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15 Things Travelers Should Know Before Flying Spirit Airlines for the First Time

*in an ominous voice* It’s time.

I’ve shared my thoughts on Avelo .

I’ve shared my thoughts on Contour .

I’ve shared my thoughts on Frontier .

Today I’m sharing my thoughts on Spirit.

I first flew the budget carrier back in 2018, from Orlando to Asheville and back, and my flight more or less went off without a hitch. It helped that I’d previously flown Allegiant, and thus had some exposure to the ULCC (that’s Ultra-Low Cost Carrier ) flying experience.

Since then, I’ve flown Spirit more times than I care to admit. It doesn’t feel unfair to say the airline would be most travelers’ last choice (if money were no object, I doubt many would choose Spirit over a legacy carrier, wouldn’t you agree?), but the opportunity to save valuable travel dollars is what gets me on board, every time.

With all of this first-hand experience under my belt, plus a recent refresher thanks to a $75 fare to Boston , I thought it was high time to put together my review of Spirit Airlines.

New to flying Spirit? Here are fifteen things you need to know before flying Spirit for the first time:

1. You won’t be the only one

I’ve had enough conversations with seatmates to know that new passengers fly the airline every day. Even if you feel frustrated by the airline’s many quirks, you can find comfort in knowing you’re not alone. In casual conversations with the airline’s crew, I’ve also learned that for many, this is their first flight ever . If that’s you, I’m honored to be your guide today and help make your first adventure a breeze (so you can keep on flying to new destinations !). And if it’s not your first time flying ever? This is a good reminder to treat your fellow passengers with grace.

2. Bob and weave those extra charges

Trying to purchase tickets on Spirit’s website turns my internal “scam alert” signal on. From sneaky buttons to try to get you to enroll in the Spirit Saver$ Club (recurring annual fee: $69.95) to pop-up windows flashing with rental car deals, I find that the purchasing process is incredibly off-putting. Read the fine print carefully on every screen (believe me, there are so many screens).

3. Know these money-saving tips for bags and seats

Because you’re an informed flyer, you probably already know that the price you see for a Spirit flight is only the base fare to get you from A to B. What once were considered travel essentials (you know, things like luggage and a seat assignment) are now considered add-ons. Now, I won’t tell you how and when to spend your money – if you like traveling with multiple suitcases or have a favorite seat picked out and are willing to shell out for those items, go for it!

But for my fellow travelers who prefer to save that money to spend on other things, I have a few insider tips for saving on these categories. Baggage costs on Spirit can add up quickly (as in, doubling the price of your ticket), but all travelers are entitled to bring one personal item up to 18 x 14 x 8 inches for free. For my fellow travelers who carry a purse, you’ll need to place it inside your personal item or face a hefty fee at the gate.

My recommendation is to purchase a bag that maximizes these dimensions ( this is the one I personally use and highly recommend ), and learn to pack light for your trip. Can’t quite squeeze everything into a backpack? Consider sharing a carry-on or checked bag with your travel companion, and pay for your bag when you buy your tickets for the best price.

As for seats, the only way to guarantee that you will be seated with your party is to pay for them (Spirit’s family seating policy states, “If Guests with children aged 13 and under do not opt to pre-select seats at the time of booking, our gate agents and Flight Attendants will work to provide adjacent seats when possible.”

The when possible is critical to note here – it’s not a guarantee). However, only on rare occasions have Michael and I been assigned separate seats on a Spirit flight, typically only in the event of a plane change or cancelation (more on that in a moment). My advice for travelers who are willing to sit apart if needed? Save your money and skip the seat!

4. Is it really as cheap as it seems?

Before booking your Spirit flight, double-check that the final price of your ticket (with any add-ons) is actually cheaper than the competitor’s fare. If you’re adding bags and seats, it might not be!

5. Be prepared for tons of emails

In the days leading up to your departure, be prepared for 1-2 emails per day from Spirit advertising services for sale. From bags to rental cars to hotels to bidding on a better seat, they’ll appear in your inbox. I’ve grown so used to deleting email after email from Spirit that I’ve nearly deleted my boarding pass (whoops!).

6. Play “Check-In Chicken” ( if you dare )

Didn’t pay for seats? You can play what Michael and I call “Check-In Chicken.” For passengers who did not purchase seats, Spirit typically assigns seats from the back of the plane to the front. Starting at the 24-hour mark (when check-in opens), I periodically scope out the remaining seats on my flight to pick the perfect time to check-in. Only once enough seats in the rear of the plane disappear do I actually check-in for the flight. It’s risky on a full flight – flights can be overbooked – but I value hopping right off the plane and getting out to explore my destination quickly.

After checking in, be sure to print your boarding pass at home or download the Spirit app to access a digital version. If you need to have a customer service agent print your pass for you, it will set you back a whopping $25 each. Note : In the event you are unable to access your boarding pass this way, an agent should print one for you for free. I recommend keeping this page bookmarked just in case.

7. Be prepared to be uncomfortable

Thin, hollow seats with tiny tray tables and little room for your feet – that about captures the in-flight experience on Spirit. The airline prioritizes fitting as many passengers as possible onto each of their planes, and the result is getting to feel like a sardine for a few hours. My back is always so cranky after a ULCC flight that I’ve had to set a personal max flight time of four hours on any budget airline. To ease the discomfort, I try to get as many steps in as possible before and after my flight and add in a little stretching when I can.

8. Pack your creature comforts

If your flight is long enough, in-flight snack and beverage service will be offered on your flight – but like everything else, it’s not included (even water – it feels like it should be complimentary, but it’s not). Consider packing a meal or snack and filling up your reusable water bottle to save money and the environment.

While you’re at it, toss in your noise-canceling headphones – in my experience, there tend to be more kids on a budget flight than on a legacy carrier flight (I mean, I get it – I wouldn’t want to pay mainline carrier fares for an entire family, either!). Spirit flights in particular seem to be the noisiest, and carving out a little peace and quiet goes a long way to making the experience marginally more comfortable.

9. Pockets are your friends

In addition to helping you maximize your luggage space ( fishing vests and other multi-pocket garments are popular with budget travelers for this reason), garments with pockets are incredibly helpful in-flight, as many Spirit planes lack a seat back pocket. No one wants to have to chase down an errant AirPod midflight!

10. Flight attendants with attitude

And by that, I’m not talking about a bad attitude (though everyone has an off day now and again); I’m talking about how seemingly more often than not, Spirit flights often have a few sassy flight attendants on board. Dealing with grumpy passengers all day long can’t be any fun – flight attendants who recognize the frustrations of budget travel and flip it on its head add a little levity to the experience.

11. Like flying in a commercial

Picture this: you’re just forty-five minutes away from your destination and you’re deeply engrossed in your page-turner of an eBook when a voice comes over the intercom offering an amazing deal for passengers. Your ears perk up (snacks?? Maybe it’s free snacks?!), only to feel crushing disappointment as you realize the flight attending is advertising Spirit’s credit card offerings to an incredibly captive audience. You avoid eye contact and the waving pamphlet because you are uncomfortable and have no interest in being incentivized to sit in one of these seats again.

12. A delayed flight? That’s not a surprise…

Spirit’s annual on-time performance (OTP) record falls significantly short of the national average . Make sure to leave plenty of cushion in your itinerary in case your flight is delayed – as a general rule, flights that are scheduled for earlier in the day are more likely to be on time.

13. Flight canceled? Good luck.

Despite traveling quite frequently, I’m fortunate to have experienced very few cancelations along the way. Still, the contrast between how a legacy carrier handled a cancelation ( hotels, meals, and a hefty check – aided by strict EU regulations, of course) versus how Spirit handled a cancelation ( stranded for multiple nights with no assistance) is quite stark.

While it feels good to vent to the internet about your bad experience, I also want to add a few helpful tips should you ever find yourself with a “canceled” notification from Spirit (though I sincerely hope you never do!).

Before you even start booking flights, make sure you have a great travel credit card in your wallet. Had I not booked my trip with my Chase card , I would have been stuck with the bill for the additional nights I stayed in Raleigh after my Spirit flight was canceled (they refunded about $500 in expenses incurred). Travel insurance can also be a good help here (purchased before your trip!).

But when it comes to actually dealing with the airline itself, skip the lengthy (often hours-long) telephone hold times. Instead, head over to the brand’s official account on X (formerly known as Twitter) to get the quickest, and often least painful response. You’ll also have the benefit of getting everything in writing, just in case you need any documentation down the line.

14. They fly internationally.

Most of the ULCCs in the United States have limited international flight offerings, but Spirit has a hearty network of flights between the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean. I’ve only flown internationally with Spirit once (to Cartagena ), but the flying experience was about the same as flying domestically with Spirit: not great, but so much cheaper than the next airline. This leads me to…

15. Be prepared to go back on your word

After your first Spirit flight, these two things are pretty much guaranteed to happen:

• You’ll walk off the plane, shaking your head and muttering, “Never again.”
• Next time you’re booking a flight, you’ll spot a Spirit flight that’s so cheap you go back on your word.

I suppose it could always be worse (hey, at least it’s not Frontier !).

Questions for you

Have you ever flown on Spirit Airlines? What else do you think travelers should know before they book their first flight?

If you’re new to Spirit, what other questions do you have about the flying experience?

Why not fly on over to one of these related posts next?

• How to Find Cheap Flights
• 14 Things You Should Know Before You Fly Frontier Airlines for the First Time
• 13 Things You Should Know Before You Book a Flight With Avelo Airlines
• 10 Things You Need to Know Before You Fly on Contour Airlines
• 20 Questions You Should Ask a Potential Travel Partner Before You Leave Home
• How to Split Travel Costs When One Person Makes More Money
• What Happens When You Cancel a Non-refundable Trip?
• Dinner Party Survival Kit: 20 Travel-Themed Conversation Starters
• 5 Easy Things You Can Do Today to Save for Your Next Trip
• A Travel Blogger’s Review of the Solgaard Carry-On Closet
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• I won a trip! (Now what?)
• Checking In: Hotel Reviews
• All Travel Guides Sorted by Destination
• Exclusive Discounts + Promo Codes
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53 Comments on “ 15 Things Travelers Should Know Before Flying Spirit Airlines for the First Time ”

If they should happen to “rip” the entire wheel assembly off your checked bag… GOOD luck getting reimbursed! Happened to me and they offered me $20. I sent the check to the CEO and told him apparently they needed the money more than me!

And you better get your claim in within 4 hours of landing (domestic) otherwise your outta luck.

Do you need to purchase the “free” carry on bag? Without it, the boarding pass says no luggage. Thank you so much for your help!

On Spirit you can bring one free under-the-seat bag and you don’t need to register it or pay for it. If you want to bring a bigger suitcase for the overhead bin or a bag to check at the counter, you will need to pay for it (and hopefully ahead of time to save money!).

I still haven’t braved a Spirit flight, but we have flown Avelo a few times and enjoy it because the airport they fly from is 15-20 mins from our house vs 1 hour 15.

That’s good to hear about Avelo! I’ve only flown them once before, but they just launched service closer to Charlotte and I just booked my second trip. I feel like both of these airlines are fairly comparable in terms of in-flight experience and pricing, but Spirit operates many more routes overall (helpful in case of cancellation!).

You forgot to mention, Spirit, has never had a fatal accident since its inception as an airline. If you’re going to point out all the negative. Maybe you should point that out as well. How many other airlines can say that?

You have a flight that sometimes costs less than a sandwich at the airport. No reclining seats….at least the guy in front of you does not have his head in your lap! I’ve flown with spirit more than 30 times, never paid for a seat and never not sat next to my partner! Cant say the same for southwest!Get the right size bag, check one big bag between two peopleif needed in advance only $30! Newest fleet in the USA. Learn spirits rules and fly cheaply and smugly!

I agree. Plus most airlines also charge for checked bags and choosing your seats. I also found with their bag pricing policies, fewer people check a larger suitcase making decorating a lot quicker on spirit

Hey Peter, Thanks for your info. Was wondering how to check a big bag in advance. I want to travel with my golf clubs. Can you carry on a hanging bag without being charged? Thanks for your help!

Also, Spirit has upgraded services in Michigan that are not yet in other larger airports… For example, checking in your own luggage without going to the agent….. Cool!!! And timely!!

Bill, I never knew that about Spirit, but was happy to hear that. I have been flying Spirit for many, many years. To me their prices have been awesome. Yes I no longer get round trip tickets for $26.00 Detroit to Florida. But I do pay their yearly fee, which has saved me a lot of money. I usually travel with just an under the seat carry on which helps on pricing. This week I just booked a non stop trip Det. To Dallas, each one ways. Total Cost was $85.00 +6000 miles from my membership & I had to check a bag each way because I was staying longer. Family in both states has saved me a lot of money!!!

With Airport hassles and no luggage for that 1 hour. I’ll drive

This is why I refused to fly Spirit. I actually own stock, but I would not use them. I would drive or use a different airline or drive or not go. Being retired, only a few times I have to.

This is so true. She should get the facts before dissing SPIRIT AIRLINES. I personally travel very frequently with them. The only unfortunate thing that can sometimes make the flight not as pleasant is the ratchet clientele, because low fares draws alot of low class ratchet passengers

This was my first time using Spirit Airlines and it was a joy and frightful. Let’s start with the joy first: I love the wheel Chair Assistance program at Spirit, for seniors and the disabled. They not only get you checked in fast with ease but will also move you to the front of the plan for easy departure when the plane lands and closer to the rest room. Wheel chair Assistance even took me to pick up my luggage. They were very helpful. The frightening thing was when Spirit plane took off it made an engine noise as if it was about to go down for 15 minutes or more until it was at the altitude, than it stop. The plane repeated the same when at landing. I was so thankful to had safely landed. My suite case was caught in whatever and zipper front was ripped off and scuff shred marks down the front as if it was caught in a machine. The 15 Things mention was so correct plus more. The question is will I fly Spirit again and the answer would be yes in an emergency when funds are low.

Spirit has the newest planes of any airline Also I have measured the distance between seats in. United which I flew in Area that Spirit does not go to they’re is 3 inches more leg room also Flight attendants are the most courteous the man that wrote this article has shown a bais against SPIRIT I fly 25 times a year on this airline

Look I passed out flying Spirit pissed the entire seat. Sorry to the next person who got that seat because they sure didn’t do anything to clean it up. This was my first flight on Spirit but not my first time flying. Never again! Low price or not. NEVER AGAIN. They didn’t even have anyone qualified to help me, another passenger had to step in. Thank God for this angel.

Two words regarding spirit airlines: Never Again.

If you fly on Spirit, you’ll become one.

I fly Spirit quite often for international business trips but also quite a bit of leisure travel, enough to hold Gold Status. There are quite a few valid points here, however I have to disagree with the sassy staff.

I’ve yet to run into a Spirit flight attendant that was rude, despite running into multiple passengers cursing them out for things out of their immediate control.

If the weather is bad enough, no flights are taking off, that’s not their fault, yet people complain like the staff can fix the weather if they wanted to.

The add-ons can make the ticket more expensive so I just use their bundle option to make it simple.

The normal seats are pretty lack luster, no denying that, but I typically opt for the big front seat. (And I understand that doesn’t work for everyone)

And the staff pushing the Spirit credit card doesn’t happen on every flight but a polite no thank you or a hand wave is all that’s needed. The staff are human and just doing their job. I feel a lot of passengers seem to forget that and just get into their mind set that Spirit airlines is some kind of monster and all the employees are out to get them.

This comment won’t make much difference but if you do go on a Spirit flight try to understand that we’re all just people trying to get through the day.

Shitt and third class service cheap crue uneducated high school diploma holder running spirits airlines worst experience first and lost time bus service is way better

i booked a round trip flight to charlotte for a wedding. Booked on February. Wednesday May 29 arriving 5 pm. Returning June 1st leaving 5 pm. just got notice of flight changes. will arrive at 1159. How will i get my car rental and check in at hotel at that hour. Returning flight Bumped up a day May 31st at noon. WHAT?? i’ll miss part of the wedding. a 30 hr difference. A different day. I’d only be in Charlotte 1 day. ridiculous. they better refund me or find me another flight.

I flew on this airline once and never again. I fly often and would rather pay the extra charges for good to great service. The flight attendants were rude and non approachable. I would rather pay more and have a polite attendant than have a well groomed nasty make or female yo serve me. I getting ready to book a flight to Africa and going to be real picky about airlines.

My daughter, husband and myself were on a flight back from Vegas to Baltimore. My daughters son lived in an autism facility in Philadelphia at that time and before we took off she got a phone call from children’s hospital of Philadelphia telling her they found multiple tumors in her son and to get there as quickly as we could. The flight attendants, pilot did everything they could to get us a straight flight to Baltimore but unfortunately we had a layover in Atlanta and they couldn’t find a straight thru flight even with another carrier. They sat us upfront and comforted us the entire way offering snacks, drinks, etc. we did get to chop at 2 am after flying and driving all afternoon and night. These flight crews were wonderful to us and thank god my grandsons tumors were treatable with chemo and he is in remission. So there are some wonderful people who work for this airline. Also my grandson was not in hospital when we went on trip 3 days prior to this event or we never would have gone away. And one last thing Andy is home with his family and doing great.

