What Is Shortcut Boarding On Spirit Airlines?

Spirit Airlines Fees: What to Know Before You Fly It can be easy to be fooled into thinking you scored a deal after nabbing a $26 flight to Las Vegas on Spirit Airlines. But while the airfare itself is certainly cheap, there’s a good chance your total flight costs will far exceed $26.

That’s because Spirit Airlines has one of the most comprehensive a la carte pricing models of any airline.
Spirit seats on their own tend to be tantalizingly cheap, but things that other airlines typically include in the cost of airfare — like soft drinks and reserved seats — will cost you extra.

Suddenly, your $26 flight might start to cost the same, or even more, than the fares listed for non-budget airlines.

» Learn more: Base fares include one personal item, like a laptop bag or purse. But don’t think you can get away with not having to pay by stuffing all your possessions into a backpack, as even that might not fit. Spirit defines a personal item as anything 18 by 14 by 8 inches or smaller.

Even something like would be too large by Spirit standards. For larger bags, like that backpack or rolling luggage, there’s a good chance that the cost to fly your stuff is more than the cost to fly yourself. Spirit doesn’t publish standard bag fees, as they can vary not only based on route but also on when you pay for them.

And the longer you wait, the more you’ll pay. If you’re paying at the gate, you could end up paying nearly twice as much as if you had paid the bag fee at the time of booking. While fees can fluctuate, here’s what Spirit bag fees look like for the aforementioned $26 flight between Seattle and Las Vegas:


During Spirit.com booking
After booking, but before checking in online

At the airport (before the gate)

And that’s assuming your baggage weighs 40 pounds or less. Here are the additional fees you’d pay per bag if transporting large or heavy items:

	Additional charge (on top of bag fee)
Baggage weighing 41-50 lbs.
Baggage weighing 51–70 lbs.
Baggage weighing 71–100 lbs.
Items measuring 63-80 linear inches (length + width + height)
Items over 80 linear inches (length + width + height)

Surfboard (maximum of 2 surfboards per bag)

For customers enrolled in Spirit’s add-on membership program called Spirit Saver$ Club, there’s some good news: Bag fees are discounted. The membership costs $69.95 for 12 months, $99.90 ($5 savings) for 18 months and $129.90 ($10 savings) for 24 months. Here’s how much typical bag fees cost for that same flight if you’re a member of the Spirit Saver$ Club:


During Spirit.com booking
After booking, but before checking in online

At the airport (before the gate)

Depending on the size of your bag, it might not be considered a personal item, even if it fits under the seat in front of you. What’s more, you might not be able to carry it on, even if you think it’s a relatively small suitcase. Here’s how Spirit defines each type of bag:

Personal item: Maximum of 18 by 14 by 8 inches, including handles and wheels. Carry-on: Maximum of 22 by 18 by 10 inches, including handles and wheels. Checked bag: Maximum of 62 linear inches (length plus width plus height) including handles and wheels, and less than 100 pounds (overweight/oversize baggage fees apply).

Change fees are on hold temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally though, there’s a good chance that the cost to change or cancel your flight ends up being more than the cost of the flight itself. Spirit does not offer any sort of refundable fare, but it does provide some options to change and cancel reservations.

Spirit typically charges $90 to cancel your reservation online and an even heftier $100 to cancel over the phone or at the airport. Perhaps what stings even worse than paying $90 to cancel your flight: You won’t get the amount you paid refunded back to your original form of payment. Instead, you get it as a Reservation Credit toward future Spirit flights.

And adding insult to injury is that those credits have an expiration date; typically, your new flight made with the Reservation Credit must be booked within one year from the original date of purchase. If you’re changing your flight within 24 hours of departure, you can pay $99 to stand by for an earlier flight.

If you booked an award ticket, expect to pay even more.
The change fee is $110, and you still must pay the difference of any additional miles required for your new itinerary.

» Learn more: Act quickly.
As long as you’re booking a flight at least seven days before departure, Spirit does not charge a fee if the flight is changed or canceled within 24 hours after the initial purchase.

Money is refunded to the original form of payment. Book a Flight Flex (though we don’t recommend it). Flight Flex is a sort of insurance program offered by Spirit Airlines that allows you to modify your flight once without having to pay a change fee. But Flight Flex comes with its own fee which, like bag fees, can vary by flight.

For this $26 flight between Seattle and Las Vegas, the cost to add the Flight Flex option was $45. And Flight Flex comes with restrictions, including that you are entitled to only one change, and you need to make the change more than 24 hours before the scheduled flight. Plus, you’re still on the hook to pay for any difference in fares.

Here’s why Flight Flex is generally a bad deal: Say you’re changing your $26 flight to a new $100 flight. With Flight Flex, you would have paid $71 (that’s $45 for the Flight Flex option plus $26 for the original flight). You also still owe $74 to make up the fare difference, which means changing to a new $100 flight ends up costing $145 after all the fees.

