You’ve probably heard of Frontier Airlines, especially if you fly often within the U.S. As a low-cost carrier, the airline focuses on providing especially cheap airfare without any extras.
Despite this, you’ll still be able to earn miles and elite status with Frontier — and you can even buy a membership to make your flights cheaper. But if you’re wondering, “Is Frontier Airlines good?” You’re in the right place.
Here’s a look at what Frontier Airlines is, what it’s like to fly on the airline and factors to consider before purchasing a ticket.
What is Frontier Airlines like?
You already know that Frontier offers a low-cost travel experience, but what does that look like in practice? Here are a few things to know about flying Frontier.
Making reservations. Making a reservation for Frontier Airlines is simple. You can do so through the Frontier Airlines website, chat feature, app or third-party providers such as Priceline. Keep in mind that some of these methods, such as booking a ticket via chat, come with additional reservation fees.
Check-in. Online check-in is available to travelers for free beginning 24 hours before departure on the airline’s app. Checking in via the website is subject to a $5 fee and doing so at the airport costs $25.
Boarding. Those who’ve paid for priority boarding, have purchased the Works bundle or who have Frontier elite status will board before the general queue.
In-flight experience. Frontier only operates economy class seats, though its stretch seats recline and offer extra legroom. There is no Wi-Fi or in-flight entertainment and if you’d like drinks or snacks, you’ll need to pay for them.
Loyalty program. Frontier’s loyalty program may not offer a ton of perks, but if you manage to earn top-tier elite status, you and your family will enjoy benefits such as complimentary stretch seating, free checked bags and priority boarding.
Frontier Miles, Frontier’s loyalty program
Frontier Miles is the loyalty program associated with Frontier Airlines. You can earn miles when you fly or when you use a co-branded credit card for purchases. These miles can be redeemed for award flights, which start at 10,000 miles for a one-way Value award.
But just because it has a loyalty program and offers award flights, does this mean that Frontier is a good airline? In NerdWallet’s 2023 analysis of the best airline rewards program, Frontier placed eighth out of nine competitors — the only airline it beat was Spirit Airlines and its Free Spirit loyalty program.
To determine airlines’ scores, NerdWallet considered a variety of factors, including the value of a reward mile, elite status benefits, additional fees, pet policies, the in-flight experience, flight operations and how basic economy tickets shook out.
Other factors to consider
Safety ratings
In AirlineRatings.com’s annual analysis of the safest low-cost carriers, Frontier Airlines made it on the top 20 list. This list was compiled from the 385 airlines it monitors, which includes competitors such as Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Allegiant Air.
Reliability
Air travel data tracker OAG’s 2023 Punctuality League ranked Frontier Airlines No. 8 out of 10 U.S. airlines when it comes to on-time performance. In 2022, 66% of its flights took off on time and just under 3% were canceled. How bad is Frontier Airlines when compared with its competitors? Consider performance leader Delta Air Lines, for whom 82% of flights took off on time and just under 2% of flights were canceled.
Customer satisfaction
So is Frontier Airlines really that bad? According to J.D. Power’s 2023 North America Airline Satisfaction Study, dismal is the answer to how good Frontier Airlines is. Overall customer satisfaction with Frontier’s economy flights placed the airline dead last in the rankings, behind Spirit and American Airlines.
Fees
Although you’ll pay less for airfare, it’s impossible to mention Frontier Airlines without also noting its fees. As we already pointed out, it’ll cost extra to deal with the agents at the airport. It’ll also cost extra to bring a carry-on bag, choose your seat, get food, make most reward redemptions, check in on the website, change your flight, bring a pet and more.
Unique perks of flying Frontier
Frontier Airlines may not be the most luxurious way to get around the country, but it does have some perks that are worth discussing. Most notably, its GoWild all-you-can-fly pass allows you to travel as much as you’d like for a flat fee. Those who can make use of the pass will certainly think Frontier Airlines is good, especially since the pass includes international travel.
Another unique perk that Frontier offers is Discount Den, which is an annual membership that allows you and up to eight companions to access discounted airfare. It costs $60 per year with a $40 enrollment fee for your first year. Discount Den also allows kids to fly free on select routes and flights.
Who should avoid Frontier Airlines?
Frontier Airlines certainly isn’t for everyone. If you’re interested in full-service flights or the benefits of elite status — such as complimentary upgrades to first class and lounge access — you’ll want to look elsewhere.
This is also true if you tend to overpack, as you’ll need to pay for every piece of luggage, aside from one small personal item. Although elite status does grant a free checked bag, this ability isn’t unlocked until you reach Frontier’s top-tier 100K status. Even then, you’ll just get one free checked bag.
If you’re considering flying Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines is a no-frills endeavor that’ll get you from point A to point B.
If you plan well, it can also get you there very cheaply. And if you fly them often enough, the rewards for elite status can make it worth it.
But low customer satisfaction ratings and a low reliability score mean that flying Frontier won’t be for everyone, especially if you’re looking to fly in comfort.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
Los paquetes turísticos son un producto popularizado por las agencias de viajes online, como Expedia, Priceline y Kayak, que recomiendan reservar vuelos, hoteles y vehículos de alquiler en la misma reserva. Los proveedores de viajes también por lo general ofrecen la opción de combinar los servicios (por ejemplo, cuando aparece una ventana emergente en el sitio web de una aerolínea pidiéndole que reserve también un vehículo de alquiler).
Viajar ya es de por sí bastante complicado, y comprar una paquete de viaje no contribuye a simplificarlo. De hecho, no hace sino complicarlo aún más. Aquí le mostramos las razones por las que casi nunca se deben combinar los servicios turísticos en una sola reserva.
Las opciones son limitadas
Al preferir un paquete de viaje, usted limita sus opciones a los servicios de las empresas asociadas. Por ejemplo, en la actualidad Costco Travel no ofrece vuelos por medio de Southwest ni de Spirit Airlines, lo que elimina una gran lista de posibles vuelos que de otro modo usted podría reservar.
Los cambios y cancelaciones pueden ser más caros… y más complicados
Al combinar los servicios de un viaje, usted está sujeto a dos tipos de políticas de cambios y cancelaciones: la del proveedor del viaje y la del proveedor con el que ha reservado. También puede estar sujeto a dos tipos de cargos.
En el caso de las agencias de viajes pequeñas, no es raro que le cobren cargos por cancelación de la reserva, además de los que le cobra el proveedor de viajes. Las agencias de viajes online más grandes tienen menos probabilidades de cobrar cargos por cancelación, aunque muchos sitios aplican los cargos cobrados por el proveedor de viajes.
Más allá de las comisiones, los paquetes turísticos pueden darle más quebraderos de cabeza si hay que hacer cambios o cancelaciones. Estos son algunos factores que hay que tener en cuenta a la hora de combinar los servicios de su viaje:
Las políticas de cambio y cancelación pueden ser irregulares
Al combinar viajes, usted no solo está sujeto a las políticas de la agencia, sino también a las del proveedor de viajes. Esto puede resultar difícil, ya que las políticas pueden diferir para cada viaje, incluso si no es la primera vez que usted haya reservado a través de una determinada agencia.
A veces no se pueden hacer cambios por internet
Hacer cambios en un elemento de su paquete de vacaciones (en inglés) puede, por lo general, convertirse en un proceso molesto.
Por ejemplo, en la actualidad Expedia no permite hacer cambios en internet en los paquetes de vacaciones, por lo que usted tendrá que ponerse en contacto con un agente por chat en línea o por teléfono. Los tiempos de espera no suelen ser más de un par de minutos, pero también pueden ser más largos, sobre todo en situaciones como los grandes colapsos de las aerolíneas (en inglés).
Es normal que los cambios lleven más tiempo
Pasar tiempo al teléfono no es lo único que lleva tiempo. Los viajes combinados añaden un intermediario innecesario al proceso de cambio o cancelación de planes. Por lo general, el viajero se pone en contacto con el proveedor con el que ha hecho la reserva, que a su vez se dirige al proveedor del viaje para realizar los cambios.
El intermediario puede suponer un quebradero de cabeza similar a la hora de pedir un reembolso, e incluso requerir más tiempo para tramitar las devoluciones. Tener un intermediario suele crear una oportunidad más de que se pierdan los cambios o reembolsos. De hecho, Expedia recomienda ponerse en contacto directamente con los proveedores de viajes si se realizan cambios o cancelaciones a través de Expedia y usted sigue viendo cargos en su estado de cuenta.
¿Hay situaciones en las que convenga comprar un paquete de viaje?
Si bien combinar los servicios presenta dificultades, a veces puede dar resultado, y muchos servicios de paquetes están ganando más dinero que nunca. De hecho, Expedia registró los mayores ingresos de su historia en el primer trimestre de 2023: 2,700 millones de dólares, lo que supone un aumento del 18% respecto a 2022.
Una de las principales ventajas de los paquetes es que solo hay que hacer 1 seguimiento de la reserva. En lugar de tener que llevar cuenta de varios números de confirmación, inicios de sesión y transacciones con tarjeta de crédito, solo hay uno.
A veces, la combinación de servicios puede ahorrarle dinero, ya que las agencias pueden utilizar la autoridad de compra que tienen para negociar tarifas más bajas, y luego traspasar ese ahorro en los clientes. Por ejemplo, Priceline (en inglés) afirma que sus clientes ahorran una media de $240 por transacción al combinar servicios de viajes (por ejemplo, vuelo + hotel). Expedia, por su parte, afirma que sus clientes en Estados Unidos ahorran hasta un 10% en comparación con las reservas que se hacen por separado.
Comprar un paquete de viaje no es necesariamente más barato
Combinar los servicios no siempre es más barato. Incluso la estadística del 10% de Expedia viene con la salvedad del “hasta”, dando a entender que es posible llegar a ese nivel de ahorro pero de todos modos pasa.
Muchos proveedores de viajes ofrecen mejores descuentos cuando se reserva directamente con ellos que con una empresa que ofrece un servicio combinado. Por ejemplo, Ovolo Hotels es una cadena de hoteles boutique que ofrece encantadores servicios gratuitos, como autoservicio de lavandería, happy hour y desayuno bufé, pero usted solo puede disfrutarlos si hace la reserva directamente.
Ello se debe en gran medida a que las empresas suelen pagar comisiones a la empresa que deriva a los clientes, como las agencias de viajes online. Las grandes marcas hoteleras, como Hilton, Hyatt e IHG, pagan de comisión hasta un 10% por la mayoría de los ingresos por habitación. Los hoteles pueden trasladarle a usted parte de ese ahorro, lo que significa que podría ahorrar dinero si no reserva directamente.
Este artículo fue publicado originalmente en NerdWallet en inglés.
Inside: Are you wondering is Spirit Airlines safe? While Spirit is a low cost option, are their safety measures up to par? This guide dives into their safety procedures and fleet.
When it comes to flying, safety is paramount.
Meet Spirit Airlines, your go-to American low-cost airline.
This leaves everyone wondering is Spirit Airlines safe.
In this post, we will shed light on a question that might have crossed your mind – Is Spirit Airlines safe?
Spirit Airlines, ranked among the world’s top 20 safest airlines, has been a familiar name in the US aviation industry.
Despite its popularity, misconceptions have led some to doubt its safety quotient due to its low-cost airline status.
Rest assured, in this guide, we will delve deep into Spirit Airlines’ safety records and measures, providing you with comprehensive insights on everything you need to know before choosing them for your journey.
Be it their passenger safety awareness initiatives, effective communication strategies, or impressive safety accreditations, we’re aiming to equip you with data-backed information to help you make an informed decision, allaying any concerns you might have about flying with Spirit Airlines.
Is Spirit Airlines Safe?
Yes, Spirit Airlines is generally safe. It’s just as reliable as any other major US airline, and it has never had a fatal accident since it was founded in 1980.
Spirit Airlines ensures rigorous training for its crew members and pilots to handle various situations efficiently.
Remember, while no airline can guarantee a 100% incident-free flight, Spirit Airlines maintains high safety standards.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
Spirit Airlines Safety Record
Maintaining an exceptional safety record is vital to any airline, and Spirit Airlines is no exception. Their commitment to passenger safety is reflected in their pre-flight safety briefings, proactive lines of communication, and strategic safety initiatives. IATA’s assertion that ranking an airline’s safety based on customer reviews is flawed reinforces the credibility of Spirit Airlines.
We delve deep into the safety record of Spirit Airlines, shedding light on their dedication to passenger safety, and the successful strategies they have implemented. A key point here is the absence of significant safety incidents within the past decade.
1. Airline Safety Rating
Safety ratings reflect an airline’s safety record and compliance with aviation standards – they’re pretty crucial when choosing who to fly with.
For Spirit Airlines, the rating is impressively high!
Certification: Spirit holds an Air Operator Certificate from the FAA (source).
Safety record: Even though they’ve had a few emergency landings, Spirit has had no fatal accidents in its history (source).
Remember, though, safety isn’t the entire story. Where Spirit excels in safety, the experience is defined by customer satisfaction and services.
2. Safety of the Spirit Airlines Fleet
The Spirit Airlines fleet is composed completely of Airbus aircraft, with the Airbus A319, A320, and A321 among them.
Modern and reliable, the average age of the aircraft Spirit utilizes is merely six years old with their 200th plane just delivered. This relatively youthful fleet is one reason why Spirit is counted among the top 20 safest low cost airlines worldwide.
Additionally, Spirit Airlines is constantly investing in new technology to augment the safety and efficiency of its aircraft. This commitment to safety and innovation is proven through regular inspections, diligent maintenance, and strict adherence to the manufacturer-recommended service schedules.
3. Flight Safety Protocols
Spirit Airlines, a certified member of IATA, takes passenger safety quite seriously despite its low-cost status.
Here are some of the key safety protocols they follow:
The Spirit team is trained for various emergency situations, including necessary medical measures.
For urgent support, passengers can reach out to an agent using the free mobile app developed by Spirit Airlines. This assures on-the-go assistance.
In adherence to FAA rules, Spirit Airlines provides each passenger with a life vest stowed under the seat or between armrests.
Prior to each flight, passengers are made aware of vital safety instructions through pre-flight briefings such as proper usage of safety equipment and emergency actions.
In-flight safety cards are utilized as visual aids to facilitate a better understanding of these safety guidelines.
Spirit Airlines encourages passengers to report potential safety issues for a quick resolution.
Thus, flying with Spirit Airlines is indeed quite safe.
Note that Spirit Airlines operates under stringent rules set by leading regulatory bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
4. Safety Training of the Crew
When it comes to air travel, safety is king! One crucial aspect is the training of flight crews.
As such, Spirit has a rigorous training program for pilots and cabin crew. Their focus? Emergency procedures, handling tricky weather, and managing complex flight situations.
Let’s see how Spirit Airlines ensures its crew is well-prepared for any scenario:
Regular simulator training keeps the pilot’s skills sharp. Flying virtual skies means quicker, smarter decisions in the real world.
Spirit doesn’t just hire anyone. They’ve got strict criteria, ensuring only qualified, experienced folks join the team.
Continuous evaluations keep the crew’s performance top-notch. Spirit never stops improving its safety standards.
Onboard safety protocols. Crew members undergo safety classes, learning how to respond during emergencies.
Real-life simulated scenarios are part of the training. Fires, water landings, you name it. Spirit’s crew is ready for action!
That’s Spirit Airlines – keeping you secure, one flight at a time!
5. Pilot Qualifications
Pilot qualifications at Spirit Airlines are stringent to ensure safety and operational efficiency.
Each pilot is required to have a minimum total of 1500 hours in fixed-wing aircraft, however, they prefer 2500 hours. They must possess a current FAA First Class Medical Certificate, an unrestricted Airline Transport Pilot License, and an FCC Radio Telephone Operator Permit. This consolidates their hands-on expertise, their medical fitness for flight duties, and their understanding of complex flight communications.
This rigorous screening guarantees that passengers are in the hands of highly skilled professionals capable of managing various flight scenarios.
Also, the good news, they have increased their pilot pay, which attracts higher-quality candidates!
6. Emergency Landing Procedures
Emergency landing procedures are rigorously implemented and followed to ensure the safety and well-being of Spirit passengers.
In the event of an unforeseen complication or hazard, such as equipment failure, bird strikes, or detection of smoke or unknown odors on the aircraft, an emergency landing may be necessitated. Emergency landings can also happen due to severe weather turbulence that can potentially lead to risks during a flight.
Spirit Airlines has a commendable safety record, often resorting to these emergency landings as a safety measure to keep the passengers safe.
Despite having to make a few emergency landings over the past thirty years, it is noteworthy that Spirit has not faced any fatal accidents or crashes during this period.
7. Safety Checks of the Airplanes
Safety checks are the lifeline of any airline industry, making sure your travel from point A to B is as safe as can be.
When you’re traveling with Spirit Airlines, these safety measures are taken to a whole new level.
First and foremost, seasoned mechanics inspect the Spirit aircraft from top to bottom. They check every little component – inspecting engine performance to the seat pitch, ensuring everything functions as it is supposed to.
Moreover, they keep a keen eye on the boarding processes, ensuring the necessity and safety protocols are met to precision. These inspections are not just occasional but happen on-ground prior to every takeoff. This allows any issues spotted during preflight checks to be rectified before the plane leaves the ground.
No stone is left unturned when it comes to the training of Spirit’s staff. The staff undergoes intensive training sessions to equip them with the aptitude to handle unexpected in-flight situations promptly and efficiently. It’s the people behind the scenes who add to your safety during a flight after all.
Remember, when flying Spirit, your safety isn’t just a priority, it’s their mission.
My Experience Flying Spirit Airlines
Flying with Spirit Airlines may be a basic experience, but it’s honestly not all bad. It’s an unpretentious, no-frills airline that delivers exactly what you’re paying for–a cost-effective flight.
Personally, I don’t get why Spirit gets a bad rap because every flight I have taken with Spirit Airlines has always been a good experience.
The cleanliness and modern simplicity of the newly operated Airbus are clean, but the seats remind you of any lack of luxury. Punctuality was another impressive aspect, as both my flights arrived right on schedule, if not a bit earlier.
Many people complain about the absence of an in-flight entertainment system, but it doesn’t affect me as my kids and I were well-prepared with my personal entertainment on my phone and a book as a constant companion – one of my many travel essentials.
Most importantly, Spirit Airlines offers the advantage of budget travel, making it possible to explore more without a steep dent in the wallet.
Personally, I never pay for the extras like seat assignments and carry-on items, so being aware and planning ahead saves you from any surprises.
More often than not, I will purchase the Savers Club as the price to join lowers the airline ticket cost by more than the membership.
Also, I love that Spirit Airlines flies into the newer and much larger terminal at San Diego International Airport!
Pros And Cons of Flying Spirit Airlines
Looking for a cost-effective alternative for your air travel? Spirit Airlines might be the right choice.
Pros of Flying with Spirit Airlines:
Cons of Flying with Spirit Airlines:
– Budget-friendly fares – offers some of the lowest fares in the industry. – Booking is made easy through both Spirit.com and Spirit mobile app. – It owns one of the youngest, most fuel-efficient fleets in the U.S. – Has commendable safety ratings. – Offers the ability to choose your seat for a fee. – Spirit Airlines generally runs on time. In fact, sometimes you may find flights landing slightly early. – Plane hygiene is one area where Spirit does not compromise. They use mostly new Airbuses, ensuring clean and modern interiors. – Most travelers have spoken favorably about the ground and flight crews of Spirit Airlines. They seem to go above and beyond to make passengers comfortable.
– Extra charges apply for baggage. Remember, due to their low-cost model, Spirit encourages minimal luggage. – Upgrading your seat doesn’t offer any additional services. – No free meals or drinks are provided during the flight. You will need to purchase these. – Seats may be uncomfortable for some passengers. – Limited free flight cancellation or rescheduling options. – Lack of legroom could potentially hamper your comfort, especially if you’re tall or traveling long distances. – No inflight entertainment systems. – Overhead space may be limited, and you might have to pay extra for more significant carry-ons.
Finally, if budget is a priority, Spirit Airlines has you covered. The airline offers highly economical options for both domestic and international travel.
You may come across mixed customer reviews regarding Spirit’s customer service. Make sure you come with the right expectations for a budget airline.
Why is Spirit so cheap?
Why is Spirit Airlines so cheap, you ask? The answer lies in their unique business strategy.
Non-ticket revenue: They adopt a budget-friendly strategy by charging extra for add-ons like seat selection, carry-on bags, and in-flight food and beverages. According to their 2022 financial reports, over half of Spirit’s total revenue per passenger comes from these non-ticket avenues.
Streamlined fleet: Unlike other airlines operating different types of aircraft, Spirit keeps it simple with just one family of aircraft – the Airbus. This significantly cuts down on training and supply chain expenses.
Save on Baggage: You can easily skip checking a bag if you pack everything in your carry-on. Or invest in my favorite seven-pound luggage to save on checked baggage fees!
It’s this clever business model that helps Spirit offer those unbeatable low fares.
FAQ
Yes, it is safe to fly with Spirit Airlines. They have a solid safety record and have never had a fatal incident in their history.
They use modern, digitally enhanced aircraft which provide risk-free journeys.
Despite minor concerns, overall Spirit Airlines offers a safe and affordable travel option. Most people flying Spirit Airlines may not be concerned with how much cash can you fly with!
Both Spirit and Delta Airlines are reputed for their robust safety measures and procedures, each being FAA-certified and upholding the safety standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Spirit ranks among the world’s top 20 safest airlines, while Delta, with its long-standing history of nearly 100 years, may be perceived as marginally safer due to its established stature.
However, it’s important to note that both airlines are committed to ensuring passenger safety and regularly maintain their fleets to guarantee this.
No, Spirit Airlines doesn’t have a bad safety record.
Spirit Airlines has never had a fatal accident in its history.
It was ranked as one of the safest low-cost airlines globally by JACDEC.
Conclusion: Is Spirit Airlines Safe?
In conclusion, your concerns about Spirit Airlines’ safety may be a bit exaggerated.
Spirit Airlines ranks among the top 20 low cost safest airlines.
Over the past decade, Spirit has demonstrated a strong safety record, showing its dedication to passenger safety.
Safety protocols and equipment are prioritized, with crew members undergoing rigorous training to handle diverse scenarios.
Spirit operates with newer aircraft, a move applauded by travel professionals as a cost-effective safety measure.
There have been some criticisms, like limited flight options and cancellations, which should be taken into account in travel planning.
Thus, while no airline can promise absolute safety, Spirit certainly takes measures to ensure passenger well-being.
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About Spirit Airlines
Originally established in 1980, Spirit is based out of Miramar, Florida, making the world a little smaller with 60+ destinations across the U.S., Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
They have established themselves as the low-cost, no-frills airline.
What can you expect when flying with Spirit?
It offers a “Free Spirit” frequent flyer program where you can rack up reward points and exchange them for perks like seat selection and baggage check-ins.
Different seating options to suit your comfort; you can pick Economy Class, Big Front Seats, or Exit Row Seats.
They got your in-flight hunger covered with a variety of snacks and drinks for purchase.
Always stay connected with their Wi-Fi services on specific aircraft.
When flying with Spirit, you can expect strict adherence to their baggage weight and size policies. It’s crucial to be familiar with these restrictions and pack accordingly to prevent any airport hassles.
Got a problem? Their customer support is just a call or email away, round the clock.
So, grab your ticket today and experience a journey filled with comfort, convenience, and cost-efficiency.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Spirit Airlines is one of the most established low-cost airlines in the U.S., with destinations throughout the country, the Caribbean and Latin America.
With so many flights operating each day, there’s a good chance that something can and will go wrong. If that’s the case, you’ll likely want to contact Spirit Airlines customer service.
Let’s take a look at the different ways you can reach them and answer some questions you may have about dealing with Spirit Airlines after a mishap.
How do I reach Spirit Airlines customer service?
Spirit Airlines has a number of different methods of communication in the event you need to reach them. For common questions, Spirit maintains a wide-reaching FAQ resource.
Otherwise, you can reach Spirit by chat, SMS/WhatsApp or email.
How to call Spirit Airlines customer service
The Spirit Airlines customer service number is 1-855-728-3555. This number is good for reservations, baggage, changing a flight or when you receive an error online.
Can you chat online with Spirit Airlines?
It’s possible to have a live chat with a Spirit representative on the Spirit website from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central time daily. There’s also a chatbot available 24/7 that can help answer some questions.
How to message Spirit Airlines
If you’d prefer not to make a phone call, you can message Spirit Airlines on Twitter (also known as X) or Facebook. Spirit’s Twitter handle is @SpiritAirlines.
Airlines are generally good about fielding responses on Twitter, so this may be an avenue you wish to take if you feel like you aren’t getting anywhere with your requests.
You can also text the airline at 48763 or use 1-855-728-3555 on messaging service WhatsApp.
How to send mail to Spirit Airlines
If you want to kick it old school, you can send snail mail to Spirit’s offices. The address is: Corporate Guest Relations, 2800 Executive Way, Miramar, FL 33025.
Whom do I contact about my Free Spirit loyalty account?
The frequent flyer program for Spirit Airlines is Free Spirit. Members of the program can earn Free Spirit points toward free flights, as well as elite status, which can get you shortcut boarding, extra bonus points and free carry-on luggage.
If you have a concern about your Free Spirit account, you can contact the company through its general support lines.
Does Spirit give refunds for canceled flights?
Like all U.S. airlines, Spirit is required to give refunds for flights that it cancels. This is dictated by the Department of Transportation rather than the individual airlines.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Spirit flight credits typically expire within 90 days of issuance.
Generally speaking, Spirit Airlines’ cancellation policy is not very generous, especially when you compare it to airlines like Southwest, which allows passengers to cancel up to 10 minutes before departure.
How to find lost luggage on Spirit Airlines
If your bag cannot be located, inform a Spirit agent at the airport’s Baggage Claim area or at the Baggage Service Office. If there’s no one available at those locations, find a Spirit representative at the airport check-in counter.
For lost luggage, guests traveling domestically must file an incident report and receive a File ID within 4 hours of arrival, whereas international travelers can file a report within 21 days of arrival.
Where do I offer feedback or send a complaint to Spirit Airlines?
Once you’ve gone through all the steps, you’ll be prompted to fill out a form detailing your experience. Spirit will then get back to you.
Customers in need of immediate assistance should pursue the alternative communication methods outlined in this article.
The bottom line
Spirit Airlines offers airfare at appealing price points, but sometimes even the best-laid plans go awry and you may need to contact the airline for assistance.
Happily, the company is easy to contact by phone, email, postal mail or social media.
(Top photo courtesy of Spirit Airlines)
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
American Airlines is eliminating one of the biggest pain points for customers connecting from two of its smaller East Coast destinations.
Passengers making Landline bus connections from Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, will no longer need to clear security in Philadelphia. Instead, they can go through security at the start of their journey and stay “airside” through their connection.
Landline, a bus service that sells “connections” on behalf of American from Allentown and Atlantic City, began arriving inside the secure side of Philadelphia International Airport’s (PHL) terminal Tuesday.
Previously, Landline passengers from those cities had to go through airport security when connecting to American flights at PHL.
Landline’s bus rides are meant to function as though they’re connecting flights to PHL, which is a hub for American. All airlines fly a number of short routes from their busiest hubs. However, some especially short routes — like AA’s flights between PHL and Allentown and Atlantic City that are each a little over 60 miles— can be a tough sell for customers who can just drive to the airport.
The Landline bus option offers a cheaper option for the airline to fly such routes while offering customers a connecting experience that doesn’t involve worrying about on-time or canceled flights.
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Gerardo Spero, the Transportation Security Administration’s federal security director for Philadelphia International Airport, said the agency implemented security protocols for the buses and airline personnel to allow for seamless connections.
“This program streamlines the passenger experience and enables travelers to seamlessly travel out of a large international airport conveniently by going through our security screening process from a smaller international airport,” Spero said in a statement.
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The move is welcome news for Allentown and Atlantic City Landline customers. However, those making Landline connections from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, won’t be as lucky. Passengers departing from Lancaster Airport (LNS) via AA’s Landline connection will still need to go through security at PHL rather than their local airport.
American isn’t alone in looking at the possibility of bus connections for some of its shorter feeder routes.
Landline also runs services to Denver International Airport (DEN) for United Airlines and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) for Sun Country Airlines.
For American, eliminating the need for security screenings at PHL for passengers flying from Allentown and Atlantic City will make the Landline connections more in line with a regular flight connection — likely increasing passengers’ willingness to book such an itinerary when connecting through the carrier’s PHL hub.
For the airline, that will help increase feed for its connecting flights there. For the smaller airports like Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) and Allentown’s Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), the unconventional link to PHL will likely be a welcome one, as the airports have been caught up in a broader trend that has seen big airlines slash flights in many of their smallest markets.
Aside from American’s Landline-operated bus service to PHL, ACY is served by just one carrier: ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines. At ABE, American’s landline bus service to PHL will complement its existing service to its hub in Charlotte, the carrier’s second-busiest. ABE is also served by Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
Since American partnered with Landline in 2021, PHL CEO Atif Saeed said Landline has already transported thousands of passengers to domestic and international flights in Philadelphia.
American Airlines is turning up the heat in South Florida with a big network expansion.
The carrier, which operates a hub in Miami, will add eight new routes this winter, one of which will be a brand-new pin for the airline’s route map.
Beginning Feb. 3, American will commence nonstop service to Governor’s Harbour in the Bahamas. Service will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and it’ll technically represent a resumption for American. Cirium schedules show that the airline operated flights between the two airports in the winter of 2009.
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In addition to the new international service, American is also boosting its domestic connectivity to and from Miami with the introduction of seven new routes, including flights from Miami to:
Buffalo (Saturdays only from Nov. 11, 2023, to March 30, 2024)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Saturdays only from Nov. 11, 2023, to March 30, 2024)
Lexington, Kentucky (Saturdays only from Nov. 11, 2023, to March 30, 2024)
Portland, Oregon (year-round daily service begins Nov. 5 — as previously reported)
Sacramento (year-round daily service begins Dec. 20)
Wichita (Saturdays only from Nov. 11, 2023, to March 30, 2024)
Wilmington, North Carolina (Saturdays only from Nov. 11, 2023, to March 30, 2024)
Aside from the new routes, American will also increase frequencies on existing domestic and international flights, with the full list available at the bottom of this story.
All told, American will offer a whopping 380 peak daily departures this winter, making this the largest schedule the airline has ever offered from Miami. American’s Miami operation covers 150 nonstop destinations, nearly half of which are located outside of the country.
Furthermore, American touts that it offers 85 unique destinations that are unserved by any other airline from Miami — a talking point that’s more important than ever for American.
That’s because, before the pandemic, Miami used to be a fortress hub for American. Nowadays, less so.
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Miami International Airport (MIA) has seen some impressive growth in recent months from a host of airlines, but nothing comes close to what Spirit Airlines has brought to the market.
The ultra-low-cost carrier entered Miami for the first time in October 2021, and it brought low fares to 30 new nonstop destinations.
While Spirit now goes head-to-head against American on many routes, the airline is also up against some formidable competition from the nascent joint-venture partnership between Delta Air Lines and South American juggernaut LATAM.
Those two carriers officially combined forces in late 2019, pulling LATAM from American and the Oneworld alliance. Now that the tie-up has been approved by regulators, Delta and LATAM are well on their way to turning Miami into a gateway hub for access to Latin America — a region that American used to dominate.
Despite the increased competition, American is still by far the region’s biggest carrier, a fact that Juan Carlos Liscano, American’s vice president of Miami hub operations, repeated during an interview with TPG.
“We’ve been able to say we’re Miami’s hometown airline for quite some time, but in our 34-year history as a hub here in Miami, this will be our largest schedule ever,” said Liscano.
To support all the growth, American has hired 2,000 new Miami-based employees, bringing its regional total to a whopping 14,300 employees — the most in the airline’s history, Liscano shared.
In addition to flying locals living in Miami, American also wants to capitalize on the increased demand for travel to South Florida during the winter season, a trend that was especially pronounced during the pandemic when so many international destinations were closed.
While American Airlines may have Miami’s largest air network, it no longer has the naming rights to the city’s basketball arena, which is now called the Kaseya Center as part of a recently signed $117.4 million agreement.
Even though American didn’t renew its naming rights, the airline is still making moves in the trade and commerce industries in Miami, Liscano said. After all, American is the only airline with 150 nonstop destinations from the airport.
“There are other ways to show the love for Miami and how we continue to demonstrate our commitment to both the growth and to Miami,” he added.
Spirit Airlines is known for its low fares and plentiful flights to popular vacation destinations. But because of the airline’s pricing model, choosing your seat and most other services beyond the ticket itself will cost you extra when flying Spirit.
Before you book your ticket, here’s what to know about seat selection on Spirit Airlines, including the types of seats available and how much they might cost.
Spirit Airlines seat assignment
As an ultra low-cost carrier, the rule of thumb on Spirit is that seat selection isn’t free, and customers can expect to pay for seats on each leg of their trip.
The only travelers who don’t have to pay a seat selection fee are Free Spirit elite status members, who get free seat selection as one of the program’s perks.
When booking, you can pay for seat selection and baggage as part of a bundle. Alternatively, you can choose your seats individually as a trip add-on during booking or anytime after — even at check-in.
Do I have to select a seat on Spirit Airlines?
Travelers hoping to fly as cheaply as possible can skip paying for seat selection altogether. In that case, the airline will randomly assign them a seat at check-in.
Yes, that means you could end up sitting apart from your travel companions: The airline states it can’t guarantee travelers will be assigned seats next to each other, even if they booked the tickets on one reservation.
However, the airline says gate agents and flight attendants will try to provide adjacent seats “when possible” for travelers ages 13 or younger who are traveling with an adult.
Notably, this assurance is not enough to meet the U.S. Department of Transportation’s new recommendations that airlines guarantee adjacent family seating for no additional cost.
Spirit Airlines seat types
Unlike other airlines that have a wide range of seat types and classes of service, it’s pretty straightforward on Spirit — there are just three options to choose from.
Standard seats
Spirit’s standard seats represent the vast majority of seats on the aircraft. You can buy a standard seat a la carte or purchase it as part of a bundle — which we’ll discuss in a moment.
While you may want to equate a standard seat to economy class on another airline, don’t expect much besides a place to sit. As a budget airline, you’ll generally have to pay for anything else you want, from soda and snacks to carry-on bags and other services.
Premium seats
On Spirit, premium seats are exit row seats that come with a bit of extra legroom but also require passengers to be able and willing to assist in an emergency. This means travelers under the age of 15 can’t choose these seats, per federal guidelines.
Big Front Seats
While Spirit doesn’t have a true first class, it does offer wider seats with more legroom at the front of the aircraft. The airline calls the seats in this section the Big Front Seats.
With eight or ten such seats available on each flight — depending on the aircraft — Big Front Seat passengers get up to 32% more legroom when compared to standard seats. There’s also no middle seat, as all Big Front Seats are either window or aisle seats.
Spirit Airlines seating chart
On the web, there are a few ways to see the Spirit seating chart. You can take a sneak peek before choosing a flight by selecting “seat map” on an itinerary you’re considering.
Once you do that, you can view seat types and availability on the plane, as shown in this example flight from Newark, New Jersey to Orlando, Florida.
When it comes time to select a seat while booking, the seat map will show the price of each seat. When you select a seat, a pop-up box will display the price, along with an image and additional information, like whether it’s an aisle or window seat.
If you’re selecting seats as part of a bundle, you’ll choose your seats using the same type of map, but seats included in the bundle will be listed at $0.
How to pick seats on Spirit Airlines
When it comes to selecting a seat on Spirit, you have three main options:
Pay to select seats a la carte while booking, or anytime up until check-in.
Pay for a bundle that includes seat selection, baggage and other benefits such as priority boarding.
Skip seat selection and pay nothing. This option will result in the airline randomly assigning you a seat at check-in.
Spirit Airlines seat selection fees
Seat assignment prices can vary dramatically based on the flight and the seat you choose. Spirit advertises the price for a standard seat as starting at $5 per flight and climbing as high as $200 under the most expensive circumstances.
The price of a Big Front Seat ranges from $12 to $750 per route, and will be pricier than standard seats for the extra space. You can also save money by paying to upgrade to a Big Front Seat on the day of your flight, but there’s always a chance there won’t be any available.
In NerdWallet’s analysis of airline seat fees, Spirit Airlines is the second most expensive among major U.S. airlines, at an average of $20 per seat per flight. Spirit trails only its budget airline counterpart, Frontier, in that ranking.
With such a wide range of prices, let’s see what these fees look like in practice. We priced out a summer weekend trip from Baltimore/Washington International Airport in Maryland to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, with a base fare coming in at $229 round-trip. On the leg to Florida, seat selection fees start at $17 for a standard seat toward the back of the plane.
If we want to sit closer to the front of the plane, standard seats go for $18 or $27. Exit row seats are $33, while the larger, extra-legroom Big Front Seat costs $110.
For the return trip, the cheapest seats start at $20.
If we aren’t paying for extra baggage, and if we select the least expensive seat each way, our $228 ticket ultimately comes out to $265.
Spirit Airlines fee bundles
Instead of paying for seats separately, you can pay for one of Spirit’s bundles. These include a checked and/or full-size carry-on bag, a standard seat and other services for one price.
Like the seats themselves, the costs of the bundles vary by flight. And keep in mind you’ll need to pay for the bundle for both the outbound and return flight.
Before choosing a bundle, you’ll want to decide what services you need and then price out the best option.
Here’s what you get with Spirit’s two main bundles:
Seat selection
Other services included
Just For You Bundle
Standard seats included.
Shortcut boarding and one checked bag or one full-sized carry-on bag.
Bundle It Combo
Standard seats and premium (exit row) seats included. Big Front Seats not included.
Shortcut boarding, checked bag and full-sized carry-on bag, plus one free flight change allowed.
For our hypothetical trip from Baltimore to Fort Lauderdale with a $229 base fare, the Just for You bundle costs $69 each way. The Bundle It Combo tacks on $130 each way.
So if we decide to add on the Bundle It Combo, we would pay $489 — which might not be such a good deal.
If we only want one part of a bundle’s offerings — for example, a carry-on bag — and don’t need seat selection or priority boarding, it might make sense to skip the bundle and pay for the carry-on bag separately.
Spirit Saver$ Club
Members of Spirit’s subscription-based Saver$ Club receive discounts on seat selection for themselves and up to eight travel companions, along with other benefits like expedited security access, early boarding and ticket flexibility.
The program costs $69 for a 12-month membership, with 18-month and two-year memberships also available.
Spirit Airlines seat selection for elite members
One of the most useful perks of Spirit Airlines elite status is the ability to select a seat for free. Spirit’s seat selection benefits for elite status members are as follows:
Free Spirit Silver members get complimentary seat selection at check-in and may be able to move to an exit row seat prior to departure at no cost.
Free Spirit Gold members get complimentary seat selection when booking, including exit rows.
If you’re a frequent Spirit flyer, you can work toward Free Spirit elite status through flying and everyday spending using the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®. Cardholders earn 1 Status Qualifying Point (SQP) per $10 spent on eligible purchases.
For context, it takes 2,000 SQP to reach Free Spirit Silver and earn complimentary seat selection at check-in. Gold status is earned once you reach 5,000 SQPs.
Spirit Airlines seat selection recapped
When flying a budget airline like Spirit Airlines, you should go in expecting that your ticket only gets you a spot on the plane and a personal item that fits under the seat. Anything else, including choosing your seat, will cost extra.
When booking a Spirit Airlines flight, a little research and strategy can help you save money. Figure out your greatest areas of need— whether it’s a full-sized bag, shortcut boarding or selecting a seat — and then compare the price of bundling your add-on services or paying for them individually.
And, if you’re planning to fly Spirit regularly, supplementing your flying with an airline-branded credit card is a great way to help you reach elite status and earn free seat selection.
(Top photo courtesy of Spirit Airlines)
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
Last Friday I arrived home from New York City after a week of Broadway, museums, twinkling holiday lights, and more cannoli than any one person should consume. (Thankfully, I spent plenty of time walking them off!) Visiting the city in December was on my life list of things I wanted to do, and it didn’t disappoint.
Of course, New York City isn’t inexpensive. But my husband and I stayed with a friend, which meant we didn’t have to pay for a hotel room, and we lucked into a few deals. For example, our friend used his corporate discount to get reduced-price tickets to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and we scored $25 tickets for front-row seats to Wicked through a lottery drawing held two hours before the show. I’d also prepared myself to expect higher prices so that I could relax a little and enjoy the first big vacation we’ve taken in almost three years. I can say in all honesty that every expense was worth it — especially the cannoli.
But want to know what travel expenses are not worth it? The new fees airlines charge for everything imaginable! Need to check two bags? That’ll be $60. Want a pillow? That’s $7, and we only take credit cards.
Luckily, we avoided paying these fees because we have the incredible willpower it takes to pass on airplane food — delicious as it is — and we only packed one carry-on each. But while writing this article, I learned that if we had been on Spirit Airlines, we would have paid $60 extra for two carry-on bags. And I learned that not all of these new fees are disclosed upfront.
Sneaky fees or a buffet of services? Airlines say the extra fees keep overall ticket prices low, allowing passengers to only pay for the services they want. But some of these fees pop up at the end of a transaction or while a passenger is checking in luggage, making it feel less like a “menu of services” and more like a mob-style shakedown — an offer you can’t refuse. If you want to catch your flight, that is.
One group working to require fee transparency is Mad as Hell About Hidden Fees (MAH). An initiative of the American Society of Travel Agents, Business Travel Coalition, and Consumer Travel Alliance, MAH started a petition urging the Department of Transportation to “require airlines to make their fees fully and easily accessible to both consumers and intermediaries in the travel industry.”
In a press release, Paul Ruden, Senior Vice President of Legal and Industry Affairs for the American Society of Travel Agents, said:
This issue is not about fees, but about fairness. Although more than half of all airline tickets are booked through traditional or online travel agencies, the airlines have chosen to hide their fees from the systems that power those bookings. Airlines should be able to make a fair profit and set fares and fees that allow them to do so, as long as travelers can see and compare all of those fees in advance.
According to an online survey, two-thirds of travelers have been surprised by add-on fees after arriving at the airport. Another study showed that hidden fees can increase the original ticket price for a typical traveler with a single bag 10% to 82%, or 21% to 153% for a traveler with two bags.
Not all fees are disclosed online Okay, I thought, why not just look up the fees before you book? Turns out it’s difficult, if not impossible, to find all of the fees on an airline’s website. Consumer Travel Alliance put together a video of their attempt to find add-on fee amounts on seven different airline websites:
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Be aware of “gotcha” fees Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to get around the extra fees, but being aware of some of the common ones can help. The following are surprising add-ons to note and avoid:
Booking by phone or in person. Most airlines charge extra when customers don’t book online. US Airways, for example, charges $25 to book a domestic flight on the phone and $35 to book in person.
Credit card “convenience” fee. Think paying online is the way to go, then? Not on Allegiant Air. The airline adds a $14 surcharge to tickets booked through its website, but waives the fee if you buy in person at one of its ticket offices.
Carry-on fee. As mentioned earlier, Spirit charges for carry-ons (anything smaller than 16″ x 14″ x 12″). Downsize, or choose another airline. So far, others haven’t added this fee.
Unaccompanied minor fee. This isn’t a surprise fee, but the amount can be a shock considering that the flight attendant does little more than escort the child to and from the gates. Two unaccompanied minors flying round trip with JetBlue, for example, adds $300 to the base fare.
Ticket change. Southwest is the only airline that doesn’t charge you extra to change your itinerary, all others will charge anywhere from $50 to a whopping $300 (international flight on Continental).
Baggage fees. These are easier to locate on an airline’s website than many of the other fees, so be sure to look them up before you pack. Most airlines charge $15-$25 for the first checked bag. If you try to stuff everything into a carry-on and your bag is just one pound overweight, you’ll probably pay even more: starting at $25 (Hawaiian Airlines) and up to $200 (US Airways). Weigh your carry-on after packing and before heading to the airport, and be sure pack lighter if you plan to bring home souvenirs.
Earlier this year the Department of Transportation announced that it was proposing regulations to protect air travelers against hidden charges, and was accepting public comment through September 23, the date MAH declared as Mad As Hell Day! and submitted its petition. Maybe the day will come when all fees are clearly listed on airline websites, but until then, check out sites like Airfarewatchdog and Expedia for airline fee charts, as well as SmarterTravel.com’s Ultimate Guide to airline fees.
Have you ever been charged a “gotcha” fee by an airline? Share your stories and advice in the comments!
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
American Express, Capital One, Chase and Citi are four of the major players in the travel credit card space. As such, these issuers offer their own travel portals, where users can earn and redeem their points and miles for flights, hotels, car rentals and more.
These issuers also incentivize their cardholders to use the bank’s own portal, done by offering bonus points on bookings.
For instance, with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn 10 miles per dollar on hotel and car rentals and 5 miles per dollar on flights — but only when booked through the Capital One Travel portal. Purchases made outside the portal earn 2 miles per dollar.
Likewise, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on all travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal. Otherwise, you earn 2 points per dollar on those travel purchases.
Given the lucrative earning potential that booking through these portals presents, it begs the question: Is it worth your time to use them rather than booking directly?
In this guide, we put these four travel portals to the test when booking flights. We compared price, ease of use, redemption value and other metrics.
Methodology
For this analysis, we limited our research to flights and didn’t include hotels, rental cars or other travel. That’s because we generally recommend that you avoid booking hotels through a third party since you likely won’t receive elite-status benefits (if you have any) or earn elite-qualifying stay credits.
If you’re not concerned with earning hotel elite status or are booking an independent hotel, then booking your stay through a travel portal could be advantageous for you.
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It’s also worth noting that you can get elite-like perks at hotels, even without elite status, by booking with these programs: Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts, Amex’s The Hotel Collection, Capital One’s Premier Collection, Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, Citi’s Hotel Collection and Citi’s Luxury Hotel Collection.
With flights, you may be able to “double-dip” your earnings: You can usually earn bonus points on bookings through your card issuer’s portal and earn airline and elite-qualifying miles just as you would by booking directly through the airline. That said, here are the features we examined in each portal:
Results: Do you get comprehensive results when searching through the portal?
Price: How do the prices compare to booking directly with an airline versus through a portal?
Ease of use: Is navigating the portal easy for a user? What unique features or benefits do users get from using this portal?
Redemption value: Is it worth redeeming your points and miles for travel through a portal?
With these four factors in mind, here’s how the individual issuers’ travel portals stack up.
American Express Travel portal
Any American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points grants access to the Amex Travel portal. Depending on your specific card, you may earn bonus points for booking through the portal.
The Platinum Card® from American Express, for instance, earns 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases annually, then 1 point per dollar) and 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel. The American Express® Gold Card, meanwhile, earns 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.
You can search for flights, hotels, flight and hotel packages, rental cars and cruises on the Amex portal.
Related: Everything you need to know about Amex Travel
Capital One travel portal
The Capital One travel portal offers a fresh interface powered by the travel tech app Hopper and is accessible with most credit cards earning Capital One miles or cash back.
Bonus earnings are available, depending on which card you have. Using the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to book flights in the portal provides 5 miles per dollar; flights booked elsewhere earn 2 miles per dollar.
Currently, you can only book flights, hotels and rental cars through the portal. The portal also houses the Premier Collection for luxury hotels. However, this is only accessible if you have the Venture X or its counterpart, the Capital One Venture X Business card.
The information for the Venture X Business card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: How to use the Capital One travel portal — now with more cards and new rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal
Chase’s Ultimate Rewards travel portal was powered by Expedia for many years, but the issuer migrated to cxLoyalty in 2021.
You can access the portal with your Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card, including popular options like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Freedom Unlimited. Cardholders can book flights, hotels, cars, activities and cruises on the Chase travel portal.
Related: Why are some flights more expensive through the Chase travel portal?
Citi travel portal
The overhauled Citi travel portal launched in March 2023 after months of delays. It’s powered by Rocket Travel by Agoda, part of the Booking.com family.
You can access the portal with any credit card earning ThankYou points, and several cards earn bonus points on bookings in the portal. Unfortunately, flights aren’t included in these bonus offerings.
With Citi’s new portal, you can book flights, hotels, rental cars and attractions of numerous types. The portal also offers two hotel programs: Hotel Collection and Luxury Collection.
Related: Ultimate guide to the Citi travel portal
Booking flights
I looked at a variety of round-trip routes with the same dates (roughly six months from now) and gathered the following prices:
Itinerary
Booked directly
Amex Travel
Capital One Travel
Chase travel
Citi Travel
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) in economy with Delta Air Lines.
$533.
$541.
$540.
$523.
$540.
Tampa (TPA) to Bozeman (BZN) in economy with American Airlines.
$786.
$786.
$786.
$786.
$786.
Baltimore (BWI) to Las Vegas (LAS) in economy with Delta Air Lines.
$720.
$720.
$720.
$720.
$720.
Miami (MIA) to Boston (BOS) in economy with JetBlue.
$418.
$418.
$338.
$418.
$412.
Chicago (ORD) to Milan (MXP) in economy with United Airlines.
$902.
$902.
$902.
$772.
$732.
Nashville (BNA) to Bogotá, Colombia (BOG) in economy with American Airlines.
$535.
$535.
$535.
$535.
$415.
Toronto (YYZ) to Seoul (ICN) in economy with Air Canada.
$1,079.
$1,952.
$1,880.
$ 2,581.
$1,952.
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) in Delta One.
$2,798.
$2,600.
$2,798.
$2,798.
Not available.
Newark (EWR) to London (LHR) in business with British Airways.
$3,272.
$3,272.
$3,300.
$3,300.
$3,300.
San Francisco (SFO) to Singapore (SIN) in business with Singapore Airlines.
$8,351.
$7,285.
$8,521.
$9,386.
$8,521.
Price
All of the travel portals generally fared well when it came to searching economy flights versus booking directly. However, there were a few major caveats worth noting.
Southwest Airlines is not bookable on any of the portals, and tickets for low-cost airlines like Spirit Airlines and Frontier are typically more expensive on the Chase and Capital One travel portals than booking directly. Amex Travel didn’t display any Spirit Airways or Frontier Airlines flights.
When it came to international flights, all of the bank portals struggled at times to match prices or give comparable results versus booking directly. For a deeper dive on some of these routes and flight prices, we did a broader comparison across 20 flights in this guide.
As a general word of advice, domestic flights should yield the same results and price, but it gets tricky when searching for international fares. Your best bet would be to compare the prices and only use a portal when the prices are identical.
Ease of use
The Amex portal is my favorite for a comprehensible search experience, fast load times for results and the simplicity of parsing through the various options.
On the other hand, the Capital One portal offers one of the most visually appealing interfaces, with color-coded dates to indicate the lowest prices in a calendar view — plus price drop protection. However, the Capital One portal did not provide as many options as its competitors on some searches. It also yielded higher prices for international routes, but I’m hopeful that the issuer will continue to make improvements in the future.
