Other North & South America Frequent Flyer Programs - Spirit says "Lower fares generally available at the airport."

I have seen this sentence on many pages on Spirit's website:

"Lower fares generally available at the airport" (sometimes followed by: "and are subject to availability")

I see it all over, like in the fine print on sale pages and also at the bottom of the checkout pages. I've googled and can't find anything on this. Could it actually be true that you could show up at the airport (presumably for a flight that appears to have plenty of availability) and get a lower fare at the ticket counter than you would online? Somehow that doesn't seem right, but they put that sentence all over their website.

Has anyone ever tried this?

I could be off base here, but I believe Spirit charges a fee to book online. The only way to avoid that fee is to buy at the airport. Could this be what they are referring to?

Hmm, maybe. When I go through checkout there is no online booking fee, but I guess it could be built in to the price. It still seems strange to me, since it costs them more for a ticket counter agent to make my reservation at an airport than for me to do it myself online. But I guess stranger things have happened.

The spirit booking fee is charged as a passanger usage fee. Its included in the taxes and fee line. Hit expand and you will see it.

Hmm, maybe. When I go through checkout there is no online booking fee, but I guess it could be built in to the price. It still seems strange to me, since it costs them more for a ticket counter agent to make my reservation at an airport than for me to do it myself online. But I guess stranger things have happened.

A strange way to increase utility of airport agents already on the payroll.

I wrote to Spirit with the question, and here is their reply:


Dear Mr......

Thank you for contacting Spirit Airlines.

Fares purchased at the airport are not assessed the Passenger Usage Fee. As a result, it is possible the total fare may be less at the airport.

Please note, however, that our agents do not have access to web-based or $9 Fare Club fares.

Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mark 62605
Corporate Consumer Relations
Spirit Airlines, Inc.

Purchased two tickets today at the airport. It's on my way home from work, and has free parking for 20minutes. They were indeed cheaper even a little less than I had figured based off of what I believed it would be, from what I saw on the intrawebs. It was easy. well worth it to save $75

I also live near MYR and have gone to airport many times to purchase "lower fare @ airport". Great to have 20 min.parking free. It's also good to see others who read entire website on Spirit to get the best bang for your buck. Many times going to the airport has been cheaper than utilizing $9 fare club on line.

I wrote to Spirit with the question, and here is their reply:


Dear Mr......

Thank you for contacting Spirit Airlines.

Fares purchased at the airport are not assessed the Passenger Usage Fee. As a result, it is possible the total fare may be less at the airport.

Please note, however, that our agents do not have access to web-based or $9 Fare Club fares.

Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mark 62605
Corporate Consumer Relations
Spirit Airlines, Inc.

Welcome to FT!

Last fall I purchased 3 Spirit tickets at the TPA counter to avoid the usage fee and saved the money for each ticket. So it can be cheaper when you save the fee plus at TPA you get a free hour of parking. The agent said she was surprised the fare was the same at the airport vs what was available online.

She told me generally they try to price the fare higher at the airport to make up the usage fee difference that you would pay online. That wasn't my experience however as I got the lower price, but I'm curious if more try this if that's the case for you.

Here is my experience with booking online vs. at the airport. This was yesterday 2/19/12.

http://flic.kr/p/bwA6Yg

(Is there no image embedding on this forum?)

One can save money at the airport when compared to purchasing the "normal" non-sale fare $9 Club fares. But there's no way that purchasing a ticket on Tuesday, after the deeply discounted sale fares are posted, would be cheaper on the same route on the same days.

I live 21/2 hours from Latrobe, and 3 hours from Detroit, so I pay whatever passenger usage fees I have to! :)

So foreign to think about going to the airport to buy tickets... hell or even see the ticketing counter since printing at home is so common-place.

But there's no way that purchasing a ticket on Tuesday, after the deeply discounted sale fares are posted, would be cheaper on the same route on the same days.

I checked today (Tuesday) and the flight was $2 cheaper.

Online Price: $268.88 (Sunday)
Airport Price: $228.90

Saved: $39.98

My airport is easily accessed and on my way to work. I can usually get to the counter and back before my free 15 minutes of parking expire. So, that's a factor.

You guys seriously would go to the airport, and maybe have to stand in line, for the possibility of saving $40 (since there are no guarantees)? I can sort of see checking the fare at the counter on the way out of the airport if there was no line.

