I thought I understood Spirit Airlines. I’d flown them twice and lived to tell the tale — once in the surprisingly spacious Big Front Seat, and once in a last-minute Hail Mary flight after American canceled on me. Both times? Surprisingly normal flights. Almost… too normal.
Turns out I was doing it all wrong.
Booking the “Go” Fare (a.k.a. Let the Games Begin)
This time, I booked the cheapest possible fare — Spirit’s “Go” option. Sounds upbeat, right? It’s not. It’s just basic economy with branding.
No carry-on.
No overhead bin access.
Just one personal item that must fit under the seat in front of you. Maybe. If you’re lucky and your bag has been doing yoga.
Naturally, Spirit wanted to make sure I fully understood what I’d gotten myself into:
Checked Bags Cost HOW Much?
I was only going away for a weekend, so I figured I’d travel light. Which was a smart move, considering that adding a checked bag would’ve run me anywhere from $70 to $79 for the first bag.
Yes, that’s more than what I paid for the flight itself.
Yes, I laughed.
No, I didn’t add a bag.
The Upsell Gauntlet Begins
After booking, Spirit wasted no time launching its full-court press of “helpful” suggestions.
Emails started flooding in with cheerful nudges like:
- “Want a carry-on?”
- “Want to sit next to your travel companion?”
- “Want to not suffer?”
Then came my favorite — the upgrade bidding system.
I could place an offer for:
- The Big Front Seat (extra wide, worth it for the right price),
- The Comfy Seat (blocked middle seat),
- Or the Exit Row, dressed up as “deluxe leather” and “enhanced comfort.”
Spoiler: I didn’t bid. But I was definitely amused.
The One Thing I Did Buy
Okay, okay — I gave in once.
I paid $26 for an aisle seat. Not extra legroom, not Big Front luxury — just a regular aisle seat so I wouldn’t get stuck in the middle.
And honestly? Worth it. It was reasonably priced and came with the peace of mind that no elbows would be wedged into my ribs mid-flight.
My Next Flight: Going “Go Savvy”
Feeling emboldened (or maybe just older and wiser), I booked Go Savvy for my next trip. It includes a carry-on and seat selection, cutting down on some of the annoying upsells, but not all of them.
Since it doesn’t include a checked bag, the emails resumed immediately:
Need a bag? Add it now!
Need Wi-Fi? You guessed it.
Yes, Spirit Has Wi-Fi — And It’s Actually Good
One thing I will give Spirit major credit for: their Wi-Fi.
It cost me $15.99 for full gate-to-gate access, and it worked well. Like, surprisingly well. Fast. Reliable. Didn’t drop once.
Which is more than I can say for other airlines that charge more and deliver less. And unlike Frontier, which doesn’t offer Wi-Fi at all, Spirit is ahead of the game here.
They Still Weren’t Done Selling
Just when I thought I was in the clear, Spirit hit me with yet another “Don’t miss out!” reminder.
I didn’t forget. I just didn’t want to.
And Then Came the Text Messages
When the emails didn’t convert me, Spirit went for the phone. I started receiving text messages reminding me — again — that I could still purchase a checked bag.
Eight emails, three upsell screens, and now SMS reminders. Spirit doesn’t ghost. Spirit clings.
Final Thoughts: Spirit Is Exactly What You Think It Is
To Spirit’s credit, they don’t hide who they are. Book the cheapest fare and you’ll be asked — repeatedly — if you’re sure you want the cheapest experience.
Would I fly them again?
Sure. I’ll pack light, keep my inbox clean, and I’d gladly pay for Wi-Fi again.
Because when you book with Spirit, the flight might be short, but the sales pitch lasts forever.
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