Is Spirit Airlines the cheapest and safest? 5 things to know about the Florida airline

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As you finalize your summer travel plans and start booking flights, you might be wondering what's the best airline to go with.

In a recent study from WalletHub to determine the best airlines of 2024, Florida-based Spirit Airlines came out on top in two categories and placed third overall.

Headquartered out of Miramar, the budget airline ranked high for affordability and safety. But what else should potential passengers know before finalizing any flights with the airlines?

We got you covered. Here's five things to be aware of before purchasing plane tickets with Spirit.

Where does Spirit Airlines currently fly out of Florida?

A JetBlue Airlines plane is seen near Spirit Airlines planes at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on May 16, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
A JetBlue Airlines plane is seen near Spirit Airlines planes at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on May 16, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

According to its website, Spirit Airlines currently flies out of:

  • Fort Lauderdale

  • Miami

  • Tampa

  • Orlando

  • Pensacola

  • Fort Myers

  • West Palm Beach

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Where does Spirit Airlines fly to?

Domestic flights from Florida range from Seattle-Tacoma, Washington and Manchester, New Hampshire to Burbank, California and Houston, Texas.

Spirit international flights include:

  • Aruba

  • Dominican Republic

  • Guatemala

  • Jamaica

  • Panama

  • Sint Maarten Island

  • Colombia

  • Ecuador

  • Haiti

  • Mexico

  • Peru

  • U.S. Virgin Islands

  • Costa Rica

  • El Salvador

  • Honduras

  • Nicaragua

  • Puerto Rico

What baggage fees does Spirit Airlines charge?

A Spirit Airlines bag sizer in the gate area at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
A Spirit Airlines bag sizer in the gate area at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Passengers get one personal item with their fare, such as a laptop bag or purse smaller than 18"x14"x8." For additional bags, Spirit charges include:

  • Pre-booked carry-on: $26-$55, with a maximum size of 10"x18"x22"

  • Gate checked baggage fee: $65

  • First checked bag: $21-$50, with 40 pounds the maximum weight

  • Overweight bag: $75 for 41 to 100 pounds

How big are Spirit Airlines seats? How much legroom is there?

Spirit's standard seats offer 28 inches of pitch and 16 inches in width. The under-seat area measures 18 x 19 inches.

However, if you prefer more legroom (who doesn't?), the airline does offer the "Big Front Seats." These are wider seats with up to 11" of additional legroom compared to the standard deluxe leather seats. These can be purchased for an additional fee, anywhere between $12 and $750.

Spirit also notes on its website that it will randomly assign seats at check-in for free, but it can't guarantee that passengers will get to sit with their friends or family. You can choose your seating for an additional fee, ranging anywhere from $1 to $200.

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Does Spirit Airlines offer any in-flight entertainment or amenities?

No, Spirit does not offer in-flight entertainment. However, they do offer Wi-Fi.  According to its website, the airline offers two plans — browsing and streaming.

The "browsing" plan starts at $3.99, and the "streaming" plan starts at $6.99. Prices vary depending on the flight duration.

As for food and drinks, Spirit charges passengers. Travel + Leisure writes the airline snacks and beverages for purchase using a credit or debit card.

"To give you a sense of the prices, a bottle of water is $4, tea is $3, cans of soda or juice are $4, and coffee is $4. Cocktail combinations (e.g., a shot of gin and a can of tonic water) are $14, and beer and wine are $9," the blog said.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida-based Spirit Airlines receives high marks in WalletHub study

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