Spirit has rolled out a number of consumer-friendly options as of late, including the ability to book a more option inclusive product. Is the discounter changing its identity?
If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com.
If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.
Spirit Airlines’ New Travel Options
Spirit Airlines, known for its affordable travel, is stepping up its game with a range of new travel options starting August 2024. These enhancements promise a more comfortable and flexible travel experience without compromising on cost-effectiveness. Here are the three new options for ticketing packages.
Go Big: The Ultimate Value
The “Go Big” option offers a premium experience, including Spirit’s Big Front Seat with extra legroom and no middle seat at the front of the plane, complimentary snacks and drinks (including alcoholic beverages), one carry-on bag, one checked bag, priority check-in and boarding, and access to high-speed Wi-Fi. This option provides the best value for those looking for a comfortable and comprehensive travel package.
Go Comfy: Enhanced Comfort
For travelers seeking increased comfort, the “Go Comfy” option features a guaranteed blocked middle seat offering extra space in the middle, one carry-on bag, one checked bag, priority boarding, and complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. This option strikes a balance between comfort and affordability, ensuring a pleasant journey.
Go Savvy and Go: Flexible and Affordable
“Go Savvy” offers a choice between one carry-on bag or one checked bag and includes standard seat selection during booking. For those who prioritize affordability, the “Go” option allows the purchase of checked bags, standard seat selection, Wi-Fi, and snacks and beverages as needed.
Priority Check-In and Enhanced Boarding
Starting August 27, travelers opting for Go Big, along with Free Spirit Gold members and Free Spirit World Elite Mastercard holders, will enjoy a designated priority check-in experience at over 20 major airports. Additionally, a redesigned boarding process will feature five groups to streamline boarding and enhance operational efficiency. Priority boarding is available for Go Big and Go Comfy options, as well as for Free Spirit members and active-duty U.S. service members.
As a Free Spirit Gold member, I welcome this change. Some of those flying Spirit are new to the airline, don’t understand the policies and procedures and I believe a separate check-in counter will alleviate a lot of those issues for the most frequent Spirit flyers. We often have to stop to verify my son’s age as he is under two and it adds time to our airport experience.
Expanding Guest-Friendly Policies
Spirit Airlines has already enhanced new guest-friendly policies by eliminating change and cancellation fees for all guests, increasing the checked bag weight allowance to 50 pounds, and extending the expiration for Future Travel Vouchers to 12 months for vouchers issued on or after June 3, 2024. These policies aim to provide greater flexibility and value to travelers.
This followed Frontier’s move to do the same, aligning the carrier with the legacy carriers.
Priority Check-in, No Change Fees, Fare Bundling – Is Spirit Really Reformed?
From inception, Spirit established itself as an Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC) and carried on promoting its “bare fare” which was just the seat cost and nothing more. Over the last few years, specifically while CEO Ted Christie has been at the helm, the carrier has leaned in to broadening its appeal beyond leisure.
The addition of affordable and fast wifi has helped to make flights more feasible for business flyers looking for non-stop options. Spirit Airlines’ Big Front Seat is approximately the same size and seat pitch as a first class seat on American, United, or Delta narrowbody aircraft used for shorter flights like Las Vegas to Los Angeles. But the carrier makes that seat upgradable for as little as $50, a worthwhile upgrade for most readers of Live And Let’s Fly.
The renewed Free Spirit loyalty program is more easily attainable than network carrier peers, and in some cases offers more perks (like a free buy-on-board snack and cocktail) than peers. It specifically incentivizes ancillary purchases in a way the network carriers do not, in some ways it is a better option especially for those not living in hub cities with vast non-stop options.
The real question is whether the leopard can change its spots. Changing the impression consumers have of a no frills airline with pre-reclined seats and a basic product is hard to shake even if that’s not who they are any more. One of the key airlines that forced legacy carriers to offer a basic Economy product and unbundle is now bundling airfare and perks. How will consumers respond? Will they see added value?
Another question is how Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) will market this product. Google didn’t have those buy-up options on a recent search, and both Expedia and Spirit are not yet referring to the packages by their marketed name.
It also doesn’t market its Big Front Seat as “business class” or “first class” on the OTAs though the product is essentially the same. Without marketing it in this way, it’s impossible to stand out vs competitors where Spirit may offer tremendous value, especially as carriers like Delta pursue unbundling business class fares and stripping away inclusions in favor of a lower price.
Conclusion
With these new travel options and enhanced guest-friendly policies, Spirit Airlines continues to lead the way in affordable air travel. Whether you’re looking for a premium experience or the most economical option, Spirit offers a range of choices to suit every traveler’s needs. Book your next flight with Spirit Airlines and experience the transformed guest experience firsthand.
For me, the Big Front Seat is worth the extra money on most flights over two hours. My experience as a Gold member, and those buying the Go Big package are going to have an elevated experience. In fact, a first class ticket on Pittsburgh to Miami with American, would add just one further benefit, a second checked bag included in the fare, but for the same nonstop service American wants $1,250 roundtrip vs Spirit’s $417. Will consumers see this and choose Spirit, that remains to be seen.
What do you think?
Frontier doing this wasn’t a coincidence. The day the JetBlue/Spirit thing was officially rejected by the court, and retention agreements ended, the long time head of marketing for Spirit left to become the Chief Commercial Officer of Frontier (which is run by his former boss Barry Biffle who came from Spirit). I’d probably go as far as to say that Spirit was planning this and Frontier hurried some of it up and announced after the move in leadership.