And….. Spirit has more never planned than other around……

Spirit, like other airlines, has its Pros and cons….. If you are a light traveler you save a bundle with Spirit…. Take the batter essentials that fit the FREE Carry On and you are good to go…..

I flew round trip from Burbank to Charlotte last Spring with Spirit and I never encountered what those cry babies were moaning about. Attendants were nice and I didn’t even noticed when we landed. The Pilots were thanking us on the way out as well as the attendants. I was so satisfied that I bought 25 shares of SAVE and another 10 when I got some extra money. And I planned to get more SAVE stocks in the future. I flew many times with expensive airlines an their services are just tiny better than Spirit Airlines.

I am 60 years old. I took my first flight ever on spirit from Richmond, Virginia to Las Vegas. I had an awesome time. Everybody was friendly and polite and I’d recommend it to anybody.

Well, I am sorry to hear these tons of bad experiences, but I have to share my experience, traveling for years with Spirit, AXM – ORD round trip intntl, and domestic ORD – LGA. It is not the most comfy plane in the economy but (traveling in a group of 5) we have always sit together, baggage as expected never damaged, never delayed even with stop over. Hopefully Spirit implements the necessary actions to improve their service, as in terms of costs it is competitive, and you understand 5 travelling would not be possible with another airline.

I have several complaints about Spirit. I’ve flown them numerous times because, of course, I can’t pass up the cheap tickets. The latest was Feb 29th when I booked a 1 way to Vegas for my boyfriend and got the big seat in front for him as he has a sciatic issue and needed a wheelchair to even get to the gate. He finds out when he’s boarding that he was getting kicked out of that seat so some 20 something can have it and placed in 5 D instead. He’s a big guy anyway, was very uncomfortable the whole flight, not offered a reason or refund/ compensation and aggravated even more his sciatic nerve. Another time I flew to Sea Tac and due to weather was delayed so was offered a layover in Vegas which I took. Was given a voucher for a hotel room and when arriving at this so called hotel/ motel in a very bad part of lLas Vegas, was told that they do not honor this voucher and never had. I had to search for a hotel room after midnight that would take me. Another time , boyfriend and I flew to New Orleans and got the big seats in front, of course, paying for them. Come to find out, they had changed the flight , making it a 1 stop in Atlanta and when we disembarked and then returned to the plane to board again, found we lost our big seats to someone else who bought them. So we paid 60 bucks each for an hour of flying then had to go to the middle of the plane for the rest of the trip. This should be enough reason to stop flying on this airline.

I fly Spirit only because of the high prices from the other airlines have and I pay months in advance. I’ll pay for my seat but I can carry about 5 days in an adult size backpack. I found most hotels have an iron and if not 1 hour drycleaners work. See you in the sky or on a layover 🤙👍

Did you know that with Spirit, at times, you can buy tickets at the airport cheaper than online?

I never had any problems with them. Discomfort for a few hours so I can spend my money on an experience is better for me. They’ve always been a great airline service in my opinion. Sure these are all good points, but if you live by the “You get what you paid for” motto…then don’t fuss.

Absolutely avoid this airline. Just awful experience. They nickle and dime you for everything. And charge for services they don’t even provide. They will shut down soon anyway. They are awful they use fake accounts to reply on Facebook as well.

You can see easily the fake accounts they use on Facebook to respond to your post and complaints. I have to assume the positive posts here are probably fake as welll.

Iam on the Spirit sucks team

What bank is your check drawn on?

So true BUT…. Legacy Airlines are acting pretty much the same nowadays. Wasn’t any guarantee or even a real feeling or compromise with what you purchase, schedules or even good and direct communication when delays or cancelations. It’s awful, but after Covid [that’s the excuse for a while] I feel it’s no good Airlines anymore. I look for destination, flying time/avoid layovers and cost. That’s all. No loyalty, cuz none have been taking care of their customers.

Worst fucking airline never again. I book my trip less than 24 hrs and try to cancel it, it’s literally said they not giving me my money back. I hope to one books with you and you guys shut down. I guess that why the plane was empty you guys half where they no having no jobs.

I was coming back from a night of Disco and heavy drinking in Vegas. Had a layover so long in Detroit I ended up living there to this very day. Sorry don’t even remember the flight.

Is there internet on my international flight?

In theory, yes, WiFi should be available for purchase anywhere in the airline’s network, however, I would have a backup plan just in case it doesn’t work. You can learn more about Spirit’s WiFi availability here .

Does anyone know who spirit banks with? I have a judgement against them (they NEVER showed up in court) they don’t respond to subpoenas and I’d just like to attach their bank account for my 4,000!

I suggest bringing a portable power bank for your phone and a seat cushion for flights longer than 2 hours. Bring your own snacks and water.

I’m originally from Michigan and have been flying Spirits since their Inception which is an early 1990s, I’ve flown them over 100 times easily and I’ve had five issues out of all those trips, I understand flying a lower Budget Airline that there may be some small problems, legroom, extra charges, example, I once got an argument with someone who told me you had to pay for your seat, I told them that was an option you don’t have to pay for your seat and they went on to tell me that you did so I ended the conversation there, I don’t deal with stupid too well, in closing alls I’ll tell you is if you’re looking to save money don’t purchase the seed let them pick it for you, sometimes when you’re up in the air they will let you switch seats so if there’s a exit row seat available show a little kindness to the flight attendants who work hard by asking them would it be okay if I were to switch seats you’d be surprised how many times I’ve got into an exit row seat or a seat with more room by just being kind, also all Airlines have major flaws let’s keep it real, and flight delays happened to every Airline, so keep the bug out of your butt by bashing this carrier, have the day you deserve.