Based on millions of data points from Hopper, Capital One is supposed to let you know if this is the best time to book via its price watch prediction feature.
To standardize the offerings across various airlines, Capital One also provides detailed insights into what flyers can expect from their chosen fare class. With the rise of “basic economy” fares, it’s not always clear what amenities are included in your ticket and what you’ll have to pay for as extras.
Capital One does an excellent job of explaining in-depth features such as seat pitch, aircraft type, and food and beverage options on board.
Speaking of basic economy, it’s worth noting Amex Travel rarely (if ever) displays these fares. If you’re looking for basic economy, you should use another portal.
Citi’s new portal does a good job of offering a broad range of results in economy and offering upgrades on the payment page. And being able to book flights plus other travel elements in one transaction is great. However, searching directly for business-class fares is tricky on this portal.
Finally, the Chase portal has seen vast improvements since fully migrating toward its cxLoyalty interface. Previously, when Chase was powered by Expedia, users complained about slow load times and much higher prices than those offered directly by the airlines. Some of those issues seem to have been resolved.
While the Ultimate Rewards portal could use some work in cleaning up the interface, the overall user experience is much better than before. That said, it’s also the portal with the highest frequency of price divergence from booking directly — sometimes higher and sometimes lower.
Redemption value
This is not a criterion we used for evaluating these bank travel portals for this particular article. The value of your points or miles can depend on which particular rewards card you carry. Still, it is worth remembering if you intend to use your credit card’s travel portal to earn or redeem points and miles.
Your credit card points or miles are typically worth 1 cent each for flights in your respective travel portal. That’s the case with Amex cards that earn Membership Rewards points and Capital One credit cards. Even with the Capital One’s premium card (the Venture X), your points are only worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel through the Capital One portal. The same applies to credit cards earning Citi ThankYou points.
On the other hand, Chase’s credit cardholders are incentivized to use the Ultimate Rewards portal via a higher redemption value. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, your points are worth 1.5 cents each toward travel bookings, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred Credit Card fetch 1.25 cents per point in value.
While not as consistent of a program, American Express offers “Insider Fares,” allowing cardholders to redeem their points for a better value than 1 cent apiece on select domestic and international itineraries. However, these can be quite specific.
Select Amex business credit cardholders can also leverage the Pay with Points benefit to get a 25% to 50% points rebate when booking select airfare through Amex Travel — yet another incentive to book through the portal.
Due to all these card-specific circumstances, we didn’t make redemption values a main criterion for judging these portals for booking flights. Rather, we focused on each portal’s user interface and the availability of competitive fares — as those two factors will probably be the determinants as to whether travelers end up using them.
Related: Why I love the Amex Business Platinum’s Pay With Points perk
Bottom line
Credit card issuers have improved their travel portals over the years, but they’re still far from perfect. While there isn’t a clear winner for the best travel portal, each has unique features and incentives for its cardholders.
If you decide to book a flight through your issuer’s travel portal, be sure to compare that price against booking directly with the airline to get the best deal possible. And don’t forget that you may want to book directly anyway to avoid any headaches down the road. If you need to change or cancel your airfare, booking with a third party can complicate matters when plans change.
Breaking up is hard to do. But for JetBlue and American Airlines, there isn’t much of a choice.
A federal judge ruled against the Northeast Alliance between American Airlines and JetBlue on Friday, ending a prolonged antitrust suit more than a year after the Department of Justice accused the partnership of stifling competition.
As part of the decision, the judge ruled that the alliance between the two carriers must end within 30 days from Friday. It was not immediately clear how the decision would be implemented, nor what it would mean for frequent flyers.
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“The NEA [Northeast Alliance], operating as it was designed and intended by American and JetBlue, substantially diminishes competition in the domestic market for air travel. It does so by combining the Boston and New York operations of two airlines that are among the most significant competitors in that region,” reads Friday’s decision penned by Judge Leo T. Sorokin.
In the suit, the Justice Department alleged that by codesharing and collaborating to run complementary route networks through New York and Boston, the alliance would “eliminate significant competition between American and JetBlue that has led to lower fares and higher quality service for consumers traveling to and from those airports.”
American and JetBlue, however, aggressively defended the pact, which the airlines said allows them to offer stronger competition against Delta Air Lines and United Airlines — which dominate the Northeast market — than either airline could do alone. While JetBlue has a strong presence in the Northeast, it remains relatively small and has less of a presence elsewhere in the country.
Although American Airlines remains large, its New York presence has shrunk significantly since the early 2000s, and it can’t significantly add service due to slot restrictions in New York.
During a three-week trial in U.S. District Court in Boston, Sorokin heard testimony from current and former executives at both airlines, as well as competitors, along with industry experts and economists.
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The airlines’ defense centered on the argument that in the 18 months since the alliance began, the cost increases that the DOJ warned about in its initial complaint have failed to materialize. The airlines said they have increased capacity in the Northeast region and “improved the quality of travel to and from Boston and New York” through “collaborative scheduling, codesharing, and frequent flyer program integration.”
The ruling came as a surprise to many industry insiders who had expected the case to go the other way.
”This was a bit of a surprise, as we believed with more than two years of data, the judge would rule in the airlines favor,” TD Cowen analyst Helane Becker wrote, noting that she believes the decision can be appealed.
What does this mean for the American Airlines and JetBlue partnership?
JetBlue said in a statement that it continued to believe that the alliance was a positive for customers.
”We are disappointed in the decision. We made it clear at trial that the Northeast Alliance has been a huge win for customers,” JetBlue said. “Through the NEA, JetBlue has been able to significantly grow in constrained northeast airports, bringing the airline’s low fares and great service to more routes than would have been possible otherwise.”
The federal judge ruled that the Northeast Alliance must be “permanently enjoined” 30 days after Friday.
American Airlines, in its statement, sent a strong signal that it would appeal:
”We believe the decision is wrong and are considering next steps. The Court’s legal analysis is plainly incorrect and unprecedented for a joint venture like the Northeast Alliance. There was no evidence in the record of any consumer harm from the partnership, and there is no legal basis for inferring harm simply from the fact of collaboration. The Northeast Alliance has been a huge win for customers and anything but anticompetitive.”
JetBlue added that it was “studying the judgment in full and evaluating our next steps as part of the legal process.”
For now, however, the ruling seemingly implies that the tie-up will end within the next few weeks, barring an appeal.
TPG will post updates as we receive them, but if you have upcoming travel booked with American and/or JetBlue, you may want to start reconsidering your options if you were planning to take advantage of Northeast Alliance perks such as reciprocal mileage earning and redemption options, elite benefits and club access.
The two carriers also expanded and reconfigured their networks to support the alliance. So, assuming that the ruling stands, many of the changes could need to be unraveled within a month.
The ruling could also have implications for JetBlue’s planned acquisition of Spirit Airlines, which the Department of Justice has also sued to stop. On the one hand, without the American Airlines partnership, JetBlue can argue that it is now in a weaker position and needs Spirit in order to compete effectively.
On the other hand, the current decision could indicate that the Judiciary is opposed to further consolidation of the airline industry.
We believe this ruling has negative implications for the JetBlue/Spirit merger, where the Department of Justice sued to block it and where at least four state attorneys general joined the suit,” Becker, the TD Cowen analyst, wrote. “The trial in that case begins in mid-October.”
Additional reporting Zach Griff. This is a developing story and will be updated.