This isn’t a joke. Spirit Airlines today unveiled a new fare structure, business class, and overall strategy as it looks to emerge from its failed merger attempt with JetBlue. The discount airline’s latest offerings comes as ultra low cost carriers and low cost carriers across the country are looking to capture more of the growing premium market.
Spirit is looking to differentiate itself in the evolving airline market and move away from its previous ‘bare fare’ or bare bones offerings.
First things First: Spirit Introduces Domestic First Class
While this might surprise some readers, Spirit Airlines is introducing essentially a domestic first class product, equivalent to a true business class product.
The service is called “Go Big”. Go Big is a rebranding of their existing Big Front Seats that are already installed in their first two rows of every Airbus in their fleet. According to Spirit, this service will deliver “the best value in the sky and includes a Big Front Seat®, snacks and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, one carry-on bag, one checked bag, priority check-in and boarding, and streaming access through the fastest Wi-Fi of any U.S.-based airline.
The Big Front Seat features enhanced comfort with wider seats, extra legroom, additional seat cushioning and no middle seat. Go Big will be available to book and experience starting Aug. 16, with snacks and drinks included and priority check-in launching on Aug. 27.
And They’re Adding European First Class
Spirit is also emulating Frontier in introducing a practice that is already common in Europe. Spirit will create a section of their cabin called “Go Comfy.”
Go Comfy is a brand-new seating option that offers increased comfort and space with a guaranteed blocked middle seat, one carry-on bag, one checked bag, priority boarding, and a snack and non-alcoholic beverage. Go Comfy will be available to book starting Aug. 16 and experience beginning Aug. 27.
Two Additional Sets of Fare Offerings For Everyone Else
Spirit is also offering “Go Saavy”. This product is a standard coach offering that “provides the choice of either one carry-on bag or one checked bag and standard seat selection during booking. Go Savvy will be available to book and experience starting Aug. 16.”
At the lowest level, Spirit is offering “Go“. Go offers the greatest affordability for those who want to keep it simple with the flexibility to purchase any of the following options: checked bags, standard seat selection, Wi-Fi, and snacks and beverages.
Go will be available to book and experience beginning Aug. 16. At this fare class, you will not be able to bring any carry on but you can pay to check a bag.
The airline is also moving to a more friendly fee structure. It is eliminating change or cancellation fees for all guests, allowing up to 50 pounds for all checked luggage and extending all future travel vouchers for up to 12 months.
Not the First Time Spirit Has Offered Business Class
While this may surprise some of you, this isn’t the first time that Spirit has offered more upscale service. When the airline was first formed in the early 1990s, it offered two class cabin service, much different than the ultra low cost carrier that it eventually evolved into today…err, yesterday!
