I remember the jokes and horror stories. Spirit Airlines has a reputation as the airline you love to hate, known for cramped seats, endless fees, and memes about bringing your own parachute.
As a frugal traveler, though, I couldn’t resist the rock-bottom fare for a weekend getaway. Armed with skepticism and a sense of adventure, I booked a flight on Spirit to find out for myself: Is Spirit Airlines actually that bad, or can a budget flyer make it work?
What follows is my personal story, a mix of first-hand experience and hard facts, from booking to landing, with honest comparisons to other airlines along the way.
Cheap Fare or Fee Trap?
It all started with a fare too good to pass up. I snagged a one-way ticket for under $50 – a price that made even seasoned budget travelers do a double-take. But as I clicked through the booking process, I quickly discovered how Spirit earns its keep through add-ons.
Almost everything beyond a seat and a spot for a “personal item” costs extra. Want to choose a specific seat ahead of time? That’ll be an added fee. Bringing a carry-on or checked bag? More fees – and they rise if you pay later or at the airport. Even a bottle of water or a packet of pretzels on board isn’t free on Spirit’s “bare-bones” model.
I watched my $50 deal grow steadily as I added a carry-on bag and selected an aisle seat (I’m willing to pay a bit to avoid the middle). Suddenly, my ultra-cheap fare was creeping toward the cost of a mainstream airline ticket.
This is classic Spirit: base fares are low, but “things other airlines typically include – like soft drinks and reserved seats – will cost you extra”. In fact, it’s easy for that $50 fare to balloon until you’re paying about what you might on Delta or American, especially if you show up at the airport unprepared.
Pay for your bags at the gate, and you could spend nearly double what you would have online. Spirit’s own website (and seasoned flyers) urge you to plan ahead: print your boarding pass at home (or pay $10 at the counter) and stick to one small backpack if you can.
I took that advice to heart – my personal item was within Spirit’s strict size limits, and I stuffed a collapsible water bottle in it to refill after security.
To Spirit’s credit, they’re pretty transparent about these fees if you know where to look. The airline calls its approach the “Bare Fare” – you pay only for what you use.
As a budget-conscious traveler, I can appreciate the philosophy: why subsidize other people’s checked bags or onboard snacks if you don’t need them? On my flight, I saw families deftly avoiding extra costs: kids with backpacks as their only bags, parents clutching home-printed boarding passes.
They were playing the Spirit game and winning. For others who didn’t know the drill, the outcome wasn’t as great. One gentleman ahead of me hadn’t realized a carry-on costs extra and got hit with a ~$65 fee at the gate, looking none too pleased.
Indeed, Spirit (and similar rivals like Frontier) are infamous for charging “extra fees for everything from a carry-on bag to water.” Budget airlines make up for low fares by unbundling every perk.
So, was my Spirit ticket truly cheaper in the end? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. In my case, even after paying for a bag and seat, I saved money versus a last-minute ticket on a legacy carrier. But the margin was smaller than I’d expected. On some routes, if you need bags, Spirit isn’t actually the cheapest.
For example, recent price comparisons showed that when you factor in a carry-on and a checked bag, Spirit’s total cost can be higher than an alternative airline’s fare. In one analysis, a Spirit flight from Chicago to L.A. was $60 base, but Frontier had a $48 fare; after adding typical bag fees, the Spirit option ended up $11 more expensive than Frontier on that route.
The lesson: do the math before you buy. Spirit can be a steal for a light packer on a short trip – my one personal item flew free – but if you need luggage and amenities, that “cheap” ticket might not be such a bargain.
(Practical tip: If you’re flying Spirit or its ultra-low-cost kin, book and pay for bags and seats online in advance. Every step of the way – booking, check-in, and especially at the gate – the price for extras increases. Also, consider joining Spirit’s $ Club (formerly the “Saver$ Club”) if you fly often; it gives discounted bag fees, though you’ll pay an annual membership for it. And always carry an empty water bottle to fill up, since not even water is free in-flight.)
Safety First Impressions
Boarding a bright yellow Spirit jet at dawn, I felt a mix of curiosity and caution. Does a budget airline skimp on safety? It’s a fair question I’ve heard from friends (and one I asked myself).
The plane interior was clean and surprisingly new-looking – no torn seats or old cigarette-smoke smell that some might imagine. In fact, I learned that Spirit operates one of the youngest fleets in the U.S.. Most of their planes are shiny Airbus A320-family jets just a few years old. My aircraft even had that “new plane smell.”
This isn’t a rusty tin can; it’s a modern jet with the same safety standards as any American Airlines or Delta flight. All U.S. airlines, Spirit included, must meet the FAA’s strict regulations. Spirit’s pilots and maintenance crews go through the same kind of training and certifications as those at the major carriers.
For peace of mind, I had done a bit of digging into Spirit’s safety record before the trip. The data was actually reassuring. Spirit has never had a fatal plane crash in its entire history. You read that right – despite all the jokes about duct-taped wings, Spirit’s safety record in terms of passenger fatalities is unblemished.
In fact, one travel safety analysis noted that you have to go back to 2005 to even find a serious incident for Spirit, and that was a hard landing with no injuries. (For perspective, even some “respectable” airlines have had incidents or fatalities in past decades, whereas Spirit has not.) It turns out that cheaper doesn’t mean cutting corners on safety.
Spirit was even listed among the top 20 safest low-cost airlines worldwide in recent years. And in 2025, a WalletHub study of U.S. carriers gave Spirit the highest safety score of all – a fact that surprised me until I considered their spotless crash record and young planes.
During the flight attendant’s safety briefing, I noticed nothing unusual – the equipment was standard, and the crew’s demeanor was professional (with maybe a touch more humor than the stuffy legacy carriers). The takeoff was smooth, and I reminded myself that statistically, I was as safe on this Spirit flight as on any airline in the country.
The airline has even been recognized by the FAA with a “Diamond Award of Excellence” for maintenance seven years in a row, which is a pretty geeky honor that basically means their mechanics and techs consistently meet high training standards.
All this is to say: if anyone fears Spirit isn’t safe, the evidence suggests otherwise. You’re not gambling with safety by saving money – Spirit follows the same safety protocols and has a solid record to show for it.
“People Service” or Lack Thereof?
Safety may have been a non-issue, but what about customer service – that human element of the travel experience? Here, I braced myself for the worst. Spirit’s reputation for customer service is… let’s call it infamous. From surly gate agents to nonexistent in-flight pampering, I’d heard it all. Stepping into the boarding line, I kept expectations low.
My experience was a mixed bag. On the plus side, the agents checking tickets were efficient and business-like. I didn’t encounter rudeness; if anything, things felt a bit impersonal.
The staff was outnumbered by a huge queue of passengers (full flight!), and they were clearly in hustle mode to depart on time. When a family ahead of me had an issue with an oversized carry-on, the gate agent firmly informed them of the fee but also patiently explained how to pay via the mobile app to expedite things. It wasn’t warm-and-fuzzy service, but it was pragmatic and “by the book.”
In flight, the one interaction I had was requesting a cup of water (yes, they will give you plain water for free if you ask nicely, even though bottled water costs money). The flight attendant obliged with a smile – a small victory.
That said, Spirit’s overall customer service track record isn’t great. You don’t get a dedicated help desk in the airport or lounge access or any of the frills that come with higher-priced tickets. If something goes wrong – a cancellation, a missed connection – you might be largely on your own. I was fortunate not to face any major issues, but many travelers have vented about long hold times on Spirit’s customer service line and limited assistance during irregular operations.
The numbers back this up: Spirit consistently ranks near the bottom in U.S. airline customer satisfaction surveys. For example, in the 2024 American Customer Satisfaction Index, Spirit scored a mere 67 out of 100, the lowest of any airline (only Frontier was in the same low range, at 69).
