7 Things You Didn't Know About Spirit Airlines

There are certain airline guidelines and policies that most people know about, such as checked baggage fees, seat back pocket contents, etc., but there are also some lesser-known Spirit rules that you may not have been aware of before now. So if you’re considering booking your next flight with Spirit, here are seven things you probably didn’t know about the airline prior to reading this list.

1) Boarding Process

Here’s a fun fact about Spirit: When you board, you must print your boarding pass online or at an airport kiosk, and then go through security. The downside is that if you have a tight connection, it can be tough to make it. And boarding passes are good for only 24 hours after they’re issued. So if you fly in early and don’t print your boarding pass right away, you might miss your flight even though it has a good arrival time listed on Expedia. Some experts recommend getting to the airport at least two hours before a domestic flight; three hours would be better in many cases because things will always take longer than expected when dealing with airlines.

2) Emotional Outbursts

As mentioned, in-flight emotions can be difficult to handle. If you're traveling with a partner or a friend, that person is probably going to shoulder most of your stress. However, if you're flying solo and find yourself on an emotional roller coaster, try not to take it out on your seatmate. Ask a flight attendant for advice; they've dealt with just about everything at least once and may have some insights into how best to cool down. If you absolutely must lose your cool and scream in frustration (or rage), it's always better to do so behind closed doors: never make a scene on a plane, no matter how bad things get.

3) Rude Passengers

With more airlines than ever, you’d think that flying would be simple. Unfortunately, from middle seats to checked baggage fees and pets on planes—not to mention rude passengers—air travel has become a nightmare.

Here are 7 things about Spirit you may not know:

1. In 2007, a newspaper in Atlanta came out with an award for Worst Company in America, which is given to a company that routinely takes advantage of its customers. They gave it to both FedEx and Spirit Airlines (along with The Department of Homeland Security).

2. If your luggage weighs more than 50 pounds total then you have to pay $100 per extra pound.

3. Out of 3,000+ airline employees only 27 made over $75k last year. Not exactly living large

4. Passengers are assigned their seat after they check in online before traveling (just like Southwest), but unlike Southwest there's no option to reserve a seat for free if you want one near any friends or family members already booked on the flight.

5. Over 98% of all tickets sold at Spirit are prepaid so that people can find special deals before everyone else does – meaning if you haven't bought your ticket yet chances are low someone is sitting next to you unless you paid up front when booking online

6. Before 2010, and since 1993 in fact, Spirit had been underpaying their pilots by approximately $29 million dollars each year. This forced pilots who were due time off to work unpaid overtime just so they could earn enough money during normal work hours. To make matters worse, Spirit even threatened these pilots with termination if they didn't accept these additional hours! Luckily that fight was won by those brave men and women who refused to let corporate executives control every aspect of their lives just because they're lucky enough to fly airplanes for a living.

7. Finally, during one particularly snowy day back in 2011 some frustrated travelers had requested refunds as many flights were being canceled or delayed due to inclement weather – ironically because snow affects plane performance!

4) No Basic Amenities

Perhaps you’ve heard of a fee-for-everything airline called Spirit Airlines. Known for charging extra for carry-on bags, blankets, pillows, and so on—Spirit’s been nicknamed The End of Basic Amenities Airline. What you may not know about is that it has had numerous snafus with its safety standards. In 2010 alone there were several incidents including: an unauthorized employee taking a plane off without permission, poor maintenance issues causing planes to break down mid flight and not having enough pilots to fly in adverse weather conditions.

5) Dog as a Service Animal?

The term service animal generally refers to dogs, but other animals may be able to perform certain tasks related to a person’s disability. A growing trend in service animal usage is for owners of psychiatric and emotional support animals; because there aren’t any federal regulations regarding such animals, however, policies vary by airline. Spirit allows emotional support and psychiatric service animals on its flights. With some airlines opting out of allowing ESAs and PSAs onto their planes, it may be best to book with an airline that will allow your pet abroad if you need a service animal for assistance with a disability or mental health problem.

6) Planes On Time? Not So Much.

Spirit has a no frills mentality when it comes to air travel, but their competitors are often on time. Compare Spirit with other airlines and you'll find that they're on time less often than any other airline—and you'll pay a pretty penny for those delays, too. To avoid extra charges, book your flight well in advance of your departure date so that you're able to choose a different carrier if there's any chance of being delayed by weather or construction. If you can't switch carriers, think about leaving from an airport further away from where you live; many travelers find their flights are on time more often when departing from airports farther from home.

7) No Free Drinks on Flights Over Two Hours. No, Really.

On a flight longer than two hours, what goes down your gullet is no longer free. While some airlines charge for food, only one—Spirit—will nickel and dime you for every drop of drinkable liquid they hand out. The same holds true for alcoholic beverages; on a flight over two hours long, save your cash and don’t buy any drinks on board (or if you do, opt for water). Don’t Be Fooled by Savings: If an online or published airfare price looks too good to be true, it probably is. We all love a deal, but be careful not to pay extra in fees.

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7 Things You Didn't Know About Spirit Airlines

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