Who uses Spirit Air? What has been your experience?

[2Feathers]

Hey gang! I'm mostly a lurker here, but get so much good help and advice from others' questions, I thought I would start asking my own...

I've searched a little for information, reviews, and opinions on Spirit Air, but haven't found a lot. Their rates are cheaper, but I'm nervous about booking until I know a little more about them... Especially after seeing a thread on TripAdvisor that said "DON'T EVER FLY SPIRIT AIR!" I know they're "no frills" and all, and I know from experience that traveling on any airline these days can be an adventure, but is Spirit that much worse than the others? Are they generally on time? Prone to change or cancel flights? And what about the added costs I keep hearing about? We would be flying out of Atlanta thru Ft. Lauderdale to STT. Any feedback would be appreciated!

[alw1977]

We flew Spirit from ATL to STT last July, and the flights were great. On time, smooth (not that the airline can help that), and very professional. Ever flown AirTran? Like that, only you pay for each checked bag and any drink besides water. If the fare if low enough, the extras don't really add up to much, maybe $20 for two people checking two bags and buying a few drinks.

One thing I will say about Spirit: they automate basically everything, so I think they would be a pain to deal with if you needed to speak with a rep prior to your flight. The queues when you call are very long.

Overall, you're going to find posts that say "Don't fly __________, THEY ARE THE WORST" about every airline. I personally liked my experience with Spirit and would use them again.

Another caveat: Spirit flies all STT bound passengers to FLL. I believe they only have one flight a day. You may face a delay if an inbound flight to FLL is late or if you miss your flight, you'll have to wait until the next day to try again. They aren't like AA or Delta, who run multiple flights to STT each day.

[suzi]

That was my one big worry about flying Spirit, from Atlantic city, thru Fort Lauderdale to STT. If the weather was bad or flight delay for some reason, then you are stuck. There is just that one flight out of Ft. Lauderdale to STT.

[alw1977]

I guess it is a concern, but it's really no different than flying Delta direct from ATL on the noon flight. If you miss that, or the flight gets cancelled, you're still SOL.

Personally, I'd fly Spirit again in a heartbeat if the price was right (we paid $299 pp with all taxes). Now that I've talked it up so much, watch the OP have a nightmare experience. It's just my luck.

[Randy in MD]

We flew Spirit once and it was an interesting experience. Our flight from DC arrived on time in Ft. Lauderdale and we boarded the plane for STT. But our departure was delayed about 45 minutes due to a late arriving aircraft from Detroit. No big deal for us and a great deal for the folks from Detroit. On our return, the incoming flight from FLL to STT was delayed by 2 hours, therefore our departure from STT was delayed as well. Pretty much everyone on our flight was going to miss their connection back in Ft. Lauderdale. About 20 minutes from landing the pilot announced that all connecting flights out of FLL were being held for our incoming plane. Huge sigh of relief from everyone on board. Our connecting flight to DC took off about 1/2 hour after our arrival as did all the other waiting planes. I guess Spirit didn't want to put all of us up in a hotel for the night...

[Carolyn]

I have found that is very similar to how they operate. I mean they will wait for people on their own connecting flights. I have no idea if other airlines do that as I have flown Spirit almost exclusively for the past several years w/ only a few exceptions. I find their service fine but I have never had a problem that I had to deal w/ a person, where it seems to be the complaints generate from. We book all flights online. I am not real fond of the wait in FLL but it serves their purpose as a hub and somehow it works for them. I once flew from ACY to san Francisco w/ a stop in detroit. No problems out there but the return flight was delayed on the tarmac and I was the very last person on the Detroit to AC flight...doors closed, we took off and somehow my luggage even made the transfer. I was impressed and continue to fly Spirit.

One more thing. In many years of flying w/ them I have never had a Spirit flight cancelled.

[mbw1024]

I have flown Spirit many times from AC to Detroit, FLL, Tampa, and LA. never a problem.

[Puddlejumper]

I recently flew from STT to LAX round trip. No problems at all. If you do not know and understand what no frills means, you should not fly Spirit Air. Your expectations may be unrealistic if you do not understand no frills. That said, their aircraft were by far the cleanest I have ever flown on. The return flight was a red eye, so I opted for the "Big Front Seat". My round trip flight from the VI to LA was still under $500. I only fly with carry on.

Spirit Air will see me again. Give them a try.

[traveler22]

I flew Spirit this past February from AC to FLL to STT and back. The very first flight was the only one on time. Spirit also change the flight time after booking so the layover in FLL went from 1hr to 3 hrs.
This was my first budget airline experience and I didn't like it but if it was the only cheap way to get me there I would use them again.

[RickG]

Spirit is fine. I would not pick them in a price tie because they fly out of the 1945 era terminal at Reagan National. The FLL terminal is also a tad grim. The one time we flew them there was no hitch and check in at STT was good.

No frills means no frills!

Cheers, RickG

[alw1977]

Any airline can (and will) change your flight time after booking. Delta has changed my Costa Rica flight time 3 times since I booked my FF miles nine months ago. If you ever book on AA, they are notorious for switching your flight times around and then not notifying you. Nice, right?

[Chickadee]

We flew Spirit Chicago-STT (not direct, mind you) time before last. No frills is precisely correct, not even a blanket to be had, so dress appropriately. Our flights were smooth and on time, the staff professional and polite, the plane clean and in SpiritPlus (where me and my 7 1/2 month preggo belly sat) the seats were quite comfortable.

Would fly them again. It's been said by others, but schedule changes and flight delays (for whatever reason) can and do happen on all airlines. I know we're all anxious to get where we're going, but when traveling to STT/STJ it is best to get "on island time" as early as possible and not let delays bother you.

You'll get there eventually and it will be worth it.

[designbyroe]

This has been interesting to read, I am taking Spirit for the first time on Sat.
My start is FLL since I live here in S. Fl.
I am doing carry on since my friend who goes to the Bahamas once a month for 4 days ONLY does carry on and says it is so much easier........

[MIke]

We have flown Spirit before we no problem.The only thing that can really catch you on is the fact they have no relations with any other airlines so there is no jumping on other carriers when they overbook or you are really late to the gate.Plan on being where you are suppose to be earlier than normal and you should have no problem,unless their plane breaks down and then you're sunk.

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

Even in the "big front seat" is it still "no frills?" Not that we need big frills but, don't you get free beverages and free snacks? I suppose I could look at their website but I'm too lazy to look there right now. We are taking Spirit this Spring, upgraded to the big front seat thing.

Two/three years ago we took them and it was a wonderful experience. The only reason why we haven't again until this year is because of credit card travel miles which we've used that last couple of years. We didn't have enough this spring for our trip so, booked with Spirit.