In other words, Spirit has been dead last in passenger satisfaction for at least two years running in that survey. Ouch. Even though Spirit improved a bit over its previous score (they’ve tried to up their game), it’s still well below the industry average which sits in the upper 70s.
Complaints data tells a similar story. U.S. Department of Transportation reports show that ultra-low-cost carriers generate more complaints per passenger than the big guys – and Spirit is second only to Frontier for the highest complaint rate in recent years. The most common gripes? Cancellations, delays, and customer service frustrations.
I remembered reading about a notorious meltdown in August 2021 when Spirit had to cancel over 2,800 flights in a week due to a perfect storm of bad weather and IT issues.
The result: stranded passengers all over, chaotic airports, and lots of angry customers. That episode cost Spirit dearly (financially and reputation-wise), and they’ve since promised improvements.
As a traveler, I went in aware of these issues, and that mindset helped. I treated the journey as “mostly self-service.” I arrived early, triple-checked my documents, and had backup plans. For example, I knew that if my flight got canceled, Spirit might not easily rebook me on another airline (they don’t have the extensive interline agreements majors do).
Thankfully my flight went as planned, but the caution is warranted. Spirit’s customer service is bare-bones, much like its planes – you shouldn’t expect hand-holding. That said, I noticed Spirit making small efforts to be friendly: the inflight crew cracked a joke or two over the PA (“welcome to our luxurious Spirit spa, where your seats do not recline…” one attendant quipped, making the cabin chuckle). The experience felt youthful and unpolished, but not outright hostile.
One area Spirit actually did well: cleaning. The plane was tidy and the tray table didn’t have the dreaded coffee stains from the last flight. Spirit’s fleet is newer, and it showed – everything felt clean and functional. In fact, in online reviews Spirit often earns decent marks for cleanliness, even while it bombs in categories like entertainment or seat comfort.
No seatback entertainment and no free snacks tends to drag down those ratings (more on that soon), but at least you’re not dealing with trash in the seat-back pocket.
Ultimately, comparing Spirit’s service to other airlines is like comparing a fast-food joint to a sit-down restaurant. You’re simply not paying for attentive service. Legacy carriers like Delta or JetBlue pride themselves on hospitality – multiple channels for support, more staff per passenger, loyalty perks – whereas Spirit is lean.
On airlines like Southwest (a budget carrier that’s not ultra-low-cost), you’ll get free checked bags and generally cheerful service; on Spirit, any pleasant service you receive feels like a bonus.
As long as you set your expectations accordingly, you won’t be too disappointed. I treated the Spirit crew with patience and respect, and I got the same in return. But would I count on them to magically fix a complex itinerary issue or accommodate a special request? Probably not.
(A note for budget travelers: travel insurance or flexible tickets can be your friend when flying airlines like Spirit. Since rebooking options are limited if things go awry, having insurance or a backup plan can save a lot of stress. Also, be sure to double-check the fine print on Spirit’s policies – for instance, they brought back change and cancellation fees on their lowest tickets as of 2025, after having waived them for a while. Knowing rules ahead of time is key, because Spirit staff will enforce them strictly.)
Punctuality and Reliability
One of my biggest worries before flying Spirit wasn’t actually the lack of legroom – it was whether the flight would be on time. Budget airlines often get a bad rap for delays and cancellations. Some travelers swear up and down that “Spirit is always late.” I can’t afford to miss connections or waste vacation hours sitting in an airport, so this was a crucial test.
My flight’s result: a slight delay boarding, but we still pushed back only 15 minutes behind schedule, and landed just 5 minutes late. In the grand scheme, that’s a win. I’ve been delayed far longer on “premier” airlines. The gate agent apologized for the delay, citing a late inbound aircraft.
Given the stories I’d heard, I was almost relieved we weren’t canceling outright. Once airborne, the pilot even made up some time. Arriving essentially on schedule was a pleasant surprise – and it fits a broader pattern I discovered: Spirit’s reliability has improved in recent years, to the point that it’s middle of the pack or better among U.S. airlines for on-time performance.