I flew for the first time on a budget airline (Frontier ) DFW-LAS i read the rules about the personal item size beforehand so i didn’t have any problem with my back pack, the leg room was enough for me, cons, a lot of people upset when their personal item doesn’t fit inside the airline’s sizer, no charger, no entertainment , tiny tray. overall, i was prepared for the worst and wasn’t that bad.

Spirit is a joke. You have to check all your luggage and the cost is outrageous. You can only carry purse or backpack. You have to pay to select. A seat So the flight is no longer a good price. I will never fly Spirit again.

When you pay for extra bag when booking your flight, during check in, you won’t find it there. They’ll make you pay for extra bag again… cunning system. Happened to my mom, and Happened to me. Then you’ll face rude and careless attendants on top all the money you paid. You’re right, spirit is not worth it.

I like Spirit only for their low prices and some convenient time schedules. It’s my go-to airline when I fly from BWI to DFW. I’m able to read the fine print and to know that this airline charges for everything other than a seat and a personal bag. I make it work for me as the savings makeup for any discomfort or other any inconveniences. I never made any purchases while on board. I’ve only paid for a carry-on bag just once, on an 8 day vacation, in which I knew I was going to bring back some souvenirs. All else has fit into a nicely compact personal bag that I occasionally have to suck the air out of when asked to put it in the luggage sizer. I have removed an item or two from my bag and threw it over my shoulder to reduce space in my bag.

Boarding the plane towards the end of the line can be tricky if that plane is full and there’s no longer any overhead storage space and you have to now check your bag under the plane. At 6 ft 3 and having to sit in the middle seat my last flight, this can be a discomfort if the bag has to be placed between your legs under the seat in front of your because you don’t want to separate from it. If the plane isn’t full, I will search for any two empty seats on the plane even though I have an assigned seat. That’s one reason I didn’t pay for a seat.

After a 2 plus hour delay, Spirit once sent me a message stating that they will give me a $50 credit for “making it right”. No complaints there as I try to avoid Spirit for connecting flights with another airline.

Not pretty but again I make it work for me.

Spirit is one of the only airlines that sells their tickets cheaper at the ticket counter at the airport than online. It doesn’t have to be done the day of the flight. It can be done in advance. You are not paying online ticket fees.

Not only is Spirit late 75% off the times that I’ve flown with them (a lot lately), but they won’t update the flight status! You’ll arrive at your gate on time and there will be no plans to board, but the status will still say”On Time!” I Suppose Wonder Woman is out there with her Invisible Plane ready to sweep us all off to our destination. What a bargain for such an adventure!!! OR your plane will arrive an hour late with mechanical problems; therefore, you will be delayed 3 hours and miss your connecting flight. I don’t know, maybe that one will be delayed too, and you’ll be alright. Either way, the price really is the bait and the hook. I just keep going back! You’re so right! Every effing time!!!

As a World Traveler, who has used Spirit Airlines from their beginnings, when they had $0.05 flights to Mexico and $0.09 fights to Lima, Peru ; I gotta say that although not perfect, Spirit Airlines has their uses. Now a days, Spirit Airlines Service is NOT much different from the service received on most other airlines – and if you follow the Spirit Airlines Policies & Rules, you can save lots of money !! Plus if you join their Frequency Flyer Program and get their Credit Card to get the 50,000 Bonus Miles ; you can use as little as 5,000 miles to fly roundtrip for almost FREE, in the USA, Mexico and the Caribbean.

I got the Spirit MasterCard Bank of America to earn points to use for flights. The big catch was you could put your family in your pool points and fly them free on your points, after getting the card and working hard through purchases to build up my points suddenly the rules have changed With no advance warning! now you have to call in and book the flight through Spirit and they charge you a $25 fee to do it. You can’t do it online yourself anymore so what’s the point? It’s no longer a deal! why are you gonna pay $25 Fee for $35 flight scam. Shame on you Spirit for a scam on your passengers!!!

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Spirit Airlines Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Fees & More

Erin Miller

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Table of Contents

Basic information, spirit ticketing options, spirit frequent flyer program, spirit baggage and other fees, spirit inflight amenities and seat specs, spirit customer satisfaction, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Key Takeaways

• Spirit Airlines is an ultra-low-cost carrier that offers low base fares but charges for almost all extras, including seat selection, carry-on bags, and onboard refreshments.
• The airline’s no-frills approach is designed for budget-conscious travelers who prioritize price over comfort and amenities.
• Spirit’s frequent flyer program, Free Spirit, is free to join, and its Silver and Gold tiers include benefits such as seat selection and priority boarding.

This general review of Spirit Airlines has been compiled to give you a quick glance at the airline from the viewpoint of a viable customer.

Have you ever wondered — how much does Spirit charge for baggage fees? Do you get snacks and drinks when you fly Spirit? How often is Spirit delayed?

We’ve outlined some basic company statistics, ticketing options, added fees (including baggage fees), seat specs, inflight amenities, customer satisfaction ratings, and more.

Airline: Spirit Airlines

Alliance:  N/A

Category: Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier

Frequent Flyer Program:  Free Spirit

Tag Line: “Less Money. More Go.”

About/Mission Statement:  “We live for More Go. It’s the big idea behind our business model, making it possible for more people to travel to more places, more often. And it’s what inspires us to Invest In The Guest, going beyond low fares to discover more ways to make our unique brand of customizable travel a great personal experience too.” ( source )

Daily Flights: 500+ (pre-COVID-19)

Destinations:  65+ (U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean)

Fleet: 150+ planes

Main Hub: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International ( FLL )

FAQ Guide: Frequently Asked Questions About Flying Spirit Airlines

Standard Fare

Spirit Airlines prides itself on offering “unbundled” fares. In a nutshell, this means advertising the lowest possible rate as a base fare. Spirit then gives customers the ability to add options that it calls À La Smarte options.