Flight Flex is also included as part of Spirit’s Bundle It Combo (more on that later), which removes the a la carte aspect and instead packages a bunch of add-ons for one fee. If you want the ability to change your flight and anticipate checking bags anyway, the bundle option can make more sense. There’s no fee to check in online for your Spirit flight.

Once checked in, print your boarding pass at home, too, because it’s free. But if you fail to plan ahead, you’ll have to pay up. If you need to print your boarding pass at an airport kiosk, it costs $2. If you’re a luddite who prefers bypassing the kiosk in favor of a human, it costs even more: $10 to have your boarding pass printed by an airport agent.

Spirit waives those fees in a few circumstances, such as if you’re traveling as an unaccompanied minor, with a lap infant, or if you’re using a military ID instead of a passport and are unable to check in online. Whether you’re trying to avoid the middle seat or you just want to guarantee that you can sit next to your kid, it’s going to cost you to choose your seat ahead of time.

Spirit doesn’t have a published list of seat assignment pricing as it varies per flight, though the airline says all seat reservations start at a minimum of $5. But $5 is a liberal assumption for how much you’ll actually pay to reserve your seats. Here’s how much seat assignments cost on that same $26 flight between Seattle and Las Vegas: The “Big Front Seats” have more legroom, are wider (no middle seat in the row) and cost an additional $40. The often-coveted seats in the emergency exit rows cost $20, and even a middle seat near the back costs $12 to reserve. All refreshments sold in-flight on Spirit come with a fee, such as coffee ($2), sodas and juices ($3), beer and wine ($8) and snacks like Pringles or Oreos (starting at $3).

Spirit charges $110 per pet container, each way, with a limit of four pets total in the cabin. Spirit allows you to put two pets in one container. If you are traveling with a pet or two, they’ll always ride with you in-cabin, as Spirit does not transport pets in cargo. And even still, there are a number of limitations.

Pets need to be small, since the container must fit under the seat, and pets must be able to stand and turn around in the container. Plus, the combined weight of the pet and carrier must be 40 pounds or less. For an additional fee, you can whiz through security and be one of the first to board the plane.

Starting at $5.99, Spirit’s “Shortcut Boarding” access allows you priority boarding in Zone 2. Depending on the airport you’re departing from, you may also be able to pay for “Shortcut Security,” though we don’t recommend it. It’s not, but it will allow you to go through security in an expedited lane.

Costs vary per airport but don’t exceed $15, though it’s not a guarantee your airport even offers the Shortcut Security program. Is your kid flying alone? That’s an extra $100. You’ll get hit with that unaccompanied minor fee if the child is 5-14 years old.

On the bright side, Spirit will throw in a free snack and drink for your kid, a solid $6 value.
Spirit won’t allow children to fly alone if they’re 4 or younger, or if they’re traveling on a connecting flight, international flights or domestic flights that include a scheduled change of aircraft.

Spirit offers bundled packages during the booking process.

If you anticipate paying for a number of these fees anyway, then bundling them isn’t a bad deal. Going back to that same flight between Seattle and Las Vegas, it costs $52.99 more for the Boost It package and $64.99 for the Bundle It package. Here’s how much it would cost to order a la carte what you can get in the combo packages for one set price: Boost It package (costs $52.99):

Pick Your Seat: $20 (exit row!). Personal item: $0 (already included with airfare). Checked Bag plus 10 pounds extra: $33 (if the bag weighs 40 pounds or less) or $63 (if it weighs 50 pounds or less). Shortcut Boarding: $5.99.

The Boost It package is worth $88.99 in this scenario (if you take advantage of the 50 pound allowance), which is a $36 savings. If your bag is less than 40 pounds ($33) but you want to pick a seat ($20) and have Shortcut Boarding ($5.99), then you save only a few dollars on the Boost It bundle price.

Personal item: $0 (already included with airfare). Checked Bag plus 10 pounds extra: $33 (if the bag weighs 40 pounds or less) or $63 (if it weighs 50 pounds or less). Shortcut Boarding: $5.99.

*It’s tough to assign a value to Spirit miles because you accrue a different number of miles based on your status within the Free Spirit program. The 2x miles aside, the Bundle It package is worth $133.99 in this scenario, which is a $69 savings if you were to buy each item individually at booking.

Spirit says it’s a $104 savings value, based on the company’s own mileage valuation.
Again, if you are packing that oversize bag (between 40 and 50 pounds) or you want the Flight Flex option (which we don’t really recommend), then it’s worth it.
But if you want only a few things — say one checked bag that weighs less than 40 pounds, the ability to choose your seat and shortcut boarding — keep buying a la carte.

In NerdWallet’s annual, Spirit ranked second-to-last for lowest average fees. The only airline that had higher fees was fellow budget airline Frontier. Spirit passengers can expect to spend an average of $137 on fees, including about $56 for a checked bag and $60 for a carry-on, plus $21 for seat selection.

Frequently asked questions What fees does Spirit Airlines charge? Spirit is a low-cost carrier, which means that the price you pay for the flight will include only the ticket itself.
You will need to pay for everything you’d like to add such as bags, printing your boarding pass at the airport, selecting your seat, change fees, award redemption fees, meals on the flight, early boarding and more.

The fees fluctuate based on when you purchase these add-ons, so a bag purchased at booking will be cheaper than if you purchase it at the gate. Is Spirit really cheaper? Because Spirit is a low-cost carrier, you will need to pay extra for everything other than the flight.

So, if you’ll be checking a bag, printing your boarding pass at the airport, purchasing food on the plane and paying for a seat up front, you’ll end up paying for each of these add-ons, which will increase the price of your ticket.
If you often fly with Spirit and value these extras, the carrier offers the Spirit Saver$ Club, which provides discounts on bags, seats and more.

Do you have to pay for seats on Spirit? Spirit will assign a random seat to you during the check-in process. However, if you’d like to choose your own seat or select one at booking, you will need to pay for it. The proximity to the front of the plane also affects the cost of the seat.

If you’re interested in the Big Front Seat, which is Spirit’s equivalent of domestic first class, it will be cheaper to purchase this seat in advance instead of at the airport. Is a backpack free on Spirit? You are allowed one personal item (e.g., purse, small backpack) free of charge. The dimensions must not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) including handles and wheels.

If your backpack is larger, refer to the carry-on and checked bag price list. What fees does Spirit Airlines charge? Spirit is a low-cost carrier, which means that the price you pay for the flight will include only the ticket itself. You will need to pay for everything you’d like to add such as bags, printing your boarding pass at the airport, selecting your seat, change fees, award redemption fees, meals on the flight, early boarding and more.

The fees fluctuate based on when you purchase these add-ons, so a bag purchased at booking will be cheaper than if you purchase it at the gate.

Is Spirit really cheaper? Because Spirit is a low-cost carrier, you will need to pay extra for everything other than the flight.
So, if you’ll be checking a bag, printing your boarding pass at the airport, purchasing food on the plane and paying for a seat up front, you’ll end up paying for each of these add-ons, which will increase the price of your ticket.

If you often fly with Spirit and value these extras, the carrier offers the Spirit Saver$ Club, which provides discounts on bags, seats and more. Do you have to pay for seats on Spirit? Spirit will assign a random seat to you during the check-in process.

However, if you’d like to choose your own seat or select one at booking, you will need to pay for it. The proximity to the front of the plane also affects the cost of the seat. If you’re interested in the Big Front Seat, which is Spirit’s equivalent of domestic first class, it will be cheaper to purchase this seat in advance instead of at the airport.

Is a backpack free on Spirit? You are allowed one personal item (e.g., purse, small backpack) free of charge. The dimensions must not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) including handles and wheels. If your backpack is larger, refer to the carry-on and checked bag price list.

Book your $26 flight, but expect to spend a lot more than that.

You might have thought you could get away without a carry-on when you booked the flight, but as you start packing, you realize you’ll need a small rolling suitcase.
That’s an extra $45 at check-in.
You don’t have a printer, so you’ll have to pay $2 to print your boarding pass at the airport kiosk.

You don’t want the middle seat so you accept you’ll pay $14 to choose an aisle, but why pay $14 for an aisle when it’s only $6 more for the exit row aisle? You pay $20 to choose a good seat. Once flying, you pay $3 for a ginger ale. While your credit card is already out, you throw in Sea Salt PopCorners for $4.

Suddenly, your $26 flight has become $100.
That’s not even including a number of other fees you might end up paying too, like pet fees, priority boarding, cancellation fees and more.

Don’t be fooled into thinking Spirit has ultra-cheap fares.
Traveling with Spirit is cheap if you pack uber-light — and pack your own snacks.

For budget travelers who can plan ahead, Spirit can be a deal. But pay attention when booking, because your “cheap” Spirit flight might cost more than a ticket on any of the other airlines. : Spirit Airlines Fees: What to Know Before You Fly

What is Zone 2 shortcut boarding?

Final Thoughts – Spirit is the airline people love to hate. It charges low fares and then adds on costs for everything else you need, including printing boarding passes at the airport and beverages on board. But it’s really not much different from other ultra-low-cost carriers around the world.

Sure, flying with Spirit isn’t the same as the legacy U.S. carriers like, and — but choosing Spirit can really save you a lot of money. The flight experience typically isn’t that bad either, as long as you know what to expect. By learning about its boarding procedure ahead of time, you are already a step ahead of the other passengers.

You’ll be ready to go when you get to the airport, and might even be able to help some other customers understand what’s going on (and if you’ve got other questions relating to Spirit Airlines, check out our ).

Flying on Spirit Airlines isn’t for everyone, but if you are looking for a cheap way to get from point A to point B and you don’t mind giving up some of the comforts of traditional airlines, Spirit is really a great option that you should look at.