You guys seriously would go to the airport, and maybe have to stand in line, for the possibility of saving $40 (since there are no guarantees)? I can sort of see checking the fare at the counter on the way out of the airport if there was no line.

$40 on a $200 dollar fare is a decent amount of money. For some of us, its no different than driving to the store to buy something rather than order it online. The savings is in the shipping. I understand it doesnt make sense for some people. But for those of use who live close to the airport and can get free parking it makes sense. For the record I have status on US Airways but if its significantly cheaper I will fly on Spirit and drive to the airport to get the fare. You can avoid the wait in line, if you know when the flights leave.

$40 on a $200 dollar fare is a decent amount of money.

Except there's no guarantee. What if you drive out there and it's the same price or more expensive? You've just wasted your time and saved no money.

Except there's no guarantee. What if you drive out there and it's the same price or more expensive? You've just wasted your time and saved no money.

correct, however its on my way home, and I get 20 minutes of free parking. So in certain cases I would agree, but In my case it takes no more time or energy than taking out the computer and going to the website.

Except there's no guarantee. What if you drive out there and it's the same price or more expensive? You've just wasted your time and saved no money.

I've purchased Spirit tickets three times at the Tampa airport now. It's on my way home from work, and I get an hour of free parking...just did this again Friday night in fact and saved $70 for 15 minutes of my time, maybe $70 bucks isn't much for you but I like saving money wherever I can.

Spence1097... $70 to us Spirit flyers is a virtual windfall!:D

This follows everything else about flying Spirit: one can fly very cheaply just with some effort and patience.

Question: Does anyone know if you can purchase tickets at the Spirit gate? I'm flying AA out of DFW next week, so I'll be dropping bags off at another terminal. It's easier to get between terminals on the other side of security using the RailLink, so buying tickets at the gate would be better than the TC.

Question: Does anyone know if you can purchase tickets at the Spirit gate? I'm flying AA out of DFW next week, so I'll be dropping bags off at another terminal. It's easier to get between terminals on the other side of security using the RailLink, so buying tickets at the gate would be better than the TC.

I do not know the specific answer to your question but I can say this. Spirit does not usually have a lot of extra staff at the gate pre-flight and from my experiences the ticket counter agents are many times the gate agents too.

When I have bought tickets at the counter I've found many of the agents are not trained in how to do a simple ticket purchase, in fact last week the station manager came out to actually do the purchase in their system as he tried to train two employees. Purchasing just three tickets at the counter took 15 minutes. With that being said and DFW being a relatively new station, I'd be worried they may not have the man-power so to speak to get everything ready pre-flight and also do your ticket purchase at the gate. Though ymmv.
Good luck and I hope someone has a definitive answer for you. Either way please let us know what you try and your experience.

Was able to buy my Spirit ticket at the gate after they completed boarding a flight. Fare was the same as online MINUS the PUC and DOT Unintended Consequence Fee which ended up being a savings of $38+ RT.

I just went online and noticed the GA screwed up my address and it says I need to contact Spirit about my ticket. Its not allowing me to buy checked bags yet, so the address or something else is causing an error. Regardless, still worth it to buy at the airport if you aren't going out of your way. This will be my first time on Spirit and its $200 cheaper with 1 bag RT and NS compared to WN which requires one stop.

$40 on a $200 dollar fare is a decent amount of money. For some of us, its no different than driving to the store to buy something rather than order it online. The savings is in the shipping. I understand it doesnt make sense for some people. But for those of use who live close to the airport and can get free parking it makes sense. For the record I have status on US Airways but if its significantly cheaper I will fly on Spirit and drive to the airport to get the fare. You can avoid the wait in line, if you know when the flights leave.

I don't want to drive to SEA though to buy a ticket that I won't use on the same day.
I will just take AA and book on GDS/on AA.com
And I also don't like how crowded the Canada Line is.

I don't want to drive to SEA though to buy a ticket that I won't use on the same day.

May have to drive a little further south, as according Spirit route map (http://www.spirit.com/routemaps.aspx) they don't fly to SEA :eek:

EmailKid, on the fence about giving NK a shot

What's about their special 9 dollar club deals? Are they available to purchase by the counter? I believe they used to write in emails that they are online only, but I don't see it on current emails.

What's about their special 9 dollar club deals? Are they available to purchase by the counter? I believe they used to write in emails that they are online only, but I don't see it on current emails.

