Spirit Airlines to reinvent itself with premium fares, extra perks
DANIA BEACH, Fla. - Spirit Airlines said it is redefining its low-fare travel and will start offering tickets with high-value options.
On Tuesday, the Florida-based airline said the move would "empower travelers to choose an elevated guest experience at an affordable price."
According to Spirit, the four new offerings are under the umbrella "Go Big, Go Comfy, Go Savvy and Go."
The perks deliver enhanced comfort with wider seats, extra legroom, additional cushioning and no middle seat. The offerings also include alcoholic beverages, one carry-on bag, one checked bag, priority check-in and boarding and free WiFi access.
A Spirit Airlines plane takes off at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on June 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The new travel options will be available for booking starting on August 16, and the newly transformed guest experience will launch on Aug. 27. This means the perks won't be available during the height of summer-vacation travel but will be in use over the busy Labor Day holiday.
Spirit Airlines will offer low-fare travel with enhanced options, CEO says
"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," said Ted Christie, Spirit's president and CEO. "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."
Spirit previously announced other benefits including no change or cancellation fees for guests, increased check bag weight up to 50 pounds and an extended future travel voucher expiration to 12 months.
RELATED: Frontier Airlines reveals ‘empty middle seat’ option on flights
The airline with bright yellow planes hasn’t made a full-year profit since 2019 — it has lost nearly $2.4 billion since — leading industry analysts to mull whether a bankruptcy filing could be in Spirit’s future.
Spirit shares gained 5% in afternoon trading but are down more than 80% this year.
Full-service carriers Delta and United account for an outsized share of the U.S. airline industry’s profit, and they are doing it by focusing on premium flyers while also selling bare-bones "basic economy" fares that compete with Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant for travelers on tight budgets.
In March, Frontier announced the introduction of UpFront Plus, an upgraded seating option that offers extra space in the first two rows of the aircraft. According to Frontier, customers can enjoy a window or aisle seat with extra legroom and a guaranteed middle seat.
This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed.