rtalk25

Spirit was selling DTW-ACY for $53.09 this week, and it was $35.10 if purchased at Spirit counter at an airport.

However, I noticed the following fare activity from Spirit:

On Saturday night, it was selling the Sunday and Monday flights for $171.09, $86.09 for $9 Fare club members, while every weekday after that was $53.09 regular fare. When it became Sunday, Tuesday's flight went from $53.09 to $171.09. When it became Monday, Wednesday's flight went from $53.09 to $171.09.

I doubt the demand suddenly filled over the night.

The lesson from this is if you're interested in booking a Spirit flight for a low fare for about just two days out and you can't make it to the airport that day itself, just book it online, and don't consider to go to the airport the next morning expecting the same low fare or just a modest increase of that to be around, as it might not be there at all and the low fare is suddenly a really high fare the next day.

Fortunately in my case, the day that I wanted (a little over 2 days out) still had the $53.09 fare, so I was able to book it at the airport for $35.10.

I booked this time at ATL. At ATL, the Spirit agents are able to sell tickets pretty much the whole day according the agent. At ACY, the Spirit agents have limited hours for selling tickets. I believe only to 6pm. Probably at the smaller stations or smaller airports, Spirit closes it's sales business earlier.

linglingfool

Mixed results for me at different airports. I was turned away at ORD because the dragon wanted to see an AA BP reflecting my status, while at MSP the guy at the front of the line couldn't care less.

Also, had a fun experience over the weekend. We were looking at a 3+ hour delay with no plane (and at one point, no crew), so given the increasing cancellation risk I decided to bail on the flight and book elsewhere. Only two flights left on other carriers at that point, but UA was selling one-way walk-ups for $69, which was cheaper than the $80 I had spent for the segment on Spirit. Convinced the GA to issue a refund of the remaining leg on Spirit, and got home before the original flight even landed.

Lesson: know your alternatives, and be one of the first to book. I think a dozen people wound up doing the same thing we did, but I don't think too many got the $69 fare.

rtalk25

Just to be frugal even more for a ticket that I had bought at the airport for under $40, I saved about $15-20 by going to Staples and buying a medium box ($2.99) and paying UPS shipping for shipping my items back home. I flew another carrier to my destination, and flying Spirit back home. I had too many items that I needed for the trip.

It was about $20 all-in, for a medium box ($2.99) and shipping ($17-18 ground), compared to $35-40 for either checking a bag or carry-on, without the $9 Fare Club.

wcalvert

Very nice! I think Spirit's official policy is that they will only refund with a 3 hour delay. I came close to walking off of a boarded plane sitting at the gate waiting for a maintenance issue.

pwd847

I have been going into ORD to buy my Spirit tickets for years. I literally have it down to a science. Just last friday I flew $14 per one way to Baltimore.

I have read in this thread that at the time of purchase you can request a specific seat, correct? I already purchased a flight to and from ATL. If I go to the Spirit counter and act like I am investigating the cost of other flights that I may or may not purchase, and then throw in a, "While as long as I'm here, can I get this specific seat on these already purchased tickets please?"

Any ideas?

Has anyone ever done this?

linglingfool

While I have been successful in getting seats assigned at the time of booking at other airports, I have not been successful at ORD. It's very much a YMMV situation based on the agent.

pwd847

Yeah, ORD can be a tough one. I usually schmooze a bit before asking for favors. Fortunately most of the employees are female.

One person to avoid at all costs is this caucasian lady in her late 40's early 50's. I can't remember her name. Brown hair down to her shoulders. If I am next in line and she is open I let the person behind me go.

Masadhi PraGuna

hi

anyone know if is it possible to buy spirit ticket at the airport for the future trip? or i can only buy ticket for the same day only (go show)

i mean i would like to buy ticket for November, but since it's said it might be cheaper the airport, i would like try to buy it at the airport, is it possible?

or am i only can buy ticket at the day i will be flying?

thanks

robertwcook16

Yes you certainly can...

linglingfool

I think most people buying tickets at the counter are buying for dates in the future. If you're waiting until the day of to buy your ticket, you're playing with fire.

floridatraveler90

Has anyone tried booking at the airport lately? I just got back from the airport with the hopes of booking two separate roundtrip flights with the hopes I could get $36 off of each. However when I went to the counter and asked the rep about the said flights they were actually more expensive than online. Was this maybe because of the dates? One was for early October and one was for Decemer. Did I do something wrong?

UA Fan

Maybe the prices changed when you were there? Did you check the prices while standing there?

floridatraveler90

I checked them right before I left for the airport and right when I got back and they were still the same online. Would be $104 online, so hoping to bring it down to 68 but the agent quoted the price at $197. $90 more at the airport.

Big4Flyer

Were the prices you were looking at online part of the $9 fare club or fares that required a promo/coupon code? In either of those cases the airport agent won't have access to those fares.

floridatraveler90

The fares I had asked about were the regular fares, not a $9 fare club nor promotional code fare.