Spirit Airlines Review: Is It Worth It? (2026 Guide)
By Wealthvieu · Updated
Spirit Airlines Quick Overview
Aspect
Details
Type
Ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC)
Hub cities
Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Orlando, Detroit
Routes
90+ destinations (US, Latin America, Caribbean)
Fleet
All Airbus (A319, A320, A321)
Seat pitch
28-30 inches (tight)
WiFi
Available for purchase
Loyalty program
Free Spirit
Best for
Flexible travelers, short flights
What’s Included vs Extra
Free With Every Ticket
Included
Details
Seat
Standard, non-reclining
Personal item
18" × 14" × 8" max
Seatbelt
Yes
Bathroom access
Yes
Safety demonstrations
Yes
Everything That Costs Extra
Fee
Online Price
Airport/Gate Price
Carry-on bag
$30-$55
$55-$99
Checked bag
$25-$50
$55-$100
Seat selection
$5-$50
Same
Big Front Seats
$25-$175
Same
Snacks
$2-$7
Same
Drinks
$3-$10
Same
WiFi
$7-$15
N/A
Shortcut boarding
$6
$6
Flight Flex (changes)
$25-$50
N/A
Spirit Pricing Strategy
How Spirit Fares Compare
Route
Spirit (base)
Spirit (with bags)
Legacy Carrier
NYC-MIA
$49
$109
$140-$200
LAX-LAS
$29
$79
$100-$150
ORD-FLL
$59
$119
$180-$250
DFW-DEN
$39
$99
$130-$180
When Spirit Saves Money
Scenario
Spirit Savings
No bags, short trip
40-60%
One personal item only
30-50%
With carry-on
10-30%
With checked bag
0-20%
Big Front Seat + bags
Often no savings
When Spirit Doesn’t Save
Scenario
Reality
Checking 2 bags
Fees eat savings
Need seat selection
Adds up quickly
Family of 4 with bags
Legacy often cheaper
Long flights
Discomfort may not be worth it
Premium desired
Wrong airline choice
Fee Breakdown
Bag Fees by Booking Stage
Timing
Carry-on
First Checked
Second Checked
With ticket
$30-$45
$25-$40
$40-$60
After booking
$35-$55
$30-$50
$45-$65
At airport
$55-$70
$55-$65
$65-$85
At gate
$65-$99
N/A
N/A
Size Limits
Bag Type
Dimensions
Weight
Personal item
18" × 14" × 8"
No limit
Carry-on
22" × 18" × 10"
No limit
Checked bag
62" linear
40 lbs
Note: Spirit’s personal item is smaller than most airlines. Measure carefully!
Seat Selection Fees
Seat Type
Price Range
Regular seat
$5-$25
Exit row
$15-$40
Front of cabin
$10-$35
Big Front Seat
$25-$175
Big Front Seats
What You Get
Feature
Big Front Seat
Regular Seat
Width
20+ inches
17.8 inches
Pitch
36 inches
28 inches
Location
First 2 rows
Rows 3+
Middle seat
No
Yes (some rows)
Extra legroom
Significant
No
Food/drinks
Still costs extra
Same
Is The Big Front Seat Worth It?
Flight Length
Worth It?
