Spirit Airlines Looks to Ditch Its Budget Image With Big Changes

For decades, Spirit Airlines has been synonymous with budget travel. From paying for simple things like choosing a seat and bringing a carry-on to enjoying in-flight treats, Spirit has long offered barebones options to customers looking to get to their destination on a dime. 

All that looks like it's about to change, however. On July 30, Spirit announced a major overhaul of its ticketing tier system that will radically transform how their customers travel. With four different ticket options to choose from offering a variety of flying experiences, there's something for everyone at every price point. 

At the base level is the Go fare, which looks most like the typical Spirit trip today. You get a ticket and a personal item included, but you'll need to purchase things like seat assignments, checked bags, and snacks separately. And if you'd like to pay for a carry-on, you won't be able to, as Go customers won't have the option and will have to purchase a different fare package to do so. 

Go Savvy is the next step up and offers a more comfortable economy-like experience. These tickets include a full-size carry-on or checked bag as well as a standard seat assignment. Other amenities like food and drinks and in-flight WiFi will still have to be purchased separately. 

If you want to treat yourself, you can Go Big or Go Comfy. Go Comfy fares guarantee a blocked middle seat, priority boarding, a carry-on bag, and a checked bag, as well as one snack and one non-alcoholic drink.

Finally, the biggest change to Spirit cabins will be at the front of the plane. In 2019, Spirit unveiled the Big Front Seat, its version of first class that featured bigger, comfier seats in the first few rows of the aircraft. Now, the Big Front Seat will just be one part of an enhanced luxury experience, dubbed Go Big. When you buy a Go Big ticket, you'll get a Big Front Seat as well as the many benefits of a Go Savvy package; in addition, you'll get more food and drink options to choose from, including alcohol, as well as free streaming WiFi and priority check-in. 

"We're unveiling a new era in Spirit's history and taking low-fare travel to new heights with enhanced options that are unlike anything we've offered before," Spirit CEO Ted Christie said in a statement of the changes. "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." This change means Spirit is effectively creating a true "traditional business-class" experience for customers, Christie told The Points Guy. 

If you're interested in knowing what these different tiers are like, you won't have to wait long. Booking for all four ticket options will be available starting Aug. 16.