Online only. I don't believe they have access to those fare codes at the airport. Thus the $9 club is another "weight the benefit of $9 club vs. buying at airport." In essence, are you going to fly enough and use the $9 club savings through fares and reduced baggage fees to offset what you can save by not being in the club and booking at the airport (if that's not a hassle)? YMMV.

What's about their special 9 dollar club deals? Are they available to purchase by the counter? I believe they used to write in emails that they are online only, but I don't see it on current emails.

Nope. I wouldn't join that club.
Welcome to FT!

What's about their special 9 dollar club deals? Are they available to purchase by the counter? I believe they used to write in emails that they are online only, but I don't see it on current emails.
I wouldn't join that club.

You guys seriously would go to the airport, and maybe have to stand in line, for the possibility of saving $40 (since there are no guarantees)? I can sort of see checking the fare at the counter on the way out of the airport if there was no line.

This thread was very helpful. Saved $100 last night!!!

1) There are guarantees. You don't have to pay the Passenger Usage fee at a MINIMUM... may save even more - as I did. Also, I called the airline and they told me the amount I'd save. 2) When my sister (she's closer) got to the airport to purchase flight, it was WAY cheaper than what I was quoted and online. Apparently, at the airport, the price was even less than the listed $9 FARE CLUB price without being a member. (Thus, I don't recommend joining). TOTALLY worth it IF you or someone you know lives near the airport.

Can doubt it if you want... but $100 in my pocket sure feels great!!!

ATL is such a sprawler that many people living on the topside could drive 70 or so miles RT to get to the airport, and the counter operation is a small one.

The whole "Passenger Usage Fee" is sleight-of-hand on steroids. It's based on the business model of TicketMaster (an even more consumer-hostile company), which charges a variable "convenience fee" for not having to go to the venue and buy the ticket (and if you do go there, who runs the ticket system there? TicketMaster, of course.). Both Spirit and TicketMaster this get to call their fees "optional" when they really are just by the strictest of definitions.

It looks like the PUF is under pressure now, though, from the government's requirements to quote the total fare including both the taxes and the airline-imposed fees made to look like taxes.

Spirit clearly doesn't like this and has been monkeying around with its website of late, trying to re-introduce pricing opacity while staying within the letter of the law. The calendar feature with "$X more" and "$X less" blocks rather than actual prices is a classic dodge that will probably backfire (simply confusing customers), and trying to list prices with "government's cut" also tries to reframe things a bit (though at least those are real taxes).

They're clearly uncomfortable with being forced into greater transparency, but IMO that just shows how dependent the business model was on pulling people in with some very low-sounding number but then having a total that didn't really resemble that number. And that's before playing a full unbundling game with luggage fees and the like. More people are realizing that the price gap isn't what they'd thought, and if they hit some of the bag and other fees as well they may actually pay more than on a legacy.

I'm glad to hear that people have saved money this way. I've been wondering for years if it actually works. One thing I still don't understand, though: how does this benefit Spirit? They are paying an airport agent to spend 15 minutes with a customer at the counter (average time according to previous posts) and giving the customer a discount, when they could just be paying what must be very minimal costs to have the customer do all the work online themselves. I can see how they want to justify additional fees wherever they can, but with new fare transparency laws, it's not like they're hiding any convenience fees from an online customer: it's all there in plain sight. So, from Spirit's point of view, what advantage is there to giving a customer a discount at the airport instead of charging them full price (or more)?

I'm planning on taking advantage of this, since I'm flying out on AA next week out of DFW.

Since this is my first time flying Spirit, let alone buying a ticket at the airport, how long should I allow for this on Monday morning at DFW? My AA flight departs at 8.40am. So I probably want to be done with Spirit by 7.20am. And do I wait in the check in line or some other customer service line?

Is DFW a zoo at Spirit on Monday mornings around 7am?

TIA.

Long time reader, first time poster...

I fly Spirit back and forth from FLL to MCO. I can normally get a roundtrip ticket for $55-$75. I'm going to stop at the airport today and see how much cheaper it can get. According to their site they are only charging me $0.02 for the flight and the rest are "taxes and fees" $33 is the "passenger usage fee"

I'll repost later today to let you know how it works out for me. If it really saves a lot this will be a lifesaver for me!

So, from Spirit's point of view, what advantage is there to giving a customer a discount at the airport instead of charging them full price (or more)?

Spirit doesn't pay taxes on the fees, only the fares, so they'd rather the pax pay a greater percentage in fees over fares. The passenger usage fee was a creative way to get another fee after they had already maxed out the bag and seat fee concept.

