I flew Spirit Airlines for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised, but the new ticket system gives me pause.

Gabbi ShawAug 16, 2024, 04:04 IST

Spirit Airlines has done a complete rehaul of the way it sells tickets.Mario Tama via Getty Images<ul class="summary-list"><li>I recently flew <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/spirit-airlines">Spirit Airlines</a> from New York to Florida.</li><li>Soon after, Spirit announced it was changing its entire ticketing system.</li></ul>I recently took a <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-to-disney-world-and-back-in-24-hours-costs-photos-2024-8">one-day trip to Disney World</a>. To save as much money as possible, I flew from New York to Orlando and back in one day so I wouldn't have to pay for hotels — and I chose to fly Spirit Airlines.In a time when airfare is seemingly getting more expensive, I couldn't resist trying out an ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) such as Spirit for the first time.But even though demand has remained high and ticket prices aren't getting any lower, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airlines-spirit-southwest-jetblue-struggle-profit-scrambling-changes-tickets-seats-2024-8">budget airlines are struggling</a> to turn a profit.Spirit alone lost $193 million from April through June of this year, according to the company's Q2 earnings release — even though, as CEO Ted Christie said, "Summer demand remains robust and load factors have been strong."To combat this, Spirit is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spirit-airlines-ticket-changes-bundled-fares-bags-snacks-premium-seats-2024-7">changing the way it sells tickets</a> starting August 16, for flights taking off on August 27"Our new travel options range from elevated to economical to meet the needs of all travelers," Spirit told Business Insider in a statement.Instead of choosing every extra amenity — such as snacks, WiFi, and extra legroom — à la carte, travelers will now have to pick between <a target="_blank" class href="https://content.spirit.com/Shared/en-us/InfoPage/SPIRIT_Comparison_Grid_Web.pdf">tiers of extras</a> bundled together, with names such as Go, Go Savvy, Go Comfy, and Go Big. The problem is that customers have already indicated <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spirit-airlines-says-flyers-spending-less-extras-like-food-baggage-2024-7">they're annoyed</a> by fees and aren't paying for extras.I've never flown Spirit or any low-cost carrier in the US before, so I didn't know what to expect. I now understand why Spirit is making this change … but I suspect some passengers might not like it.

Spirit Airlines is the largest ultra-low-cost carrier in North America and the seventh-largest passenger carrier overall in North America.

Spirit is known for its bright yellow planes.Ken Wolter/Shutterstock.com

I took a 24-hour trip to Disney World from New York City. To cut costs as much as possible, I decided to fly Spirit for $236 round-trip.

I had to get up at 3 a.m. to be at LaGuardia Airport on time.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The Spirit terminal at LaGuardia Airport is Terminal A. It's the only airline at this terminal.

It was still pitch-black when I arrived at the airport.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The parking lot was directly across the street from the terminal, which saved us time.

The parking lot was surprisingly full for the hour.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I could also see the trademark bright-yellow planes queuing up on the tarmac.

The yellow planes stuck out against the night sky.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

As I walked into the terminal, I was guided by the bright-yellow signs.

The terminal was bustling.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The terminal was organized, with signs directing passengers every step of the way.

The entire terminal was clearly marked with signs.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

One of the amenities available to purchase was the Big Front Seat.

The Big Front Seat will soon be limited to the most expensive tier.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

There were three security lines to choose from. You could pay more to get through quicker.

The security area could be best described as controlled chaos.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I was given two pieces of paper at the PreCheck line, which I'd never experienced before.

The Real ID requirement has been pushed back several times, but it seems that the May 2025 date is here to stay.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I arrived at the airport at 4:24 a.m. and was through security at 4:36 a.m. Even with how full my flight was, I found the boarding process to be quite organized.

People were lining up before the doors had opened.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Here's my seat: 18C. I paid extra for an aisle seat.

Instead of a TV, there was just a pocket on the back of the seat.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I also perused the menu before we took off. Everything, even water, cost extra.

A water bottle costs $4.49 on a Spirit flight.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I felt a bit cramped, but not much more than I do on any other flight.

I didn't think the legroom, or lack thereof, was much different than any other commercial flight I've been on.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

My flight home was delayed by around 30 minutes, which balanced out the 36 minutes I gained when my flight landed early that morning.

Again, people were lined up.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I'd definitely fly Spirit again, but only for shorter flights.

I'd fly Spirit again, but only under the right circumstances.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I anticipate that some customers might not like the new bundle system.

I'll be interested to see how Spirit customers take to the new system.Brandon Bell/Getty Images

I've been to the 10 most-visited US national parks. The most popular ones weren't necessarily my favorites.

Cookies on the Business Insider India website