Is Spirit Airlines Safe? My Experience + What Happened in 2026
A few years ago, I attended a wedding in Costa Rica. I started looking for flights a few months in advance to save money.
The two lowest prices I found were $298 and $550 for a round trip. Delta Air Lines was charging $550, while Spirit Airlines was charging $298.
That’s a big difference.
I’ve flown Delta before with no issues, but saving over $200 made me seriously consider Spirit. The question was simple: is Spirit Airlines safe, or am I setting myself up for a bad experience?
Before we get into my experience, there’s something important you should know.
What Happened to Spirit Airlines in 2026?
In May 2026, Spirit Airlines announced that it would begin an orderly wind-down of operations and cancel all flights due to financial challenges and rising fuel costs.
This means Spirit is no longer operating.
However, that does not change the airline’s safety record or the experiences travelers had while it was active. It also highlights how important budget airlines are for affordable travel.
If you’re looking for cheap flights today, you’ll need to compare other low-cost options.
Check current flight deals here –> Flight Deals
Is Spirit Airlines Safe?
Yes, Spirit Airlines was safe.
Like other major airlines in the United States, it followed strict safety regulations. Most of the complaints people had were not about safety, but about fees, comfort, and expectations.
In my experience, the biggest issue with Spirit is simple: people don’t read.
Everything you need to know about fees, baggage, and policies is clearly listed. If you skip that part, you’re setting yourself up for a bad experience.
If your goal is to travel more without spending a lot, combining airlines with extra income streams can help. I break that down in this post on apps that pay you real money.
My Experience Flying Spirit Airlines
I’ve flown Spirit a few times.
My first flight ever was with them back in 2006 to Las Vegas. The plane was clean, and the flight was smooth.
The second time, I flew to Fort Lauderdale. That experience wasn’t great. The plane felt smaller and not as clean, and there was a delay.
Still, for my trip to Costa Rica, I decided to fly with Spirit to save money.
My route was:
Atlanta → Fort Lauderdale → Costa Rica
Everything went smoothly.
No delays. No issues. No problems.
Honestly, it ended up being the best option for that trip.
Carry-on Bag
Check current carry-on options here
You have to pay for your carry-on bag. It’s cheaper to pay for it in advance. If you pay for the carry-on bag online, you will pay $35 each way. If you purchase during the online check-in, you spend $45. If you have to pay at the gate, you are dishing out $100. I know for a fact that people don’t read this info. I heard some passengers discussing the pricing with a representative at the airport. Make sure you purchase your carry-on bags before getting to the airport.
Baggage Fees
You have the option to pay for checked baggage online before your trip. It’s $30 before your online check-in, $40 during the check-in, and $100 at the gate. I made sure that I had purchased my bags before the trip. My bags came up to $70. So, with bags, the total of my flight was $368. That was still almost $200 cheaper than Delta.
Personal Item
Spirit does allow you to bring one personal item on the flight for free. The item can’t be bigger than 16″x 14″ x 12″. I measured my personal bag, and it fits those dimensions barely. Spirit has a thing at the airport where you can check to see if your bag is the correct size. Mine fit in the bin with no problem. If you are worried about the size of your personal item, go to the airport before your trip and put your bag in the bin.
Seat Arrangements
Like most airlines, Spirit charges you if you want to pick your seat. That will cost you between $1 and $199. It’s not that serious to me. I never pay for my seat. I’m okay with airlines assigning me seats once I check in. If you’re traveling with family, you may want to pay for your seats so that y’all can sit together; if you want to pick your seat, purchasing it sooner rather than later is good.
Baggage Weight
When checking in baggage, most airlines have a limit of 50 pounds. Anything over that amount, you are charged a fee. The weight limit for Spirit is 40 lbs. Make sure that you pay attention to that. The more your bag is over, the more you will pay. You risk paying an extra $30 -$100 depending on how many pounds your suitcase is. When packing for Costa Rica, I left a couple of pairs of shoes at home. I’m glad I did that because my bag weighed 36 pounds at the airport.
The Planes
My itinerary went like this. I flew from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale and then from Fort Lauderdale to Costa Rica. The first plan was a little small compared to other airlines, but the seats were comfortable even though they didn’t recline. None of the seats on Spirit flights recline. The flight from FLL to CR was great. The plane was pretty big. It had more room than I expected. I can’t lie; I was caught off guard. My return flights were just as lovely.
Food
If you’re flying Spirit for the first time, don’t expect complimentary food or drinks during the flight. They have food and beverages, but you have to pay for them.
Best Budget Airline Alternatives to Spirit Airlines
With Spirit Airlines no longer operating, here are some alternatives to consider:
- Frontier Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- Allegiant Air
Each has its own pricing structure, but they all offer ways to save money compared to traditional airlines.
Find the cheapest flights here → Cheap Flights
Are Budget Airlines Still Worth It?
Yes.
Budget airlines make travel accessible.
They allow people to:
- Take more trips
- Travel on a budget
- Visit places they otherwise couldn’t afford
The key is understanding how they work.
If you go in expecting a luxury experience, you’ll be disappointed. If you go in focused on saving money, they can be a great option.
Even though Spirit Airlines is no longer operating, my experience showed that budget airlines can be safe and reliable.
The biggest takeaway is simple: read the details before you book. If you understand the fees and set your expectations correctly, you can save hundreds of dollars on flights.
If you’re planning your next trip, start here:
- Find cheap flights: Cheap Flights
- Read my budget travel tips: Travel on a Budget
- Learn how to earn extra travel money: How to Start a Side Hustle
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Jason Butler is the founder of My Money Chronicles and an SEO consultant with over a decade of blogging experience. Since 2015, he has earned income through side hustles including blogging, eBay flipping, affiliate marketing, and freelance work while paying off over $64,000 in debt. His work has been featured in Forbes, Discover, Investopedia, and Yahoo Finance.