Data from 2024 showed that about 76% of Spirit flights arrived on time, which actually made Spirit the 6th most reliable North American airline that year.
Only the big legacy carriers (Delta, United, Alaska, American) and Southwest did better, and Spirit even beat out some other airlines in punctuality. That was frankly shocking to me – the narrative in my head had been that Spirit was among the worst for delays.
But according to the Cirium analytics report, Spirit’s on-time rate was better than a couple of other airlines (it edged out carriers like JetBlue and Frontier, if I recall correctly). In fact, in one monthly report in 2025, Spirit jumped up to third place in on-time arrivals, only behind Delta and United. Who would’ve thought?
Of course, that’s not to say Spirit doesn’t have hiccups. They do. The airline runs a tighter operation with fewer spare planes, which means if something goes wrong (mechanical issue, crew timing out, etc.), delays can cascade or flights can get canceled outright.
I mentioned the 2021 meltdown earlier – that was an extreme case, but it underlines a reality: when irregular operations hit, budget airlines struggle more. They don’t have dozens of partner airlines or spare aircraft standing by to rebook passengers.
A legacy airline might put you on the next flight (even if it’s with a partner carrier) or offer a hotel voucher if you’re stranded overnight; Spirit tends to simply refund the unused portion or rebook you on their next available flight (which might be a day or two later, since they have less frequency).
I met a seasoned Spirit traveler on board who joked, “Rule #1 of flying Spirit: never book the last flight of the night.” He always buffers his trips with some extra time in case of a cancellation. It’s a bit of folk wisdom that rings true – if you’re on a tight schedule, Spirit’s lack of redundancy could burn you.
For my journey, though, reliability wasn’t a problem. We took off and landed safely, and only minimally late. The baggage I paid for showed up promptly on the carousel (phew!). Spirit has also invested in operational improvements after past debacles – I read they’ve been hiring more staff and upgrading scheduling systems.
Another interesting tidbit: in the WalletHub study I keep referring to (the one that bizarrely crowned Spirit “best airline” due to its cost metrics), Spirit scored above average in most reliability categories like low cancellation rate and baggage handling, except one: involuntary bumping of passengers. Apparently, Spirit had a higher rate of denied boardings (bumping people from oversold flights) compared to the best airlines.
That’s something to consider – overselling is not unique to Spirit, but if you’re flying on a packed schedule, you might not want to be the last to check in on a potentially oversold Spirit flight.
In terms of punctuality, comparing Spirit to its ultra-low-cost peers yields a nuanced picture. Frontier, Spirit’s closest competitor, has also improved but still often ranks a notch below Spirit in on-time stats (and Frontier had even more complaints about cancellations).
Allegiant is a slightly different animal – they fly infrequently from smaller cities, so a delay or cancellation on Allegiant can be even more disruptive (since the next flight might be days away). Allegiant’s on-time performance tends to be decent, but any mechanical issue can be problematic because spare planes are scarce. Spirit at least has a larger network than Allegiant and a young fleet that hopefully breaks down less often.
Compared to legacy airlines: Delta is the gold standard for reliability (consistently #1 in on-time and low cancellations) – Spirit isn’t at Delta’s level, to be sure. But I’ve also had delays on United and American that were far worse than what I experienced on Spirit this time.
The difference is, if I were delayed significantly on United, they’d usually put me on another flight or even another airline to get me home; with Spirit, you don’t have that safety net. So it’s a trade-off between cost and an added layer of travel security.
In my case, I was willing to risk it for a short leisure trip. If it were a business trip or something absolutely time-critical, I might have thought twice.
Bottom line on reliability: Spirit isn’t the tardy punchline it once was – they’ve stepped up their game and now perform respectably in getting flights in the air and to the destination close to schedule. Just have a backup plan and maybe a bit of travel Zen in case things go sideways, as they sometimes do on any airline.
Comfort and Amenities
Now to the part of the Spirit experience that probably most people fret about: onboard comfort (or the lack of it). I won’t lie – this is where you feel the budget model most directly.
