenities cost extra.

I booked my flight about a month out on the airline's website, and the basic fare cost $32 one-way.

Remember, this only got me an unassigned seat and a personal item, which must fit under my seat and not exceed 18x14x8 inches.

While I can typically manage with just a small duffle for free, I brought a carry-on for this trip.

My 35-liter Cotopaxi carry-on bag is 20x12x8 inches. — My carry-on is 20 x 12 x 8 inches.
Taylor Rains/Insider

The bag cost a whopping $60 one-way and could not exceed 22x18x10 inches.

A checked bag was cheaper, starting at $55. The lower price encourages people to check their luggage rather than carry on to create more space in the overhead bins and save time during boarding.

The total one-way fare came to $103 with taxes and fees, which, shockingly, was more expensive than if I flew Delta Air Lines, which included a carry-on for $69 total.

According to Google Flights, United Airlines' and JetBlue's fares were also cheaper since adding a carry-on for both was only $30, bringing the total one-way fares to about $93 and $99, respectively.

Granted, I prefer to fly out of LaGuardia, so United wouldn't be my first choice since it flies out of Newark, New Jersey, and the Delta flight from LaGuardia left at 7:05 a.m., so those details were taken into account.

Despite the slightly higher fare, I was happy with Spirit's 3:49 p.m. departure from LaGuardia. And, if I didn't bring a carry-on, which I normally don't, the $32 one-way fare would be a no-brainer.

There are a few other add-on options during the booking process, like paying for seats or expedited security.

I skipped these since I don't care about the seat location and I already have TSA Pre-Check.

On the day of my flight, I checked in — when I was once again prompted to pre-pay for add-ons — and headed to LaGuardia's Terminal A.

Terminal A is run-down and small, but I like it because there isn't much walking from curb to gate and there are still places to eat and sit.

When I walked in, there were check-in kiosks available to get a boarding pass, and a weigh station for checked luggage.

Anything over 40 pounds is considered overweight, according to Spirit.

There are also containers that check the dimensions of your luggage, though the agent did not ask me to measure my items.

According to Spirit, checked bags that are more than 62 linear inches are considered oversized.

Travelers will pay for any luggage not pre-booked or is oversized or overweight.

These fees range from $69 to $100 at the ticket counter and will cost even more at the gate, so it's important to pay attention and arrive at the airport prepared.

After receiving my boarding pass, which is free at the kiosk, I cleared security and headed to the gate.

The boarding area was small with only one bathroom, but I appreciated the short walk to the gate.

Boarding started around 3:00 p.m. for a 3:49 p.m. departure.

Because I paid for a carry-on, I was in the first boarding group — zone 1 — ensuring overhead bin space.

I walked down the aisle passing the Big Front Seat and extra legroom rows before arriving at seat 22A, which was randomly assigned at check-in.

I had the option to purchase a seat during and after check-in, which ranged from $8 to $83 depending on legroom and location, with the Big Front Seat being the most expensive.

I was happy with my window seat, which was a lucky steal since I'm used to getting the middle seat as a solo traveler.

While its slimmer, I prefer it over the Big Front Seat as I don't find the business-like lounger worth the money.

They don't recline and it doesn't come with any added perks, like free food or drinks.

However, in typical low-cost fashion, the seat had just 28 inches of legroom. For someone who is only 5'3" tall and on the smaller size, the minimal space isn't a big deal.

The WiFi on my Spirit flight was not working, unfortunately. When it does connect, the airline charges a fee.
Taylor Rains/Insider

But, for someone like my best friend who towers at 6'3", it's probably worth it to pay for an extra legroom seat, like the exit row, which has up to 34 inches of pitch.

In addition to the hard seat, Spirit also offers travelers a tiny tray table, but that's about it. There is no inflight entertainment or power, no recline or headrests, and no seatback pocket.

Though, there was a small cubby above the tray table that was just big enough for paper pamphlets — a water bottle wouldn't fit, but a slim phone would.

And, there was no WiFi despite a QR code on the seatback saying there was, so I was pretty disappointed.

Fortunately, I downloaded some movies and podcasts, so I had entertainment to pass the time on the three-hour flight.

WiFi is a relatively new addition to Spirit aircraft, and the service starts at $3.99 for browsing and $6.99 for streaming, when available.

After getting settled, I waited for the rest of the plane to board.

I even lucked out with the middle seat being left open, so I had plenty of space to spread out without disturbing my aisle-seat neighbor.

While Spirit can sometimes be unreliable, my flight pushed back at 3:42 p.m. and we were in the air right on time.

This was a refreshing treat after the summer of 2022's travel chaos.

For the inflight service, there was a menu with prices for buy-onboard snacks and beverages.

Even water costs extra, so I always bring a refillable bottle onboard.

I ordered the cafe snack box, a Buzzballz Lotta Colada mixed drink, and a Diet Coke.

The order cost me $24 total — $11 for the BuzzBallz, $9 for the snack box, and $4 for the soda.

The snack box included fruit snacks, chocolate chip cookies, crackers, cheese spread, almonds, and a wet wipe.

The snack box, diet soda, and alcoholic drink came to $24.
Taylor Rains/Insider

The food was a filling enough lunch despite the hefty $9 price.

Meanwhile, the $11 cocktail was actually pretty tasty — and surprisingly strong.

Overall, my experience was exactly as expected despite the cramped seats and broken WiFi.

Rows of passenger seats in the interior of Spirit plane. — Taylor Rains/Insider

The $92 price was easily what I was willing to pay for the nonstop journey, even with the hefty $60 carry-on bag fee. And, I even arrived 20 minutes ahead of schedule.

While a major carrier would more comfortable, that's the beauty of Spirit's business model. It keeps fares low by offering minimal amenities, and people are willing to suffer through it, including me.

And, if you know how the add-on fees work and the responsibility to book them in advance, then the flight should be smooth-sailing.

That's not to say the low-cost airline is perfect by any means, especially with its sometimes mediocre customer service and barebones planes.

Flying Spirit Airlines across the US — Spirit Airlines Flight 2021 — Flying Spirit Airlines from Santa Ana, California to Newark, New Jersey.
Thomas Pallini/Insider

But, Spirit's on-time performance was still 73% in 2022, according to travel data provider OAG, which was better than JetBlue and Southwest Airlines.

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Spirit was named the second-worst airline in the US. Here's how I managed surpr…