Last Updated on July 31, 2024 by ETC Team
Spirit Airlines, known for its no-frills, ultra-low-cost approach, has recently expanded its fare options with four new tiers that even includes the ability to get snacks.
In a move away from the business model of charging an à la carte fee for the perks air travelers deemed important to them, Spirit Airlines announced they will start selling tickets that include some of its most popular extras in bundles. This includes bigger seats, food and drinks, priority boarding, bags, and WiFi. There will also be lower priced offerings that include seat selection or even insuring an empty middle seat.
The new fares even have catchy names that describe the type of travel experience you’d like to enjoy. There are four tiers called “Go,” “Go Savvy,” “Go Comfy” and “Go Big”. These will be available to book starting Aug. 16. Some perks will not be available on flights until Aug. 27.
The “Go” level ticket offers the greatest affordability for those who want to keep it simple with the flexibility to purchase options like checked bags, standard seat selection, Wi-Fi, and snacks and beverages. The “Go Big” ticket, which is the top tier, includes priority check-in, a roomier seat, snacks and drinks, a checked bag, a carry-on bag, and free Wi-Fi.
It’s no secret that the budget airlines have seen their share of struggles and with other carriers willing to makes changes, it comes as no surprise that Spirit is making some adjustments to it’s longtime business model.
With CEO Ted Christie saying the changes are “taking low-fare travel to new heights”, this indicates a departure from Spirit’s history of offering the “unbundled” approach to flying. This allowed budget friendly ticket fares but left travelers picking up the tab for everything from choosing a seat to light refreshments to carry-on bags.
Holding on to their low-cost roots, the airline will continue to offer a ticket fare that allows a traveler only a personal item. “We listened to our guests and are excited to deliver what they want: choices for an elevated experience that are affordable and provide unparalleled value” CEO Ted Christie also said in a news release.
Since the pandemic, Spirit Airlines has faced rapidly rising costs, slow revenue growth and a big debt bill due in 2025. With these newly announced offerings, the struggling airline is hoping things change with a new agenda. By following in the footsteps of major airlines like Delta and American, Spirit clearly thinks that when it’s customers are presented with an option for more perks, like assigned seats or checked bags, most travelers will opt to spend a bit more, especially for convenience, over buying the cheapest option.
In a further attempt to keep up with it’s rivals, Spirit also announced adjustments to its boarding process and introduced priority check-in for some travelers at select airports starting Aug. 27. In recent months, Frontier Airlines, a Spirit competitor in the budget market, rolled out changes by expanding it’s fare offerings to include higher priced tiers that do include some perks. Southwest recently announced that it is shifting to assigned seating and will offer some premium seating with extra legroom marking a change from its long-standing open-seating policy.
Spirit will begin offering new travel options for booking on Aug. 16 and launch the newly transformed guest experience by August 27, 2024. “We’re unveiling a new era in Spirit’s history,” Christie said.
