Spirit Airlines is stepping up its game with new offerings designed to attract business travelers.
After failed acquisition attempts by Frontier and JetBlue, the ultra low-cost carrier is rolling out a range of “high-value options at an affordable price.” With four new expanded bundles, no more change fees, 12 month unused ticket expiration, priority check-in, an increase to 50 lbs for checked-in bags, and faster Wi-Fi, Spirit is looking to compete with major airlines by offering first-class perks at budget-friendly prices.
So what’s with all the turbulence? The bottom-line is Spirit’s bottom-line is suffering. The value of their stock has seen an 80% decrease YoY at the time of this writing, executives at competing carriers are predicting Spirit’s “cycle of death,” and without a parachute in the form of an acquisition or merger, they’re looking for opportunities outside of their comfort zone and seem to be looking particularly closely at the major airlines for ideas.
However, these changes come as good news for business travelers. Their new Guest experience follows recent trends including four new bundles, removing change or cancellation fees, introducing priority check-in at multiple airports, and raising the weight limit for checked bags to 50lbs.
"We listened to our Guests and are excited to deliver what they want: choices for an elevated experience that are affordable and provide unparalleled value," Spirit's President and Chief Executive Officer Ted Christie said in the press release announcing the new fares. “Elevated experience” and “unparalleled value” aren’t generally the first words that come to mind when you think of Spirit. But when you break down their new offerings, they start to look like the type of upgrades we’re more familiar with from the major airlines. Couple that with their affordable pricing, nationwide network and fast wifi, and Spirit becomes an appealing option for business travelers.
Let’s take a look at their four new travel options:
Because AmTrav is the first business travel platform to offer Spirit’s new fares (using our Spirit NDC connection) I was able to see how Spirit’s prices compare to first class tickets from the major airlines on an upcoming business trip from LA to Chicago. Using the Compare feature in a2b, I can get a quick comparison of prices and upgrades:
Spirit’s Go Big bundle comes in over $250 cheaper than United and American first class, offering virtually the same upgrades and Spirit’s patented Big Front Seat, comparable to a traditional first class seat.
With such an affordable option to fly in style on a routine flight, it looks like I might be flying Spirit for the first time in a while.
Also, as you might expect for the sixth-largest U.S. carrier by flight count, Spirit has a really good schedule in some markets. Need to get home from South Florida to Charlotte and American’s too expensive? Spirit offers four daily flights too. Spirit has two of the four daily nonstops from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas, and three of the four daily flights from Pittsburgh to Ft. Lauderdale.
Depending on your routing, timing and taste, Spirit may or may not be a good choice for your next business trip. Either way, it’s important that you and your colleagues have access to all the itineraries and all the fares so you can get together when and where you need to, on time and on budget.