Spirit Airlines Ripoff

Spirit Airlines empowers customers to save money on air travel by offering ultra low base fares with a range of optional services for a fee, allowing customers the freedom to choose only the extras they value. This innovative approach grows the traveling market and stimulates new economic activity while creating new jobs. Spirit's modern fleet, configuration and other innovations enable Spirit to burn less fuel per seat than competitors, making Spirit the most environmentally-friendly U.S. carrier. Spirit’s all-Airbus fleet currently operates flights throughout the U.S., Latin America and Caribbean.

Obviously they are proud to have broken the rules and created arguably the best airline in the Americas (so they claim). I have purchased tickets from this company before. I have enjoyed their products, features and service. Nevertheless, I even signed up with their yearly membership. Within this membership called the $9 Fare Club offering all of their members exclusive travel deals, not only in the US but all over the Americas.

Which includes exclusive access to Member only Low Fares, and savings of up to $120 per customer in bag fees (One customer roundtrip with a carry-on bag and 5 checked bags). Now this is an annual membership to the $9 Fare Club is only $59.95!!!!! Now, while all of that would be fine and great! However, someone, somewhere forgot to mention the additional fee associated with Spirit airfare. Let me continue with their misleading ventures. I tried to purchase an airline ticket last night from Chicago IL to Phoenix AZ my ticket was $68 round trip for 1 person. However, I’m traveling with an additional 3 people so my total (so I thought) was $272 and from their words “Fares listed are per person, are non-refundable and include all taxes and fees.”. I thought taxes were including (so I thought).

When I continued with my purchase, I almost fainted when I saw the actual fees themselves. Spirit airlines charges $25 for a carry on bag, $20 for a checked bag, $50 for 2 checked bag, $125 for 3, $200 for 4, and $200 for 5 checked bag. Oh and did I mention these fees are for departure and arrivals, so your times every times the amount of people going. Example 4 bag leaving (departure) is $80 and returning (arrival) is $80 which is a grand total of $160 in addition to the airfare.

Now not only are they charging me for how many bags I check, I’m also getting charged for the seat that I sit in which is $25 near the caption, $18, $14, and $10 for the seats in the rear! Even using the cheapest seat available it’s still $10 per person going (departure $40) and returning (arrival $40)! Not to forget I also have to pay for the membership ($59 per year) and in this case it provides me with nothing! By the time I finished with my reservation my tickets were $738.27 including this new government tax “cut” that was $101.48. Plus it’s $56 for travel insurance, bringing my new total to $794.27.

I feel this is unfair, unacceptable, and without the insurance Spirit will not return your money and they will try and keep all monies. Also I couldn’t even use their own voucher and credits; nor could I use their own promotional codes feature that was given on their website. The website doesn’t work for the so called $9 members. I mean this is truly ridiculous!

Their advertisement is and has been misleading to consumers everywhere and you can find the companies 135 complaints on ripoff.com.  My experience with this company was horrible, misleading and I wouldn’t recommend anyone to travel with Spirit Airlines!