Now that you know how to board, maybe we will see you at the gate!
The information regarding the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard® and the Free Spirit® Travel Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Yes, Spirit Airlines uses assigned seating for all of its flights. If you want to choose your seat, you can pay a fee ahead of time to pick the one you want. Fees vary depending on where on the plane the seat is, with exit rows and other premium seat locations costing more.

Passengers who choose not to pay to choose their seat will have a seat randomly assigned to them at check-in. Spirit Airlines uses 4 boarding zones for loading its flights. In addition to those 4 numbered zones, Spirit offers pre-boarding to passengers in need of extra assistance and family boarding to families traveling with children 3 and under.

Boarding Zone 1 on Spirit Airlines includes all passengers who have purchased a carry-on bag for the flight. These passengers are allowed to board in the first zone so that all overhead bags will be stowed before the remainder of the plane boards, thus speeding up the overall process.

Boarding Zone 2 on Spirit Airlines includes passengers who purchased Shortcut Boarding, passengers who have Gold or Silver status with Spirit, and cardholders of the Free Spirit World Elite card or Free Spirit card. Boarding Zone 3 on Spirit Airlines is the first of its general boarding zones and usually includes passengers seated in the back half of the plane.

Boarding Zone 4 on Spirit Airlines is the second and last of its general boarding zones and usually includes passengers seated in the front half of the plane. On Spirit Airlines, passengers with disabilities and passengers who need special assistance are eligible for pre-boarding.

If you would like to take advantage of pre-boarding, you should see a gate agent before the boarding process begins. When flying on Spirit Airlines, families traveling with children who are age 3 or under are allowed to board between Boarding Zone 2 and Boarding Zone 3. Families will be able to board after elite members, credit card holders, and those who have paid for priority boarding, but before general boarding begins.

: Spirit Airlines Boarding Zones & Process – Everything You Need To Know

What is Zone 3 boarding on Spirit?

Spirit Airlines – Boarding Groups: Zones 1 to 4. Zone 1 passengers have purchased carry-on bags; Zone 3 fliers are toward the back of the plane; Zone 4 fliers are toward the front of the plane. What’s new: n/a Preboarding: Passengers with disabilities and those traveling with children under the age of 2.

How does Spirit seating work?

Don’t care where you sit? Spirit will randomly assign you a seat at check-in for free, but we can’t guarantee that you’ll get to sit with your friends or family. You can purchase a seat assignment and choose the seat you really want. Seat assignments start at just $5 and vary according to specific routes and location in the aircraft.

For a little bit more, a Big Front Seat™ comes with extra legroom.
You can view seat prices for your flight on the Seats page when you book online, in My Trips, or during Online Check-in (within 24 hours of departure).
Big Front Seats are located in the first rows of our aircraft and feature up to 32% more legroom than the Deluxe Leather Seats.

Big Front Seats™ are also wider and do not have a middle seat between them. Airbus A319 (319) – 145 Seats

10 Big Front Seats at the front of the plane (Pitch: 37″, Width: 22″, Under Seat Area: 20.8″x22″ at widest point) 135 deluxe leather seats (Pitch: 28-31″, Width: 17″, Under Seat Area: 18″x20″) 9 seats reserved for Guests with disabilities Non-moveable armrest seats: Rows 1-5 2 non-window seats in the last row 6 exit seats over the wings (Pitch: 38″) 2 galleys – 1 on the right of the front and 1 on the right of the back of the plane 2 lavatories – 1 on the left of the front and 1 on the back of the plane

Dimensions – Front: 37″x84″x46″, Back: 37″x80″x58″

6 exits – 2 in the front, 2 over the wing, 2 in the back Aisle width: 17″

Airbus A320 (32A/32N) – 182 Seats

8 Big Front Seats at the front of the plane (Pitch: Row 1 – 22″, Row 2 – 34″, Width: 22.8″, Under Seat Area: 20.75″x20″ at widest point) 174 deluxe leather seats (Pitch: 28-29″, Width: 16″, Under Seat Area: 18″x19″) 12 seats reserved for Guests with disabilities Non-moveable armrest seats: Rows 1-3 12 exit seats over the wings 2 galleys – 1 on the right of the front and 1 galley on the right back of the plane 3 lavatories – 1 lavatory on the left of the front and 2 lavatories at the back middle and left of the plane (these two lavatories combined can become one wheelchair-accessible lavatory)

Dimensions – Front: 37″x84″x46″, Back, when combined: 78″x87″x57″)

8 exits – 2 in the front, 4 over the wings, and 2 in the back Aisle width: 24″

Airbus A321 (32B) – 228 Seats

8 Big Front Seats at the front of the plane (Pitch: Row 1 – 22″, Row 2 – 34″, Width: 22″, Under Seat Area: 20.75″x20″ at widest point) 220 deluxe leather seats (Pitch: 28″, Width: 17″, Under Seat Area: 18″x19″) 12 seats reserved for Guests with disabilities Non-moveable armrest seats: Rows 1-3 6 exit seats before the wings (Pitch: 66″) 6 exit seats behind the wings (Pitch: 67″) 2 galleys – 1 galley on the right of the front and 1 galley on the right back of the plane 3 lavatories – 1 lavatory on the left of the front and 2 lavatories at the back middle and left of the plane (these two lavatories combined can become one wheelchair-accessible lavatory)

