Spirit Airlines PHL–ORD

Spirit Airlines has received a lot of flack recently for being the worst airline in the country. I decided to test this claim and booked a flight from Philadelphia (PHL) to Chicago (ORD).

The Spirit website suggested arriving 45 minutes in advance of the departure time, so I arrived at the airport in the wee hours of the morning. Boarding went smoothly and I settled into my economy-class seat for the ride. Economy seats on Spirit are small, for sure, but they weren’t so small I could tell a huge difference from the other economy seats I’ve experienced. Last year, I flew Frontier and I actually think Spirit’s seats were better. Despite the supposedly smaller size, they weren’t terribly uncomfortable. I typically choose an aisle seat, so I can get up whenever I want, but Spirit’s assigned seating process meant I was in the middle seat. However, I didn’t feel cramped or crowded.

The flight was incredibly smooth, probably the smoothest I’ve had recently. The flight attendants were perfectly lovely and my seatmates plenty nice enough. My in-flight routine of ordering a cocktail and settling in for a few episodes of a favorite show went exactly as it always does.

A friend who was traveling with me booked the Big Front Seat, which is Spirit’s version of business class, and he actually enjoyed it. For just a small upcharge, you can enjoy a much larger seat, but that seems to be the only real perk. However, given the upcharge, which can be as little as $12 on some flights, it may be worth it for some travelers.

For me, the most attractive part of flying Spirit Airlines was the price. I was able to fly from Philadelphia to Chicago, round trip, for about $60 total. I’m a sucker for a travel deal and, when the flight is only around two hours, I can endure a small space.