I found my seat in row 22, and immediately noticed two things: the seat was thinly padded and it did not recline. Spirit’s seats are famously locked in a “pre-reclined” position – essentially a slightly leaned-back angle that cannot be adjusted.
This is by design; Spirit does it to save weight (the reclining mechanism adds complexity) and to fit more seats in without worrying about passengers smashing knees when the person in front reclines. I’m about average height (5’10”), and I found the legroom just tolerable. Spirit’s standard seat pitch is around 28 inches – the tightest in the industry.
For comparison, most legacy airlines give you 30-31 inches of pitch in regular economy, and even other low-cost carriers like Southwest or JetBlue offer more space (~32” on JetBlue’s A320s, which feels downright spacious in comparison). Frontier, by the way, has essentially the same 28” pitch and non-reclining seats as Spirit now.
So if you’ve flown Frontier recently, you know the deal. There’s no contest: a Delta or American jet will give you noticeably more legroom and a recline function, whereas Spirit and Frontier are the no-frills sardine cans of the sky.
I slid into my seat and did the knee test: I could fit my knees without pressing into the seat ahead, but just barely. If I had been over six feet tall, it would have been a different story (the tall guy across the aisle looked pretty miserable, legs splayed sideways).
The seats themselves had okay comfort for a short flight – Spirit updated its seats in late 2019 with a bit more cushioning and “ergonomic” design. I did notice the padding was decent enough for my 3-hour flight; I wasn’t in agony or anything, though I did shift in my seat a few times looking for that sweet spot. The lack of recline, oddly, wasn’t a huge deal to me since I often don’t bother reclining on short daytime flights.
But it’s more the principle – you have no choice to adjust your posture except to slouch. The seats are also a bit narrower than legacy airlines. At about 17-18 inches wide, they’re snug, especially if you’re in a middle seat next to two strangers. (On the plus side, Spirit’s newer planes gave an extra inch of width to middle seats, making them 18” vs 17” at window/aisle. So the poor soul in the middle gets a tiny mercy.)
What about amenities? In short, don’t expect any freebies. Spirit is a “bring your own entertainment, bring your own snacks” operation. No seat-back screens, no free pretzels, not even a complimentary coffee.
The flight attendants rolled down the aisle with the buy-on-board cart offering drinks and snacks for purchase. Prices were actually not outrageous – around $3 for a soda or snack, $8 for alcohol, which is comparable to stadium prices (and sadly, some other airlines now charge for snacks too in economy).
I had packed a granola bar and that water bottle, so I skipped the service. Looking around, a few passengers bought drinks, but many didn’t. It’s a far cry from, say, Delta handing out free Biscoff cookies and beverages to everyone. But hey, that’s the model – you save money on the fare and sacrifice the little luxuries.
One amenity Spirit does offer now (which it didn’t for many years) is Wi-Fi – for a fee, naturally. This is a relatively new development: they finished installing high-speed Wi-Fi on most of their planes around 2022. I saw a Wi-Fi sign and instruction card in the seat-back pocket.
Out of curiosity, I connected to see the price: it offered a $6 browsing package or a $10 streaming package for my flight. Not bad, honestly. The airline touts its Wi-Fi as very fast (they invested in a modern satellite system), and claims to be the first U.S. ultra-low-cost carrier to have fleetwide high-speed internet.
A few people were streaming shows on their iPads, so clearly it works. I didn’t purchase it this time (I was content reading my book), but it’s nice to know that option exists now on Spirit. This is one area Spirit has closed the gap a bit with bigger airlines – many of which also charge for Wi-Fi, unless you’re on JetBlue (which gives it free). So chalk one up for Spirit’s improvements.
Aside from Wi-Fi, everything else on Spirit is pretty minimalistic. The overhead bins are standard (and were jam-packed since so many people try to avoid checking bags by bringing bulging “personal items”). There are no power outlets or USB chargers on most Spirit planes in regular seats, so your devices should be charged beforehand.