Dimensions – Front: 37″x84″46″, Back, when combined: 78″x87″x57″

8 exits – 2 in the front, 2 before the wings, 2 after the wings, and 2 in the back Aisle width: 17″

Accessible Lavatory for On-board Wheelchair Spirit offers accessible lavatories on our Airbus 320 and 321 aircraft. These lavatories permit an individual with a disability to enter, exit, and maneuver within using the aircraft’s on-board wheelchair. The two single lavatories located in the aft section are equipped with a feature that allows them to be re-configured or converted into one bigger lavatory to accommodate these Guests.

What time does Spirit start boarding?

When do I need to be at the boarding gate? – Boarding closes at the following times for Spirit Airlines (NK) flights:

15 minutes before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights 30 minutes before scheduled departure time for international flights to/from the US

What zone is shortcut boarding?

Priority boarding – Passengers who pay for their carry-on bags ahead of time are given priority while other passengers are awarded Zone 3 or 4 (no priority). You can pay to get Zone 2 boarding (“Shortcut Boarding”) for $5.99 per person each way, If you are a person needing special assistance or traveling with small children, you are invited to board earlier than other passengers at not added cost.

What is shortcut boarding on Spirit Zone 1?

What is Shortcut Security™? Shortcut Security access is available in select airport locations (see below) and gives access to the quickest possible lane to get through the security screening experience. At some airports, these are expedited queuing lanes – not necessarily dedicated screening lanes.

Shortcut Security is available for purchase for individual departures.
How do I purchase Shortcut Security? Shortcut Security is offered to customers during booking at Spirit.com on the extras page.
Don’t worry; you can always add it to your reservation if you change your mind in My Trips or during Online Check-in.

Shortcut security isn’t offered in all airports. Shortcut Security has limited availability and may not be available for purchase during certain times – this helps us prevent having too many people in line and slowing it down (which would be a total bummer).

Where Do I Go? Just head to the security checkpoint – In some airports, Shortcut Security signage will be visible at the security checkpoint entrance, but may also be referred to as “priority,” “premium,” or “business/first class” lanes at others. If you have any questions on how to use Shortcut Security, a Spirit Customer Service Agent will be happy to assist.

What qualifications are necessary to purchase Shortcut Security? Zip – Zero – Nada (yep, we’ve made it easy!) Shortcut Security is available for all passengers to purchase. Just have your standard identification for travel and your boarding pass indicating you’ve purchased Shortcut Security ready and head to the appropriate line at the security checkpoint.

I purchased Shortcut Security but am traveling with friends/family that did not. Can they take advantage of Shortcut Security? Sorry, only customers who have purchased Shortcut Security are eligible for the benefits. Is this TSA PreCheck™? No, Shortcut Security isn’t TSA PreCheck. It gives customers the ability to get to security screening using one of the fastest lines available.

Customers who have TSA PreCheck have access to special security lanes/privileges not available with Shortcut Security. Spirit is now participating in the TSA PreCheck program. Are there guarantees of time savings? Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee actual time savings, however, this product is designed to give you the fastest access to security lanes in airports where available.

ATL – Atlanta, Georgia BOS – Boston, Massachusetts BWI – Baltimore, Maryland CLE – Cleveland, Ohio DEN – Denver, Colorado DTW – Detroit, Michigan FLL – Fort Lauderdale, Florida LAS – Las Vegas, Nevada LAX – Los Angeles, California LGA – New York, New York La Guardia MSY – New Orleans, Louisiana OAK – Oakland, California ORD – Chicago, Illinois PDX – Portland, Oregon PHX – Phoenix, Arizona RSW – Fort Myers, Florida SAN – San Diego, California SJU – San Juan, Puerto Rico

How do I get Zone 1 boarding?

Final Thoughts –

By following what we’ve outlined and learning how Frontier’s boarding will work before you get to the airport, you’re already a step ahead of the game.
Frontier is definitely a low-cost carrier but if you know what you’re doing, it can be a great way to get where you are going and save some money along the way.
The information regarding the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frontier Airlines uses 3 pre-boarding groups — Special Services, Zone 1 Priority Boarding, and Courtesy Boarding — before it boards the majority of its passengers through General Boarding. General Boarding contains Zone 2, 3, and 4 groups going from the rear to the front of the plane.

Yes, Frontier Airlines uses assigned seating on all of its flights.
To select your own seat, you need to pay a fee.

Otherwise, a seat will be assigned to you when you check in for your flight.
On Frontier Airlines, passengers needing a wheelchair or other boarding assistance and unaccompanied minors can board the plane first as a part of the Special Services group.

