Spirit Airlines Adds Premium Perks

Spirit Airlines introduced premium services on Tuesday by adding extra-legroom seats and two-free-checked-bags benefits for card members as part of its post-bankruptcy recovery plan. The airline will introduce 40 seats across seven rows with 32-inch pitch starting June to replace the “Go Comfy” option which includes carry-ons and no change fees and priority boarding and reserved bin space and snacks. The bag policy through Bank of America credit card will become available during the second half of 2025. Rana Ghosh the Senior VP explained that the new policy enhances loyalty member benefits while Southwest Airlines decided to eliminate free checked bags. The airline seeks to draw high-income leisure travelers through its premium suite offerings which mirror United and American Airlines’ recent premium suite introductions. The company’s strategy demonstrates industry-wide trends of premium service promotion during times of economic instability and Trump’s tariffs that increase operational costs. The airline faces challenges from low customer satisfaction and decreased US tourist numbers because it operates on a cheap-fare model that requires extra payments. The premium service initiative seeks to generate revenue growth after multiple years of financial losses but its success depends on capturing discretionary spending from consumers who remain cautious about their travel budgets due to inflation and tariffs.