This means Spirit’s basic fare includes the most standard seat and 1 personal item. No refreshments, no seat recline, no Wi-Fi, etc. Spirit claims this generally lowers the cost of your ticket since with most other airlines all of these “frills” are included in your base fare, even if you don’t want them.

Additionally, while you can pay more for a little extra legroom, there are no traditional premium economy, business class, or first class fares on Spirit Airlines.

Spirit Saver$ Club

Spirit advertises a Spirit Saver$ Club (formerly known as the $9 Fare Club) that it claims gives customers exclusive access to some of the lowest fares available, as well as discounted baggage fees , seats, Flight Flex, Shortcut Security, and Shortcut Boarding. It also claims that Spirit Saver$ Club members are privy to special deals only available to members.

The cost of the program is $69.95 for 12 months, $99.90 for 18 months, or $129.90 for 24 months. The club’s discounts are also applicable for up to 8 persons on your itinerary if reserved under the same booking confirmation number.

Hot Tip: Remember that when booking with Spirit, an average traveler usually encounters added fees for options they generally don’t even consider when purchasing a typical airline ticket. For example, it’ll cost you $10 to print your boarding pass at the airport ticket counter vs. on your home computer. You can find more information on Spirit’s options/fees below.

Spirit debuted a new and improved Free Spirit loyalty program in 2021, adding new perks like accelerated points earning, seat and baggage benefits, the ability to pool points with family and friends, and a longer expiration date for points.

Free Spirit is free to join and you can earn points by flying on Spirit, spending on its Bank of America co-branded credit cards, or participating with its partner programs.

You can redeem Free Spirit points on award flights or with select partner products and services.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our in-depth article on Spirit’s Free Spirit loyalty program .

Since Spirit Airlines starts with a stripped-down fare, there are a number of additional options that can be tacked on for an extra fee.

Baggage Fees

Spirit only includes 1 personal item with its standard fare. This means a carry-on and all checked bags are extra. Additionally, baggage prices increase the closer you get to take-off. So, your best bet is to pre-purchase your desired baggage allowance during your initial booking.

It’s important to note that Spirit Airlines has some pretty tight size/weight limitations for baggage:

• Personal Item: 18 x 14 x 8 inches
• Standard Carry-On: 22 x 18 x 10 inches
• Checked Bag: max linear dimensions of 62 inches, max weight of 40 pounds

The following table displays general fees for  MOST routes . However, for the most accurate baggage fee calculations, please use Spirit’s online baggage calculator tool here .

Reservation Center Booking: Spirit Airlines charges $35 per reservation center phone booking for both standard bookings and Free Spirit award tickets. Save yourself some money and book online if possible.

Seat Assignment and Big Front Seat: Unless you pay an extra fee, Spirit randomly assigns you a seat at check-in. It also can’t guarantee you’ll get to sit with your friends or family with this free assignment. Spirit urges customers to purchase a seat assignment to choose the seat they really want.

Seat assignments begin at $1 and can cost up to $50, varying according to your specific route and the exact location of seats on the aircraft.

Additionally, customers can purchase a Big Front Seat that comes with about 6 inches of extra legroom (see seat specs below). Since these seats are limited (usually 4 to 10 per plane), you can expect the cost to fall between $12 to $150 in advance or $25 to $175 as an onboard upgrade. This price is based on availability and flight length.

Boarding Pass: Let’s be clear here: when flying Spirit, check-in online and print your boarding pass at home or select an email boarding pass .  If you wait until you get to the airport, Spirit Airlines will charge $2 per boarding pass printed at a kiosk and a hefty $10 per pass printed at its check-in counters. Spirit argues that it utilizes more of its time and resources to print a pass at the airport, so that’s why it charges for it.

Refreshments Onboard: Spirit provides a menu with variable pricing from which customers can make a drink/snack selection.

Soft drinks, juices, and water currently cost $3, with coffee and tea costing $2. You can expect to pay $8 to $11 for alcoholic beverages and snacks vary from $3 to $8.

Modification Fees: These are fees applied to change or cancel your reservation . If you purchase Flex Flight for $35 to $45 at the time of booking, you’re allowed 1 flight modification at no extra cost as long as it’s done more than 24 hours prior to your departure.

• Change/Cancellation Fee:   $90 (online); $100 (phone/in-person); $50 (group booking)

As an added benefit to canceling online, customers are issued a $10 voucher (per one-way fare) if the value of the reservation is less than the cost of cancellation.

Update: Due to COVID-19, Spirit is waiving all change and cancellation fees for travel booked by March 31, 2021. Refunds will be processed as a full purchase price reservation credit.

Priority Boarding:  Customers who wish to acquire Zone 2 priority boarding (Shortcut Boarding) may pay $5.99+ per one-way ticket.

Standby Fee:  The standby fee is currently $99 per one-way flight.

Infant (Lap Child) Fee:  FREE (taxes may apply in certain countries)

Unaccompanied Minor Fee:  $100 per customer, each way (includes snack and beverage)

Pet Transport Fee:  $110 per pet container, each way (limited to 4 pets per cabin total)

How To Avoid Excess Fees

There’s an easy way to avoid a number of these excess fees, and it involves utilizing the member benefits of specific credit cards.

The following Capital One cards allow you to redeem Capital One miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit for certain added fees (baggage, inflight purchases, etc.) purchased within 90 days.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Capital One Miles

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

• No annual fee ( rates & fees )
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
• Ability to use transfer partners
• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

What will my flight on Spirit look like?