On Frontier Airlines, Zone 1 and Priority Boarding are the same thing. The Zone includes passengers who purchase a carry-on bag, passengers who purchase the WORKS or the PERKS package for their flight, and Elite members of the myFRONTIER Miles program.

Zone 1 and Priority Boarding are 2 names for the same boarding zone on Frontier Airlines.
Passengers who purchase a carry-on, passengers who purchase the WORKS or the PERKS package, and elite members of myFRONTIER Miles are eligible to board with Zone 1 Priority Boarding.
Courtesy Boarding on Frontier Airlines takes place right before General Boarding.

Families traveling with small children (under 3 years old) and other passengers requiring additional time or assistance are eligible to board when Courtesy Boarding is called. After myFRONTIER Elite members, passengers who have purchased Priority Boarding, and those passengers who are in need of special assistance are done boarding, all remaining passengers are in the General Boarding zone on Frontier Airlines.

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An error occurred please try again later : Frontier Airlines Boarding Zones & Process — Everything You Need To Know

Is Spirit shortcut security worth it?

Is Spirit Shortcut Security Worth the Cost? – At $6 I don’t think you can wrong at airports like Denver or Orlando where TSA is usually a mess. I don’t know if the prices change depending on the airport or time of day etc. If the cost stays around $6 then I think it can be useful.

But at airports like Detroit, my home airport, the lines are never very long and it doesn’t make sense.
If you are ever running late and just want to be sure you will make it in time then this is a good back up plan to have.
If you have a credit card like the Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve that has a $100 Global Entry credit (which comes with TSA Precheck) then that is the way to go.

Spirit shortcut security will not be useful for anyone who has TSA Precheck most of the time. There are occasions, like Denver early in the morning, when the precheck line is backed up quite a bit. If that is the case and you are on a tight schedule it could make sense to pay the extra money.

Does Spirit have priority boarding?

That’s because Spirit Airlines has one of the most comprehensive a la carte pricing models of any airline. Spirit seats on their own tend to be tantalizingly cheap, but things that other airlines typically include in the cost of airfare — like soft drinks and reserved seats — will cost you extra. Suddenly, your $26 flight might start to cost the same, or even more, than the fares listed for non-budget airlines.

Even something like would be too large by Spirit standards. For larger bags, like that backpack or rolling luggage, there’s a good chance that the cost to fly your stuff is more than the cost to fly yourself. Spirit doesn’t publish standard bag fees, as they can vary not only based on route but also on when you pay for them.


During Spirit.com booking
After booking, but before checking in online

At the airport (before the gate)

And that’s assuming your baggage weighs 40 pounds or less. Here are the additional fees you’d pay per bag if transporting large or heavy items:

	Additional charge (on top of bag fee)
Baggage weighing 41-50 lbs.
Baggage weighing 51–70 lbs.
Baggage weighing 71–100 lbs.
Items measuring 63-80 linear inches (length + width + height)
Items over 80 linear inches (length + width + height)

Surfboard (maximum of 2 surfboards per bag)


During Spirit.com booking
After booking, but before checking in online

At the airport (before the gate)

Spirit typically charges $90 to cancel your reservation online and an even heftier $100 to cancel over the phone or at the airport. Perhaps what stings even worse than paying $90 to cancel your flight: You won’t get the amount you paid refunded back to your original form of payment. Instead, you get it as a Reservation Credit toward future Spirit flights.

If you booked an award ticket, expect to pay even more. The change fee is $110, and you still must pay the difference of any additional miles required for your new itinerary. » Learn more: Act quickly. As long as you’re booking a flight at least seven days before departure, Spirit does not charge a fee if the flight is changed or canceled within 24 hours after the initial purchase.

For this $26 flight between Seattle and Las Vegas, the cost to add the Flight Flex option was $45.
And Flight Flex comes with restrictions, including that you are entitled to only one change, and you need to make the change more than 24 hours before the scheduled flight.
Plus, you’re still on the hook to pay for any difference in fares.

Flight Flex is also included as part of Spirit’s Bundle It Combo (more on that later), which removes the a la carte aspect and instead packages a bunch of add-ons for one fee.
If you want the ability to change your flight and anticipate checking bags anyway, the bundle option can make more sense.

There’s no fee to check in online for your Spirit flight.

Spirit waives those fees in a few circumstances, such as if you’re traveling as an unaccompanied minor, with a lap infant, or if you’re using a military ID instead of a passport and are unable to check in online. Whether you’re trying to avoid the middle seat or you just want to guarantee that you can sit next to your kid, it’s going to cost you to choose your seat ahead of time.

Spirit charges $110 per pet container, each way, with a limit of four pets total in the cabin.
Spirit allows you to put two pets in one container.
If you are traveling with a pet or two, they’ll always ride with you in-cabin, as Spirit does not transport pets in cargo.

And even still, there are a number of limitations.

