Guide to Spirit Airlines Reservations Key Terms

Navigate Spirit Airlines reservations with a knowledge of key terminology

By Yvette Pryce

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Spirit Airlines is a low-cost airline offering flights within the United States and to some international destinations, such as the Caribbean and Latin America. Reserving a flight on Spirit is a simple matter of accessing its online reservations system, but you'll find that it'll go more smoothly--and you may save money--if you understand the airline's key terms before you make your reservation. These key terms may include special clubs from the airline or conditions relating to flights on it.

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FREE SPIRIT

FREE SPIRIT is Spirit Airlines' frequent flyer program. In it, you can earn miles for flights and credit card purchases.

I recommend: Read a comprehensive 2007 review of the FREE SPIRIT program at WebFlyer.

$9 Fare Club

The $9 Fare Club is Spirit Airlines' exclusive flight deal club. If you join for a fee, you will have access to the airline's fare specials. This club has both its fans and detractors.

I recommend: The Frugal Travel Guy occasionally posts $9 Fare Club specials on his blog, but the Consumer Warning Network alerts passengers to possible problems with the club--including hidden costs. Get the information from the source at Sprit Airlines.

Non-refundable fare

At Spirit Airlines, a non-refundable fare is one that you can change up to 24 hours in advance of the flight for a service charge of $100 or more. You can change or cancel refundable fares without incurring a service charge.

I recommend: Review fare types, including non-refundable fares, on the Spirit website.

Deluxe leather vs. big front seat

Spirit classifies its seating as either deluxe leather or big front seat. Deluxe leather is simply the regular seating on the airline, which is indeed leather. Big front seats are leather seats located at the front of the aircraft that are slightly larger than deluxe leather, and they also offer passengers more legroom.

I recommend: SeatGuru.com provides the pitch and width of both deluxe leather and big front seat seating types, as well as providing a map of the location for the seat types in the airline’s plane.

Gateways

Sprit Airlines uses the term "gateways" as other airlines use the term "hubs." Understanding this quirk of the airline will help you as you decide where the most economical flights originate and conclude for Spirit.

I recommend: Read the "Hub Guide for Spirit" at USA Today’s blog, Today in the Sky.

Contract of Carriage

Before you make your reservations, it's a wise idea to review Spirit Airline's Contract of Carriage. This document outlines the terms and conditions under which Spirit will and will not transport its passengers, and also includes the compensation passengers receive if the airline denies them boarding for a variety of reasons.

I recommend: Review the Contract of Carriage at Spirit. Read one passenger’s experience of its terms and conditions at Elliott.