They know that majority of the people will buy online because going to the airport just to buy tix is inconvenient, so those pax will pay the fee, which can be a fee, because it's still optional. One could go to the airport. However, Spirit often has online coupons (e.g. 35OFF) that can only be used when purchasing online, thus make going to the airport not worth it.

Another benefit with Spirit going to secondary airports is Spirit gets associated with airports when it is the only carrier (ACY, LBE, Phoenix-Meza, Niagara Falls), and these airports get listed with lowest average fare (but fees aren't mentioned!).

As much as I dislike the practice, the public university that I attended used to have hefty fees along with tuition, and fees weren't refundable. So, it isn't just a practice by commercial airlines.

Went to FLL today on my way home....
my trip from FLL to MCO online was $119.20
At the gate.... $43.24!!!!!
I was dumbfounded (as was the agent, she thought she accidentally hit one customer instead of two)

Also checked on a one way to Boston for the summer...came out to $19 cheaper per person. If you live close enough, its basically helping you pay for a big front seat or a bag!!
Not a bad deal at all
Now if only I could get them to refund me for the rest of my $9 fare club membership!

Tonight I went to the Ft Lauderdale airport to see if it was really true. I have been watching Southwest & Spirit for about a month for fares to Chicago. My kids are flying to see my ex June 11 - July 14. We usually use SWA so went there first. On line price $127 each way each kid (3) to Midway total $760.80. NO discount for airport - in fact alot higher. Then we went to Spirit. On line price was $118.78 each way each kid to O'Hare for total of $712.68. BUT if I purchased them at the airport, it was only $99.79 each! I had read it was the passenger use fee, but it was even more than that! So, on that flight, with 3 kids round trip, the total was $598.74! That is a savings of $113.94!! I don't know why since they charge for everything else, inclusive of printing out your boarding pass there - it is now $5.00 so they told me.
ANYWAY, it pays to read these postings and check it out. The airport is only 30 minutes away so it was well worth it.

I've purchased tickets at BOS on several occasions. It has always taken multiple staffers to figure it out but they finally did it. The counter opens and closes several times during the day based on flight schedules so it's best to arrive at the airport at a time when a flight is near departure. (On one occasion I arrived 30 min prior to a departure and saw a surprising number of frantic passengers cutting it pretty close considering that they needed to check baggage and get a boarding pass.)

Thanks for all of the advice everyone -- quick question. Has anyone re-booked at the airport?

It looks like I'll need to cancel/rebook a flight in July, and was wondering if it's just easiest to do it all at the airport (cancel and rebook), or do the cancellation online, and bring the info with me to the airport (I could see this being more complicated possibly).

I don't live very far away from the airport, and it looks like I could save the $30+ on PUF, so that would be nice.

Tonight I went to the Ft Lauderdale airport to see if it was really true. I have been watching Southwest & Spirit for about a month for fares to Chicago. My kids are flying to see my ex June 11 - July 14. We usually use SWA so went there first. On line price $127 each way each kid (3) to Midway total $760.80. NO discount for airport - in fact alot higher. Then we went to Spirit. On line price was $118.78 each way each kid to O'Hare for total of $712.68. BUT if I purchased them at the airport, it was only $99.79 each! I had read it was the passenger use fee, but it was even more than that! So, on that flight, with 3 kids round trip, the total was $598.74! That is a savings of $113.94!! I don't know why since they charge for everything else, inclusive of printing out your boarding pass there - it is now $5.00 so they told me.
ANYWAY, it pays to read these postings and check it out. The airport is only 30 minutes away so it was well worth it.

Welcome to FT!
Did you also happen to look at other legacy carriers?
(i.e. AA, DL, COdbaUA, US)

Thanks for all of the advice everyone -- quick question. Has anyone re-booked at the airport?

It looks like I'll need to cancel/rebook a flight in July, and was wondering if it's just easiest to do it all at the airport (cancel and rebook), or do the cancellation online, and bring the info with me to the airport (I could see this being more complicated possibly).

I don't live very far away from the airport, and it looks like I could save the $30+ on PUF, so that would be nice.

Just a quick update, I just cancelled online (saved $10 vs. the airport I believe), and just went ahead and booked online since I changed from a RT to a one way (so I was under the amount paid anyways). I added a checked bag to make up the difference -- so it did allow me to allocate the cancellation voucher towards baggage fees and taxes/fees, so that was nice.