Starting at $5.99, Spirit’s “Shortcut Boarding” access allows you priority boarding in Zone 2.

Depending on the airport you’re departing from, you may also be able to pay for “Shortcut Security,” though we don’t recommend it.
It’s not, but it will allow you to go through security in an expedited lane.

On the bright side, Spirit will throw in a free snack and drink for your kid, a solid $6 value.
Spirit won’t allow children to fly alone if they’re 4 or younger, or if they’re traveling on a connecting flight, international flights or domestic flights that include a scheduled change of aircraft.
Spirit offers bundled packages during the booking process.

Personal item: $0 (already included with airfare). Checked Bag plus 10 pounds extra: $33 (if the bag weighs 40 pounds or less) or $63 (if it weighs 50 pounds or less). Shortcut Boarding: $5.99.

Spirit says it’s a $104 savings value, based on the company’s own mileage valuation. Again, if you are packing that oversize bag (between 40 and 50 pounds) or you want the Flight Flex option (which we don’t really recommend), then it’s worth it. But if you want only a few things — say one checked bag that weighs less than 40 pounds, the ability to choose your seat and shortcut boarding — keep buying a la carte.

Frequently asked questions What fees does Spirit Airlines charge? Spirit is a low-cost carrier, which means that the price you pay for the flight will include only the ticket itself. You will need to pay for everything you’d like to add such as bags, printing your boarding pass at the airport, selecting your seat, change fees, award redemption fees, meals on the flight, early boarding and more.

So, if you’ll be checking a bag, printing your boarding pass at the airport, purchasing food on the plane and paying for a seat up front, you’ll end up paying for each of these add-ons, which will increase the price of your ticket.
If you often fly with Spirit and value these extras, the carrier offers the Spirit Saver$ Club, which provides discounts on bags, seats and more.

If you’re interested in the Big Front Seat, which is Spirit’s equivalent of domestic first class, it will be cheaper to purchase this seat in advance instead of at the airport.
Is a backpack free on Spirit? You are allowed one personal item (e.g., purse, small backpack) free of charge.
The dimensions must not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) including handles and wheels.

The fees fluctuate based on when you purchase these add-ons, so a bag purchased at booking will be cheaper than if you purchase it at the gate.
Is Spirit really cheaper? Because Spirit is a low-cost carrier, you will need to pay extra for everything other than the flight.
So, if you’ll be checking a bag, printing your boarding pass at the airport, purchasing food on the plane and paying for a seat up front, you’ll end up paying for each of these add-ons, which will increase the price of your ticket.

However, if you’d like to choose your own seat or select one at booking, you will need to pay for it.
The proximity to the front of the plane also affects the cost of the seat.
If you’re interested in the Big Front Seat, which is Spirit’s equivalent of domestic first class, it will be cheaper to purchase this seat in advance instead of at the airport.

Book your $26 flight, but expect to spend a lot more than that.
You might have thought you could get away without a carry-on when you booked the flight, but as you start packing, you realize you’ll need a small rolling suitcase.
That’s an extra $45 at check-in.
You don’t have a printer, so you’ll have to pay $2 to print your boarding pass at the airport kiosk.

Suddenly, your $26 flight has become $100.
That’s not even including a number of other fees you might end up paying too, like pet fees, priority boarding, cancellation fees and more.
Don’t be fooled into thinking Spirit has ultra-cheap fares.
Traveling with Spirit is cheap if you pack uber-light — and pack your own snacks.

How long does it take to board Spirit?

Please be prepared and give yourself plenty of time for your upcoming trip. We recommend arriving at least two hours prior to your scheduled departure for domestic flights and at least three hours prior to a departure for an international flight. Also, the TSA screening requirements have recently changed and require that guests checking bags at the ticket counter or Bag Drop will need to do so at least 45 minutes before scheduled departure ( 60 minutes for international and U.S.V.I.

Flights), but no more than 4 hours prior to the scheduled departure time.
Spirit may cancel a reservation or seat assignment for any guest without a boarding pass at least 45 minutes prior to a scheduled departure (60 minutes for international and U.S.V.I. flights).
Please be available for boarding at the gate at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled domestic departure and 30 minutes prior to your international departure or you may lose your reservation.

In the event of a delay, we recommend that guests remain in the gate area for updates and possible early departures.

Does the Spirit app show you your boarding pass?

iPhone Screenshots – Our newly redesigned app has been enhanced to provide a more dynamic relevant experience where you can stay informed and use more self-serve capabilities. Its only the beginning, more to come! Ready for More Go? With the Spirit Airlines app, easily manage all your trips in one place.

Book your next getaway, check-in for your flight, get your boarding pass, and receive flight status updates when you actually need them. Travel faster and lighter than ever before with your new travel app companion. My Trips – Get the information you need right at your fingertips with all your upcoming trips in one place.