Inflight Amenities:  As mentioned above, Spirit prides itself on offering the lowest possible base fare. This means a lot of inflight amenities many travelers are used to are simply unavailable.

• Spirit does not provide in-flight Wi-Fi, video streaming capabilities, or any onboard entertainment
• Refreshment service is limited to paid beverages and snacks only

Seat Specs: Seat specs for Spirit Airlines flights vary slightly depending on plane style. However, Spirit is notorious for having one of the shortest economy pitches of all domestic carriers. We’ve combined information from Spirit Airlines and SeatGuru  to aggregate the following seat specs.

In general, dimensions are as follows:

• Big Front Seats — 36-inch pitch, 18.5-inch width
• Standard economy seats — 28-inch pitch, 17.75-inch width

Hot Tip:  You can find information on Spirit’s boarding zones and boarding process here .

Are customers happy with Spirit Airlines?

While Spirit Airlines doesn’t drum up a lot of positive press when it comes to customer satisfaction, it is working hard to change the narrative.

Spirit’s new tactic involves talking up its standard fare and emphasizing the fact that stripped-down services are necessary to provide you, the customer, with the cheapest possible ticket option.

Here are a few examples:

Instead of hiding the fact that its seat specs are a little tight, Spirit states: “We’re a cozy airline; We add extra seats to our planes so we can fly with more people. This lowers ticket prices for everyone, just like a carpool.”

To justify its increasing baggage fee scale, Spirit says: “It costs time and resources to process at the airport, which means it costs you more money.”

To address its “no refunds” policy, Spirit claims it’s “trying to resell your ticket raises fares for everyone, so we don’t give refunds if your plans change. Insurance is available to protect you from the unexpected.”

Honesty and Transparency: One thing you can’t fault Spirit on is its honesty. It is very clear on its website that it is attempting to offer the best possible price by cutting unnecessary expenditures. It even states it’s proud to have broken some rules along the way.

Transparency on the other hand… not so much. With Spirit, it’s tough to determine your total costs until you’ve selected all your specifics, including destination, departure dates, add ons, etc. Without going through the motions all the way to your purchase point, customers are simply given quotes like “fees starting at $5.”

Most Common Complaints

What are the most common Spirit Airlines complaints?

The December 2020 Air Travel Consumer Report filed by the DOT ranks Spirit Airlines as having the fourth-highest number of consumer complaints across 13 reporting U.S. carriers (for October 2020).

For October 2020, there were 109 complaints out of 1,519,759 system-wide enplanements, or 7.17 complaints per 100,000 passengers. By comparison, Southwest had just 1.34 complaints per 100,000 passengers.

• Flight Problems (cancellation, delay, or misconnection): 5 / 4.6%
• Oversales: 1 / 0.9%
• Reservation, Ticketing, Boarding: 8 / 7.3%
• Fares: 6 / 5.5%
• Refunds: 67 / 61.5%
• Customer Service: 8 / 7.3%
• Baggage: 6 / 5.5%
• Disability: 6 / 5.5%
• Other: 2 / 1.8%

Consumer Rankings, Ratings, Etc. 

It’s difficult to compile all the rankings, ratings, reviews, and performance statistics into a single short synopsis, mainly because there are so many out there. Instead, we’ve listed a few of the more reputable options for a quick overview.

SkyTrax Ranking: 3 Star Airline (out of 5)

SkyTrax Customer Rating: 3/10 (average from 3,402 reviews)

ACSI Rating  (American Customer Satisfaction Index): 65 (lowest of 12 largest U.S. carriers in 2020)

AQR (Airline Quality Rating):  8th of 10 Overall

TripAdvisor Airline Review Rating: 3/5 (average from 21,702 reviews)

Performance

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

• Percent Flights Canceled: 2.31% (2020)
• Average Departure Delay, All Flights: 3.8 minutes (2020)
• Average Departure Delay, Late Flights: 59.63 minutes (2020)

People who speak positively about Spirit seem to be those who know exactly what they want out of a cheap flight: getting from Point A to Point B, and that’s about it. They’re expecting a stripped-down experience, and they’re expecting to encounter some surprise fees during the booking process.

They know what to pay for and when to pay for it, as well as where and what time to fly in order to secure some seriously cheap fares.

All in all, there are a number of factors that consistently land Spirit in the proverbial hot seat when it comes to customer satisfaction. Ticketing options are limited, extra fees abound, seat specs are tight, and inflight amenities are certainly lacking. Not to mention that the general consensus surrounding flying Spirit seems to be: don’t.

However, if you’re looking for an especially cheap fare, don’t mind a bare-bones flight experience, and aren’t too bothered about potential complaint-worthy hiccups, by all means… go ahead and book yourself a Spirit Airlines flight!

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Spirit Airlines is a U.S.-based, budget airline. Given that, expect low airfares on the outset — but with strong potential for costs to increase throughout your journey.

Spirit Airlines charges additional fees for practically everything — from printing a boarding pass at the airport to selecting a seat to bringing a carry-on back. Even a soda served as part of the in-flight beverage service costs extra. That's a stark contrast from the many legacy airlines that typically include these things for free.

So is Spirit Airlines any good? This barebones airline can sometimes work for you — particularly if you don't have a bag and don't need niceties like an inflight drink anyway. But if you're not prepared, this budget airline might end up costing you more in the end than even a higher-end airline.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Spirit Airlines reputation

Customer reviews of Spirit Airlines customers offer no shortage of scathing criticism.

But when you look closer, you’ll notice a pattern — while many of the criticisms of the airline are based on substantive grievances, those grievances are usually rooted in a misunderstanding of two things:

Spirit Airlines charges a fee for almost everything beyond a seat from point A to point B.

Spirit Airlines has a limited schedule and does not have interline agreements.

