As sacreligious as it sounds, this Spirit Status Match can help you get to Philly for less– it’s worth considering! Photo by: Evan Berman

“Wait, what, Spirit?” That may be your first reaction when reading this article but stay tuned for the logical reason you should go for (Spirit) Gold. Just note, if you are interested, this opportunity expires on April 23rd at 11:59pm PT.

Why on Earth Would I Want to Fly Spirit?

No, I’m not a masochist nor am I suggesting that you should be either. When you look at the 2022 rankings of airlines, a few things are clear:

• Delta is by far the best US airline, across the board
• Southwest has a strong (cultish?) following yet had a total meltdown in December
• Spirit ranks just behind the Big 3 and Alaska in almost every important stat.

For example, the most important parts of an airline are getting you there (not cancelling your flight) and on time (no delays). Spirit is 5th in on-time arrivals (behind only the Big 3 and Alaska), and 6th in Canceled Flights (behind the same 4 and Frontier), Extreme Delays (behind the Big 3 and Alaska), and Tarmac Delays (behind Delta, Alaska, United, and surprisingly, Allegiant). To be clear, I’m by no means advocating becoming a Spirit frequent flier. The airline still pales in comparison to Delta and Alaska as well as United and American. That being said, the stats are not as bad as you may think they are.

So if Spirit is a decent way to get to your destination on time, you may be worried about riding there in comfort. Spirit’s Big Front Seat could be worth the extra cash outlay. The price is subject to change based on route, timing, and other factors but is usually in the $42-$181 range. For example, let’s imagine that I want to fly to Philly for a quick Memorial Day Weekend getaway out at Atlantic City:

$91 for a nonstop that is pretty convenient over a holiday weekend is a great deal! When you head to select a seat (I’ll explain later how this should be free with one Big 😉 exception), you can see that the Big Front Seat is only $88. If you add that on, your total would be $180, $4 less than American in economy at a more convenient time. If you’re worried about baggage fees, hold that thought.

For what it’s worth, I’ve flown Spirit twice in the past 3 years and was delayed once due to snow in Ohio in the winter for 1.5 hours, but otherwise had no issues.

Big Front Seat:

The Big Front Seat is a nice concept. You pay for a bigger seat with extra legroom and only 1 neighbor, rather than 2. Other than that, there are no other benefits– you don’t get better service, food, or drinks.

I’ve gone over why travelling with Spirit is not as bad as you might think. Now let’s look at the way to really get a better travel experience.

Spirit’s Status Match Options:

Spirit has 2 levels of Elite Status: Silver and Gold. I’d recommend going for Gold if you are eligible.

Silver:

• Extra points (8x on Fares, 16x on ancillary purchases)
• Redemption Fee Waiver
• Free exit row seats
• Shortcut security and boarding
• Same-day standby
• Overweight baggage waiver

Gold:

Golf status has all of the same benefits of Silver as well as the following:

• Extra points (10x on Fares, 20x on ancillary purchases)
• Free checked bag
• Free carry-on bag
• Free drink and snack onboard
• Zone 1 boarding
• Free seat selection
• Pet fee waiver
• Free flight flex (1 free itinerary change)

I’ve bolded the most important benefits. Obviously it’s nice to get a free drink and snack, but that is not the end all be all. On the other hand, a free checked bag and carry-on can save $110 or more per flight! Even if you don’t want to pay for the Big Front Seat, a fallback option of a free exit row seat is not too shabby!

How to Status Match:

Follow this link to get to the Status Match application. You will need to pay the fee– $49 for Silver and $99 for Gold. The process is quick and simple and once you are matched, you will have the status for 12 months. Just remember: this opportunity is valid until April 23rd at 11:59pm PT. Here are the airline loyalty programs that are eligible for the match:

• Aerolíneas Argentinas Aerolíneas Plus
• Aeroméxico Club Premier
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Alaska Mileage Plan
• American AAdvantage
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Caribbean Airlines Caribbean Miles
• Copa ConnectMiles
• Delta SkyMiles
• Frontier Miles
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Southwest Rapid Rewards
• United MileagePlus
• WestJet Rewards

In addition, the following hotel programs are eligible:

• Accor ALL
• Best Western Rewards
• Choice Privileges
• GHA Discovery
• Hilton Honors
• IHG One Rewards
• Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club
• Marriott Bonvoy
• OMNI Select Guest
• Radisson Rewards
• Shangri-La Golden Circle
• Sonesta Travel Pass
• Taj InnerCircle
• World Hotels Rewards
• World of Hyatt
• Wyndham Rewards

Which is the Easiest Status to Match to Spirit Gold?

If you have the AmEx Platinum Card (review), you have Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold Status simply through having the card. Either of those status levels are eligible for matching to Spirit Gold. Note that most low level status levels (for example I have Delta Silver and American Gold, the respective entry-level status levels) are only eligible for the match to Silver.

How Spirit Status Can Be Worthwhile:

Remember the earlier example of me flying to Philly. Let’s assume for a second that I do not opt for the Big Front Seat. With Spirit Gold, I could fly for $91 with a carry-on and checked bag if I so desire. There are perks such as a free drink and snack but for now, let’s focus on the quantifiable benefits. That $91 is $93 less than the next cheapest flight (again assuming we do not ever fly Frontier). If you were to fly Spirit 3-4 times a year, it’s safe to assume the savings would be significantly more than paying for a flight with a Big 3 airline.

Why You Might Still Hold Off:

First of all, Spirit is still a Low Cost Carrier. You have a priority phone line but there is no guarantee that in the case of a delay or cancellation that the line will be able to assist you. Secondly, Spirit’s network is a fraction of that of American, Delta, or United. For example, my home airport of Charleston has a whopping 3 routes, with a planned 4th to Las Vegas starting later this year. While there are daily flights to each of these, should there be a delay or cancellation, it might be hard to get to my destination.

Summary:

Spirit Airlines is offering a status match to it’s top tier for $99. While you may have preconceived notions about their quality, I’d recommend at least viewing the routes Spirit flies from your home airport. Without paying bag fees for 12 months, you can save a great deal on flights compared with the Big 3 Airlines (American, Delta, and United). The savings from even 2-3 roundtrip flights will more than make up the $99 fee. Are you going for this Status Match?

Evan