Spirit Becomes First US Carrier to Charge for All Bags
Spirit has taken the first step to bringing Ryanair-like structures to the United States. In a press release entitled ‘Great News!!!’, Spirit is now offering the opportunity for passengers to ‘customize their travel experience and save’.
While we understand the idea of “liberates customers from being forced into paying for services they do not desire or use” can be a good one…after all, we can’t recall checking more than one bag per person on any trip we’ve ever taken…This can be classified as a potentially dangerous first step toward something less wonderful.
This is Spirit’s new ULTRA Low Cost Carrier product…
Spirit Standard ULCC Product Features
- Ultra low fares
- Largest ULCC network in The Caribbean & Latin America
- Online check-in
- One Carry-On Bag
- Reliable, on-time service
- Clean, new airplanes, the youngest Airbus fleet in the Americas
- Deluxe leather seating
- Friendly staff
Spirit Optional Services & Products
- BIG FRONT SEAT(TM)(2)
- Hotels, Cars, Vacation Packages & Cruises
- Event Tickets, Golf Tee Times & Tours
- Travel Insurance
- Onboard beverages and snacks
- Discounted Airport Parking
- Checked baggage(3)
- Personal Cargo(TM)
While many of these new options are already available, customers will be able to take full advantage of all the products and services by June 20, 2007. We had a look at Spirit’s website to see what was going on. Here’s some of what we found…Effective June 20th…
- F or the 1st or 2nd checked bag up to 50lbs - $5 Online, $10 At the Airport. 25 Extra Pounds - $25, 50 Extra - $100, Exceeding 62″(L+W+H) in size - $100, Exceeding 80″ - $150. The third bag will be $100 extra, $125 for 25 extra pounds and $150 for 50 extra pounds.
- Beverages will no longer be complimentary after June 20th - Juices, Soda, and Hot Drinks will cost $1. Water will remain complimentary.
- Snacks will be available priced from $2 to $4, with credit or debit card only.
- Standard array of travel insurance and vacation packages airlines have been getting into
- The Big Front Seat will replace Spirit Plus service. We looked but couldn’t find details of this…but assume it is a flat rate for the wider seating in the front…but will no longer offer the complimentary amenities Plus once did.
“Obviously we are proud to have broken the rules and created arguably the best airline in the Americas.” Yeah, well…the jury is still out on that argument. This may be the beginning of the end.
Posted: March 6th, 2007 under News, Spirit Airlines.
Comments
Comment from guru
Time March 7, 2007 at 12:26 am
You can get a can of soda for five cents? It costs us $0.75-$1 on the ground to buy one.
They might relent on the baggage policy…but we doubt they’ll relent on beverages. We tend to think of it this way…$1 for a soda isn’t as unreasonable as $4 for a package of chips and some salsa. And water remains free, just like in a restaurant, so you can’t accuse them of mistreatment.
Comment from Tom
Time March 7, 2007 at 2:55 pm
I have no doubt it’ll work, there is market for air travellers who are interested in nothing but price.
What I find more interesting right now is that there is no discernable difference in price after 6/20. For example, DTW-FLL has routinely been on sale for $59, plus tax, each way. Look at the website post 6/20, and you’ll be lucky to get it at $89, plus tax. Most days following the start of the “new model” are even higher than that! Given the cost savings that Spirit claims this new model will provide, the $59 sale fare really should become the everyday fare!
The big front seat still gets free non-alcoholic beverages. Big freakin deal. That fare is running $329 to $429 one way, plus tax. Either lower the fare to match the expectation, or improve the service level for the seat. AirTran (also flies nonstop DTW-FLL) charges $324-394 each way, plus tax for their Biz Class product. Free alcoholic drinks, and free XM radio for all on the plane.
Comment from louis
Time March 7, 2007 at 3:05 pm
I have flying SPIRITAIR since you took off and now have finally worked my way up to VIP status. I do not travel all that often, but when I do I always travel SPIRIT PLUS along with my companion.
I went to look at fares from FLL to DC and noticed the fares drastically changed (more than tripled what I usually pay) for SPIRIT PLUS seating. Is this a “test” for SPIRITAIR or is this how flights will now be handled? If this is the new SPIRITAIR, you are no longer a low cost carrier in my eyes.
I spent quite sometime looking at other airlines, comparing dates, destinations, etc. I am aware that there are many factors to take into consideration when airlines price out their flights, but for the most part found that I can fly an actual first class ticket for lower or close to your “BIG FRONT SEAT” which if I’m understanding correctly, after June 20th will offer nothing other than an extra 6″ of room.
I researched many airlines before I decided to become a SPIRITPLUS member, along with obtaining the SPIRITPLUS Mastercard and it appears I might have made a mistake.
Spirit has ALWAYS impressed me and my travel guests with the service, prices, and planes, but I guess there comes a point where you have to begin to look elsewhere.
Comment from Marcus
Time March 23, 2007 at 3:39 pm
I guess we have Ryan Air to thank for the regular airlines removing a lot of goodies. Such as free drinks in domestic business class here in Sweden. 
Comment from sophia
Time February 22, 2008 at 3:14 pm
i am going on a flight and i wanted to know what the big seat in the front is.. is it like first class?
Comment from guru
Time February 24, 2008 at 12:06 pm
It is just like it sounds…a bigger seat. First Class implies a higher level of service. This is just a nice chair.
Comment from Ben
Time March 6, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Thank you, Spirit. You have made my decision not to fly your airline much easier. I’m sure this will all be chaged in a matter months. Didn’t American Eagle try the $1 for a $.05 soda on some routes and it failed miserably?