Spirit: PHL-DFW $78 ai 2.99 cpm

[RustyC]

Well, flying as an air courier 3 times in the early 90s with just a carry-on for a 2-week Asia trip was good preparation for flying Spirit. Have been to Cancun for 5 days and San Jose C.R. for 5 days with just the rucksack that's the maximum you can carry without paying. Would be harder to pull off to a cold-weather destination (maybe just wear all your clothes layers)

Spirit miles also aren't like regular airline miles. Expiration is aggressive unless you have the credit card, and you really need the card to build much quickly. Off-peaks are in narrow windows and go very quickly, so they're seriously over-baiting people by touting them so much. If you can spend 20K+ miles, availability is easier, but then there's no advantage over legacy airlines and you're always subject to the pile of junk fees they have. Avoiding all those is an art in itself and takes maximum flexibility (and it helps to be single, though 2 savvy people also can do it). I use Spirit only for trips I totally wouldn't take otherwise, like maybe $60-ish RT 2-dayers to FLL (sometimes Tuesday-Wednesday!). People with less-flexible arrangements tend to run into the fees more, and those can make it more expensive than regular airlines.

[bigbuy]

Originally Posted by flymanbeast

100$ fee for carry on bags...

You can carry on a bag that fits under the seat for $0.
carry on bags for overhead bin at time of booking - $35
$9 fare club carry on bag for overhead bin during booking - $25

[BuildingMyBento]

Originally Posted by GRALISTAIR

I am considering using Spirit for one reason and one reason only. To get an airport I have never done before.

Sounds like the only reason I'd fly Allegiant.

[swested]

Originally Posted by rusrocket

Would a video report from a Spirit mileage run be considered to be of a pornographic nature?

Sounds more like a scene from one of the Saw films.

[84fiero]

Originally Posted by Bored_Russian

I got lucky and scored one of those "runs" to Las Vegas and actually had to go there for other reasons than getting wasted and lose money.

Went to the Bunny Ranch, eh?

[thomwithanh]

Originally Posted by swested

How quaint - someone who isn't familiar with Spirit wants to do a mileage run.

I could see this being a great idea only if (a) you're extremely masochistic or (b) need a firm reminder why never to fly Spirit unless absolutely necessary.

Make sure you get a Big Front Seat™.

[GRALISTAIR]

Originally Posted by BuildingMyBento

Sounds like the only reason I'd fly Allegiant.

Good advice - just checked them out - you are correct -some interesting airport/routes.

[Exiled in Express]

Originally Posted by thomwithanh

Make sure you get a Big Front Seat™.

This is my rule #2 of Spirit travel. The first is to only fly them on optional trips that can be fully scrubbed without penalty when the plane's 20 hour daily rotation gets delayed and they start cancelling legs to make up time.