Under 2 hours
Usually no
2-4 hours
Maybe
4+ hours
Probably yes
If you’re tall
Yes
Big Front Seat Pricing
Route
Price (one-way)
Short domestic
$25-$50
Medium domestic
$50-$100
Long domestic
$100-$150
International
$125-$175
Spirit vs Competitors
Ultra-Low-Cost Comparison
Feature
Spirit
Frontier
Allegiant
Free personal item
✓
✓
✓
Carry-on fee
$30-$55
$35-$60
$35-$75
Checked bag fee
$25-$50
$30-$55
$35-$75
Seat pitch
28"
28"
30"
Routes
90+
100+
130+
Hub cities
4
2
20+
Spirit vs Southwest
Factor
Spirit
Southwest
Base fare
Lower
Higher
Bags included
No
2 free
Seat selection
Extra
Free
Change fees
$25-$100
Free
Total (no bags)
Spirit cheaper
Southwest more
Total (2 bags)
Often Southwest
Southwest cheaper
Spirit vs Legacy (American, Delta, United)
Factor
Spirit
Legacy
Base fare
30-50% less
Higher
Bags
All extra
Sometimes included
Seat comfort
Worse
Better
Service
Limited
Full
Delays/cancellations
Mixed
Generally better
Savings with no bags
40-60%
N/A
Savings with bags
10-20%
N/A
How to Fly Spirit Smart
Packing Light Strategy
Goal
How to Achieve
Use only personal item
Pack in backpack, underseat bag
Maximize space
Wear bulky clothes, pack tight
Right bag
18" × 14" × 8" exactly
Avoid carry-on fees
Everything in personal item
Best Personal Item Bags
Bag Type
Notes
Backpack
Most flexible
Underseat roller
Check dimensions
Duffel
Can squeeze
Tote
For light packers
When Spirit Is Worth It
Good Scenarios
Bad Scenarios
Weekend trip, no bags
Week-long vacation
Solo traveler
Family with kids
Flexible schedule
Must have specific flight
Direct routes
Connections
Short flights
5+ hour flights
Spirit Loyalty Program: Free Spirit
Earning Miles
Source
Miles Earned
Flight (status member)
6-12× per $
Flight (base)
Points for status only
Spirit Card (credit)
2× Spirit, 1× other
Status Tiers
Tier
Requirement
Benefits
Base
Join free
N/A
Silver
2,500 SQPs
50% off bags, priority boarding
Gold
5,000 SQPs
Free carry-on, better selection
Spirit Credit Card
Feature
Details
Annual fee
$89
Free Spirit miles
2× on Spirit, 1× other
Perks
Free carry-on, free seat selection
Free bags
1 carry-on for cardholder + 8 companions
Sign-up bonus
30,000-50,000
Customer Experience
What to Expect
Aspect
Reality
Seats
Small, non-reclining
Legroom
Tight (28 inches)
Service
Minimal
Food
Buy on board only
WiFi
Available for purchase
Entertainment
None (use your device)
Reliability
Mixed reviews
Common Complaints
Issue
How Common
Small seats
Very common
Hidden fees
Common if unprepared
Flight changes
Occasional
Delays
Industry average
Customer service
Below average
Common Praise
Positive
How Common
Low prices
Consistent
Gets you there
Yes
Good for short trips
Common feedback
Big Front Seats
Positive when used
Delays, Cancellations & Rebooking
Spirit’s Track Record
Metric
Spirit
Industry Average
On-time arrivals
~70%
~75%
Cancellation rate
~3%
~2%
Customer satisfaction
Low
N/A
If Things Go Wrong
Situation
Spirit Policy
Weather delay
No compensation
Mechanical delay
Minimal
Cancellation (their fault)
Rebook or refund
Cancellation (weather)
Rebook only
Flight Flex
Feature
Details
Cost
$25-$50
What it does
Free changes/cancellation
Credit
Future travel credit
Worth it?
If plans uncertain
Best Routes for Spirit
Where Spirit Shines
Route Type
Why It Works
Florida destinations
Hub advantage, many routes
Las Vegas
Strong presence
Short domestic
Minimal discomfort time
Caribbean
Good selection
Latin America
Growing network
Popular Spirit Routes
Route
Typical Base Fare
FLL-ATL
$40-$80
LAX-LAS
$30-$60
ORD-FLL
$50-$100
DFW-MCO
$50-$90
NYC-MIA
$50-$100
Booking Tips
Where to Book
Option
Pros
Cons
Spirit.com
Best selection
May not be cheapest
Google Flights
Price comparison
Books through Spirit
Third-party
Sometimes cheaper
Change fees harder
Booking Strategy
Step
Action
1
Search Google Flights for best dates
2
Compare Spirit direct vs third-party
3
Add only what you need
4
Book bags with ticket (cheapest)
5
Skip seat selection if flexible
Best Time to Book
Timing
Price Expectation
4-8 weeks ahead
Usually best
Same week
Often expensive
Sales
Watch for flash deals
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spirit safe to fly?
Yes. Spirit meets all FAA safety requirements. The planes are the same Airbus models used by major carriers. Low fares reflect service cuts, not safety compromises.
Can I bring a purse and backpack?
No. You get ONE personal item. A small purse may fit inside your backpack, but two separate items require paying for a carry-on.
Do Spirit seats recline?
No. Spirit’s standard seats don’t recline to maximize space. Big Front Seats have slightly more flexibility.
Can I charge my phone on Spirit?
Newer planes have outlets. Older planes may not. Bring a portable charger to be safe.
Is food free on Spirit?
No. Everything is for purchase, including water. You CAN bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages through security.
What happens if I miss my flight?
Without Flight Flex, you’ll need to rebook at current prices (no refund). With Flight Flex, you get credit for future travel.