The tray table is famously tiny – like the size of an iPad mini – because it’s designed just to maybe hold a drink, not a full laptop meal tray. I actually found that a bit inconvenient when I wanted to use my laptop; I managed, but it’s a tight workspace.
One bright spot: if you really care about comfort and have a bit of extra cash, Spirit’s “Big Front Seat” is a compelling option. These are the first two rows of the plane, featuring wide, plush seats similar to a domestic first class seat – except you don’t get any free food or drink, just the seat itself. It costs extra (varies by flight – often $30-$100 more), but you get about 36 inches of pitch and a seat as wide as any first class throne.
I eyed those Big Front Seats longingly as I boarded; they looked comically luxurious compared to the regular seats, and everyone in them was smiling and stretching out. If I were on a longer Spirit flight, I might splurge on that. Even with the upgrade cost, you can sometimes fly in a Big Front Seat for less than a regular economy ticket on another airline.
Many travelers swear by it as the best hack to make Spirit actually comfortable – essentially “first class minus the service” for a budget price. On this trip I didn’t go for it, sticking to my economy experience for the sake of research (and frugality), but it’s nice that the option exists if you want more comfort without abandoning Spirit’s low fares.
In comparing comfort across airlines: Clearly legacy carriers win hands-down on comfort and amenities. Even the worst seat on United is likely more padded and has a teensy bit more room than a Spirit seat, plus you’ll get a drink and maybe some entertainment (at least via a phone app or personal screen). Airlines like JetBlue are famous for their roomy seats and free Wi-Fi – they represent the opposite end of the spectrum from Spirit.
Southwest gives you two free checked bags and decent legroom, plus free snacks, so even though it’s a low-cost, it feels much more full-service than Spirit. Frontier and Allegiant, on the other hand, are Spirit’s true peers: Frontier’s seats are basically identical slim no-recline models now, and Allegiant charges for drinks and bags as well (though Allegiant’s seats do recline on some planes and they often have a bit more legroom, depending on the jet’s configuration).
In essence, if you’re okay with Spirit’s level of comfort, you’ll find Frontier about the same; if you want a step up in comfort for a bit more money, Southwest or JetBlue might be preferable; and if you want maximum pampering (and can pay for it), the big guys or premium economy products are out there.
For me, a relatively short daytime flight on Spirit was tolerable. I’d be more hesitant to take Spirit overnight or coast-to-coast in those seats – that could be rough on the body. But many people do, and survive to tell the tale. It’s very much “no pain, no gain (of savings)” with Spirit’s onboard experience.
I will say that as we cruised along at 35,000 feet, I took a moment to look around: families were napping, a few folks were watching Netflix on laptops, one guy across the aisle was happily munching on the footlong sub he brought onboard (smart move).
If you ignored the tighter quarters and lack of free Coke, it looked like any other flight. It struck me that if you come prepared – with your own entertainment, snacks, and a mindset that this is basically flying “à la carte” – the flight is perfectly manageable. Just don’t expect magic carpets and champagne.
The Verdict
So, after this journey, what’s my take? Spirit Airlines is not that bad – as long as you know exactly what you’re signing up for. In my experience, the airline delivered on its core promise: it got me from point A to point B safely, and it saved me money.
Those are the most important factors for any budget traveler. All the horror stories and jokes do have kernels of truth – yes, the seats are cramped, yes, they’ll charge you for things like printing a boarding pass or having a carry-on, and yes, customer service and comfort are nowhere near premium.
If you go in blind to these realities, you might have a bad time and join the chorus of Spirit haters. But armed with the right expectations and a bit of strategy, Spirit can be a useful tool in a traveler’s arsenal, especially when trying to fly cheaply.
Would I fly Spirit again? For the right price and trip, yes. I’d do it with open eyes and probably spring for the Big Front Seat on a longer flight. Spirit has its role: it democratizes flying for those of us on a tight budget. Spirit isn’t for everyone or every situation, but for budget travelers willing to adapt, it can be a worthwhile trade-off.