» Learn more: Your guide to airline alliances

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Travel Study 2023-2024, which surveyed more than 16,000 people via email between April 2023 and March 2024, sheds some clear light on how travelers feel about Spirit Airlines. In short, not good.

ACSI’s study ranked nine major U.S. airlines on a scale of 0-100. Spirit came in last place of all the airlines, with a paltry 67.

But it's not all bad news. While Spirit still ranks lowest overall in customer satisfaction of any airline , its score also saw the greatest increase.

What fees does Spirit Airlines charge?

Like other airlines, Spirit Airlines charges fees for things you might expect, like checked bags. But unlike full-service carriers, Spirit will charge you $4 for a Diet Coke, $25 to print a boarding pass, or even an additional fee to book your ticket online.

If you’re going to fly Spirit, you’ll need to understand the fees you’ll pay. Here are some of the fees you should keep in mind.

Checked and carry on bags

Unlike many full-service airlines, Spirit Airlines charges additional fees for checked and carry-on bags. If you want to take more than a personal item, such as a purse or laptop, you’ll need to pay. A baggage allowance can be purchased when booking your trip or can be added later.

You’ll want to be sure that you purchase your baggage allowance before arriving at the airport — once you arrive at the reservation counter or gate, fees for both carry-on and checked bags increase substantially.

While the airline no longer publishes a set schedule for baggage fees, you can find current baggage prices on Spirit’s optional fees page.

Using a standard ticket on Spirit Airlines flight from from Austin to Atlanta as an example, for your first checked bag you would have to pay:

$36 during a Spirit.com booking.

$38 before online check-in.

$44 during online check-in.

$89 during airport check-in.

$99 at the gate.

The longer you wait, the more you pay.

» Learn more: What you need to know about Spirit Airlines fees

Seat selection

Most legacy airlines allow customers, even those with no frequent flyer status, to select seats in advance when traveling on non-basic economy fares. With Spirit, you’ll need to pay if you want to select your seat either before or after check-in. If you don’t want to get stuck in a middle seat, it’s probably best to expect to pony up the $1 to $200 that Spirit will charge for a regular seat assignment.

Like luggage prices, seat selection prices can vary by itinerary and tend to be less expensive if you select your seats when you book your flight.

Boarding passes

You might not think that you’d need to pay to get your boarding pass from an airport kiosk. After all, most airlines no longer print boarding passes on pre-printed ticket stock — many boarding passes are printed on cheap thermal paper. But with Spirit Airlines, you’ll have to pay $25 for the privilege of getting your boarding pass at the airport.

Drinks onboard the aircraft

Want a glass of water or a soda onboard the aircraft? You’ll need to pay. Spirit Airlines offers no complimentary beverage service onboard, so you’ll end up paying $7 if you just need a drink of water and a small snack. If you want more substantial food or alcoholic beverages, you could end up paying $38 or more.

» Learn more: The complete guide to the Spirit Airlines frequent flyer program

On-time performance

One metric you can use to determine if an airline is good is its ability to complete its scheduled flights on time. Unfortunately, Spirit Airlines doesn’t look great when you start to dig into its operational performance.

Spirit Airlines had an on-time arrival rate of only 60.7% and a flight cancellation rate of 3.6% according to the June 2023 Air Travel Consumer Report. This puts the airline at the bottom among major airlines in the United States for both delays and cancellations. As a comparison, Delta Air Lines, which ranked No.1 for on-time performance had a 79.8% rate of on-time flight operations and only a 2.3% cancellation rate.

Spirit’s dismal on-time performance and higher than average cancellation rate means that you should expect some measure of schedule disruption when flying on the airline. Unfortunately, because of Spirit’s schedule and lack of interline agreements, the airline is less than well-prepared to handle irregular operations.

Limited schedule

Though Spirit flies to more than 90 destinations across the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean, it still runs a much more limited schedule than many legacy airlines. While you might expect a legacy airline like Delta Air Lines or United Airlines to be able to get you to your destination any day of the week, that is not the case with Spirit.

For example, if you look for flights from Kansas City to Nashville, you will find that the airline can’t get you between those two cities on Tuesday or Wednesday. If your Monday flight to Nashville cancels, you’ll most likely be waiting until Thursday to be rebooked, if space is available at all.

The lack of schedules means that there are limited options to rebook on Spirit when your flight gets canceled.

» Learn more: What the Spirit Airlines frequent flyer program gets right

No interline agreements

Another tool that many airlines have to handle flight disruptions is interline agreements. An interline agreement is an agreement between airlines that allows one airline to sell tickets on another airline. Interline agreements also define how the airlines interface together to provide service to customers. These agreements are the reason you can fly domestically within the U.S. on one carrier and connect to an international flight on another.

Spirit Airlines does not have interline agreements with other carriers, meaning that the airline can only book you on its own planes if things go wrong. While United Airlines or American Airlines might be able to put you on Delta Air Lines or Alaska Airlines if they don’t have the capacity to get you to your destination, Spirit Airlines simply can’t do this. The airline must either rebook you on its own flight or cancel and refund your ticket.

Bottom line: Is Spirit Airlines a good airline and should you fly them?

If Spirit Airlines offers a substantially lower price than the alternatives on a schedule that works for you, be sure that you include all of the fees you might pay — carry-on and checked baggage, seat selection, boarding pass printing fees, and in-flight food and beverage — into your value calculation.

Often, when you add in all of the necessary “extras” flying the airline may not be substantially cheaper than flying on a legacy airline.

If the bottom-line cost of flying Spirit is your least-expensive option, then you must weigh the risk of irregular operations. With one of the highest rates of delayed flights and cancellations in the U.S. airline industry, there’s a good chance your Spirit flight will be delayed or canceled.

If this happens, be aware that your rebooking options may be limited, and your best option to get home might be to purchase an expensive last-minute ticket on another carrier.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options

75,000 Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.