Surviving Spirit
My hacks to make flying discounted airlines a fun and comfortable experience.
Call me crazy - I’m a budget flyer and I enjoy it! Particularly during college years had it not been for Spirit, I would not have been able to travel the amount of time I did (my lowest flight to date being $34 one way). Although my school days are behind me, I still use them for budget friendly getaways and business meetings. I have traveled Sprit for quite a few years and have flown them numerous times to LA, Vegas, NYC, Atlanta, New Orleans, the Caribbean, and Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Spirit has a reputation for being an ‘unbundled’ airline that passes the savings of ‘frill-control’ to the customer- kind of like an airline version of Aldi. Below are my tips on how I make the most out of my spirit flights:
• Be realistic- Spirit lets you know up front that they are cost effective. Their flights are scheduled at cost effective times, the aircrafts have tighter seating, and there are no refreshments included in the airfare. In addition to the absence of these perks, everything but your actual flight that you purchased has a fee attached to it. Keep this in mind during your booking and flight. Decide which amenities are must haves and anything you can bring ahead of time will help your bottom-line.
• Splurge on seating- My absolute must have is a decent seat closer to the front so I am able to disembark faster. I also hate the middle seat, so I opt for either a window or a row. When you book, you have the option to choose your seat at an additional cost although some seats are as little as $9 extra, they can increase to upwards of $50. For my personal comfort, I generally pay for a selected seat rather than leave it to chance with the computer selecting it for me. I try to go no more than $15 if I possibly can, but for a longer flight that I’m saving some serious cash on, I ball out on a business-class seat.
• Print your boarding pass at home- This seems like a no-brainer in terms of saving time but unless your airport has a self-serve Spirit kiosk, you may be charged for having an agent check you in and print your pass. For sure, print your pass at home and save the $10.
• Pack Light- Erykah Badu already told you circa 2000 and it reigns true today still, in the more literal sense of course. Packing light saves you big bucks on this airline! They have fun and crafty videos on their site demonstrating just how much can be packed in a single suitcase. A personal item is free; anything else whether it is a carry on or checked is going to cost you. I usually bring my trusty oversized tote bag as my personal item and a small cross body that can fit right inside the tote. I make sure my oversized tote is small enough to fit it the example they have at check-in. Inside, I have everything strategically packed and my heaviest shoes on my feet. Any jackets/coats I carry in my arms. Look for my posts on additional packing tips and travel outfits in the future. Packing strategically will save you a ton of grief.
• BYOC- bring your own comfort to the flight. Super simple, but this tip can make all the difference on your flight- especially if it is a discount airline. Make sure your clothes are comfortable, that you have a travel/neck pillow, a freshly laundered light blanket or long scarf (the smell is so relaxing) and make what I call a ‘comfort kit’ which is a sandwich size plastic baggie or sleek cosmetic bag with any combination of the following depending on your needs: o sleeping mask o ear plugs o Individual Tylenol pm/ Benadryl (to aid with sleeping) o Individual Non-drowsy headache medicine o Vitamin C (to ward off colds) o Hand sanitizer o Lip moisturizer o Eye drops o Under-eye patches o Face/hand cream (this is where the samples at the makeup counter come in handy) o Sheet mask o Hair tie o Breath mints/gum o Airport-friendly facial mist (i.e. < 3.4 oz. spray not aerosol)
• BYOE- bring your own entertainment. Nothing is more miserable than having a flight yet having nothing to pass the time. Make sure you have plenty easy-carrying entertainment to last through your flight. Download playlists, download videos and movies to your phone for when you’re offline. Bring your kindle, a magazine, offline-playable games, small laptop, iPad crosswords, a notebook and pen- anything that is going to keep you entertained! These flights do not come with built in entertainment (unless you count the people) so make sure you are occupied. Don’t forget headphones and an external charger so you can stay juiced for hours to come.
• BYOS- Bring your own snacks for sure. Although there are refreshments available for purchase, they are ridiculously priced and a bit limited. Opt for bringing your own travel –compatible snacks or for a longer flight make your meal ahead and you will save time, money, and actually love your airport food! Keep in mind the liquid restriction which limits you to about 3oz per container. Although I typically bite the bullet and grab bottled water at the airport I have been known to bring an empty water bottle, fill it at the fountain, and add a mixed drink packet. Get creative with your favorites. Some of my favorite quick things to bring include: o Granola bars o Fruit snacks o Dried fruit o Jerky o Crackers o Nuts o Frozen go-gurt o Popcorn o Wraps o Berries
• Pack some patience- Listen, the airport is full of people trying to reach their destination. Often times they are rushing, stressing, and on the verge of a fit. Staff has seen all the tantrums, witnessed all the tears, and heard all the complaints. Being courteous, patient, and considerate