[Spirit Now Selling New Fare Bundles And Benefits] Spirit Changes Mark The End Of The ULCC Model In The US

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Update, 8/14: The new fare bundles are now available:

• For Newark to Fort Lauderdale on 9/10, the base Go fare is $27.
• Go Savvy costs another $55 and comes with an assigned seat and your choice of a full size carry-on or a 50 pound checked bag.
• Go Comfy costs $120 more than the Go fare, and comes with a blocked middle seat, a full size carry-on, a 50 pound checked bag, snacks and drinks, and priority boarding.
• Go Big costs $190 more than the Go fare, and comes with a big front seat, free WiFi, a full size carry-on, a 50 pound checked bag, snacks and drinks, priority security, and priority boarding.

• For Newark to LA on 9/10, the base Go fare is $68.
• Go Savvy costs another $60 and comes with an assigned seat and your choice of a full size carry-on or a 50 pound checked bag.
• Go Comfy costs $130 more than the Go fare, and comes with a blocked middle seat, a full size carry-on, a 50 pound checked bag, snacks and drinks, and priority boarding.
• Go Big costs $230 more than the Go fare, and comes with a big front seat, free WiFi, a full size carry-on, a 50 pound checked bag, snacks and drinks, priority security, and priority boarding.

Will these bundles get you to fly Spirit? Or will hard seats with no recline and very limited legroom keep you away?

Update, 7/30: Spirit will do a full revamp of its fare structure, selling 4 fare types, all of which will have free changes and cancellations. These fares will go on sale starting 8/16 for travel starting 8/27.

It marks the airline’s continued transition away from the ultra-low-cost carrier model it pioneered, along with 50 pound checked bags and vouchers that can be used for 12 months from issue date.

• “Go Big delivers the best value in the sky and includes a Big Front Seat®, snacks and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, one carry-on bag, one checked bag, priority check-in and boarding, and streaming access through the fastest Wi-Fi of any U.S.-based airline.* The Big Front Seat features enhanced comfort with wider seats, extra legroom, additional seat cushioning and no middle seat. Go Big will be available to book and experience starting Aug. 16, with snacks and drinks included and priority check-in launching on Aug. 27.
• Go Comfy is a brand-new seating option that offers increased comfort and space with a guaranteed blocked middle seat, one carry-on bag, one checked bag, priority boarding, and a snack and non-alcoholic beverage. Go Comfy will be available to book starting Aug. 16 and experience beginning Aug. 27.
• Go Savvy provides the choice of either one carry-on bag or one checked bag and standard seat selection during booking. Go Savvy will be available to book and experience starting Aug. 16.
• Go offers the greatest affordability for those who want to keep it simple with the flexibility to purchase any of the following options: checked bags, standard seat selection, Wi-Fi, and snacks and beverages. Go will be available to book and experience beginning Aug. 16.”

This certainly seems like another step in the right direction, but of course, most passengers will still have hard seats with a narrow 28″ pitch. Still, having a guaranteed empty middle seat on a Go Comfy Fare will make that far more tolerable, assuming it’s priced reasonably. And while major airlines give free drinks and snacks, those are still at charge on Spirit. Worse yet, Spirit has no protection agreements with other airlines when things go wrong.

What do you think of these changes? Are they enough to get you to fly Spirit?

Update, 6/4: Spirit continues to trickle out policy improvements. They have now increased the checked baggage weight allowance from 40 to 50 pounds without paying hefty overweight fees! I’m old enough to remember when all airlines allowed 2 or 3 free 70 pound checked bags, but 50 pounds matches the current policies for non-elites at most major airlines.

Your move Frontier.

Update, 5/22: Spirit has now matched Frontier in changing their flight credit expiration from 90 days to 1 year, so you can cancel flights and use the credit for a full year!

Originally posted on 5/20:

Low-cost carriers have struggled to find their way to profitability post-COVID. Major carriers, starting with United, eliminated change fees during the pandemic, except on basic fares. That allowed them to effectively compete for all customers. Customer of ULCCs (ultra low-cost carriers) migrated to other airlines offering more frills.

When low-cost carriers Avelo and Breeze launched, they didn’t even bother with change fees.

Last week, Frontier ditched change fees except on basic fares and extended flight credit expiration from 90 days to 1 year. They are also adding back phone support among other frills that mark the end of the ULCC model.

And now Spirit, which has struggled mightily of late to turn a profit, is also leaving the ULCC model behind.

Flight cancelations, up until the time of departure, are now free on all fares! These previously cost up to $119 each. You will get a flight credit, though unfortunately, Spirit flight credits still expire after 90 days.

But while other US airlines offer basic fares without free changes, Spirit is now the leader in free changes? Go figure!

While major network carriers launched basic fares to compete with the ULCCs, the ULCCs are now moving in the opposite direction. The lines between the network carriers and the low-cost carriers will likely continue to blur.

Plus, you can save a bundle when you book Spirit tickets at the airport and get free changes on those as well.

The airline shares with DansDeals that they are not done yet either!

“Spirit has been evaluating changes to our product and strategy that will help us better compete, elevate the Guest experience and return to profitability. We are excited to roll out a no change and no cancel fee policy for all Guests effective May 17. This new policy is among the best in the industry because it applies to each and every Guest. We have many other enhancements in the works and look forward to sharing more soon.“

Seems like Spirit felt they had to match Frontier quickly, and will figure out the rest of the value proposition in the coming days.

Hopefully that includes more fare levels with free bags and longer flight credit validity, as Frontier did.

Of course, you’re still flying Spirit with a narrow 28″ pitch and while major airlines give free drinks and snacks, those are still at charge on Spirit. Worse yet, Spirit has no protection agreements with other airlines when things go wrong.

Will these changes be enough to get you to fly Spirit?

HT: SBS