I just got a SAN-LAS RT at the airport.
Online it was $61.58
I went to airport and they waved the passenger usage fees each way ($15+) and I got it for $23.68. lol.

I think I'm gonna stick with UA tho

This is great advice, I did not renew my $8 fare club membership and will buy future tickets at MCO directly.

Made the trek out to Terminal 2 at MSP and bought my first Spirit flight, the check in area had a solid vibe of "caveat emptor" with pretty much every passenger checking in leaving with a fair amount of cash less than they arrived.

I thought I arrived at a quiet time but a delayed flight killed that idea, after waiting for 10 minutes for the sole agent that could handle selling tickets the puchase itself took nearly 30 minutes due to seating complications. The trouble came when I wanted to add the Big Front Seat on one of the legs, the agent offered to sell it to me for both directions despite my knowledge their was no availability on the return. That cleared up and the total was ~$25 higher than I expected, it turns out that the Big Seat is more expensive at the airport than online. Booked without seats for an all in roundtrip of $39.60 and I can add a seat upgrade online later.

I was chatting with the agent while he fought wih the computer and was told that about half of the flights since starting service here have faced oversells and told me I was passenger #128 on my flight. Interesting that the low fare still exists with that few seats left. Also how flexible/useless is a Spirit free flight certificate?

I think the trick is to buy the ticket at the airport and then later upgrade the seats and buy the luggage online.

Went in to Logan today, had no problems at all booking 4 round-trips to Dallas for $90 each, a saving of about $45. ~$180 is well worth the trip to the airport. Once again FT makes traveling cheaper. Thanks OP!

Wow, I have wondered about this as well. I have a question though. I'm about 20 min from DTW. I'm trying to book a flight back home to LAX , leaving sun (7/1) or mon (7/2). Would it be possible to get these savings when buying a ticket a few days in advance or must i simply show up the day I wish to leave and purchase the ticket then? i was about to book online when i noticed that "lower fares at airport" bit. Please advise.

Wow, I have wondered about this as well. I have a question though. I'm about 20 min from DTW. I'm trying to book a flight back home to LAX , leaving sun (7/1) or mon (7/2). Would it be possible to get these savings when buying a ticket a few days in advance or must i simply show up the day I wish to leave and purchase the ticket then? i was about to book online when i noticed that "lower fares at airport" bit. Please advise.

The flights I bought were for October. I'm not sure if it makes a difference that you're only a few days out, but this is not only for same days flights. Since you're pretty close, try it out and let us know!

Wow, I have wondered about this as well. I have a question though. I'm about 20 min from DTW. I'm trying to book a flight back home to LAX , leaving sun (7/1) or mon (7/2). Would it be possible to get these savings when buying a ticket a few days in advance or must i simply show up the day I wish to leave and purchase the ticket then? i was about to book online when i noticed that "lower fares at airport" bit. Please advise.

? I bought my ticket 10 days before I traveled.
Online price 10 days in advance: $60
Airport price 10 days in advance: $23.60
both after tax. You can go and purchase them any time at the airport.

Can you buy tickets for flights from different airports? For example, I would like to go to the Minneapolis airport to buy tickets to Orlando; half of the tickets I want to buy are for Minneapolis to Orlando, the other half would only be from Chicago to Orlando...is this possible or can I only buy tickets out of Minneapolis at the Minneapolis airport?

Can you buy tickets for flights from different airports? For example, I would like to go to the Minneapolis airport to buy tickets to Orlando; half of the tickets I want to buy are for Minneapolis to Orlando, the other half would only be from Chicago to Orlando...is this possible or can I only buy tickets out of Minneapolis at the Minneapolis airport?

I asked in SAN if I could buy a ticket for LAX-LAS-LAX and even for a different person, and they said yes.

Fantastic tip. Will have to keep this in mind.

I have been watching the Chicago to Orlando Spirit fares for December for an early December weekend in the sun. On line price has been around $186 with no coupon eligibility and no $9 fare club discount.

Had three hours to kill at Laguardia so I went to the Spirit counter. Purchased for $143.

Significant savings.:)

Planning a trip into the Philly area in Oct out of BOS. Was near Logan today so I swung by and purchased my tickets. Online, they were $101.58 RT - at the counter I paid $67.60 - a savings of $33.98 over booking online. I will always purchase at the airport from now on...