Quickly see your flight status, gate/terminal, seat assignment, and much more! – Get notified when it’s time to check-in so you’re ready to go the next day – Access your boarding pass and move hassle-free through the airport – Need to make a change? Quickly update your seats, add bags or options to your trip Book Flights – Find and quickly book your next getaway with ease Flight Status – Stay up-to-date with the latest flight notifications informing you of any impacting changes – Easily check flight statuses so you know when your family and friends are arriving My Account – Sign up for Free Spirit® to start earning points immediately and use for award travel – View your member number, tier status and track your point balance – See points required to achieve next tier status – Personalize your profile with your own avatar Jan 26, 2023 Version 2.15.0 -Bug fixes and maintenance.

Which airline has the fastest boarding process?

Southwest Airlines Boarding Process – Southwest Airlines has the most efficient, fastest boarding process in the business. The airline has an open seating policy, which allows them to board passengers faster. Southwest may begin boarding 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure time, and asks that passengers be in the boarding area no later than this.

How much is a carry-on on Spirit?

Spirit Airlines Checked Baggage

Baggage Type	During Online Check-In (Standard Fare)	Airport
Carry-On Bag	$41	$55
1st Checked Bag	$36	$50
2nd Checked Bag	$46	$60
3rd-5th Checked Bag	$91	$100

Can you board before your zone is called?

Is Boarding During Another Zone’s Time OK? – As for whether you can board with a zone that’s not your allotted one, it depends. Silva says to board only when your zone is called, Alexis Tiacoh, public relations manager at Expedia, agrees. “I’d encourage travelers to board when their respective status, ticket type, or zone is called,” she tells Bustle.

There are exceptions to this rule: as mentioned above, anyone who needs extra assistance can board first.
Often, airlines will invite active duty military to board early as well.
But, what if they’ve already called your zone and you missed it? Schoenthal says it’s then OK to go up to the front of the line.

“But never do so before your boarding group is called,” she says. Mindy, a former flight attendant who asked to use her first name to protect her privacy, says that some people probably do try to get on before their zone is called, but advises against doing so.

Is Zone 2 Easy?

For most people they are under the impression that they should go hard in every session. They get fixed on certain paces all the time because they think they will not improve and therefore neglect the easy days and even go too hard on easy days as a result.

The most common thought is “if I train hard and fast I will get faster” but that is not the case and you need to be clever in your training and like many of the pros they train in zone 2 to get faster.
We all know that well known saying “go slow to get fast”.
If you keep training hard you with keep having bad training days and likely spend a long time each year on the sidelines.

What is zone 2 training? Zone 2 is steady training just coming above the easy zone, It’s not moderate or anything above. The main benefit form zone 2 heart rate or zone 2 power is that it builds aerobic base and endurance. By Improving aerobic capacity this improves your ability to maintain a faster pace for a longer period of time. Why is Zone 2 training important? One of my coaches Mark Shepherd is very critical on me for my training and the majority of his training he gives me is all in zone 2. He stresses the importance of zone training every week. I also believe in this training; before Mark I went on studies on how to improve and the main finding was I was training too hard although I thought it was easy.

I had my zones adjusted to my heart rate max and since that study in 2015, I have improved a lot from training in zone 2. So when Mark gave me my training I was no stranger to this. Of course lots of people think they are doing it right but I see it all the time on Strava and can tell it’s wrong. Zone 2 training should be a big bulk of your weekly training and for the benefits mentioned above it also leaves you feeling like you can go on for ever, fresh, recover and therefore really target your hard runs and not get fatigued, which of course will keep the injuries away.

If the injuries stay away then to me that’s a major importance in any training, not only will you get consistent training which is the key, but if you get consistent training you are very likely to improve. If you keep over training and get injured you will just end up chasing your fitness and making excuses.

With zone 2 training you should be able to maintain a conversation very easily; I always like to focus on form as it’s easy to do whilst at this heart rate.
What is there not to like about it? It’s a well-known method and your body needs to repair – you just cannot keep breaking your body down with hard training.

I always point out to people even the best marathon runners in the world run slow miles. How to work it out? Firstly you need a watch and a heart rate monitor. You need to know your heart rate max and once you have that you can put your heart rate in many calculators online HERE or watch my YouTube videos HERE and you will get your zones from there.

You do need to make sure the HR max is right, you can do tests like: 5k Time Trial, FTP test, coopers test, VO2 Max lab test and so on etc or even use a recent race result. Do not use your watch automatic/present zones as 9/10 times they are wrong zones. Once you know your heart rate max you can get your zones.

Don’t go by pace or mileage, I just go by time and follow the zone strictly. By sticking to lower heart rates, over time you will find that you are likely to increase your pace at the same heart rate output. This is due to increased aerobic efficiency – yes I had to walk up hills to start off with but that was a way my body was telling me I am pushing too hard. Why do people ignore this method? People are simply not patient and they expect instant results and that won’t happen overnight. At least 2/4 of my runs a week are in zone 2. When I first did this training it was a few weeks before I saw my pace improve, but found I could train more and on the hard sessions go harder. My conclusion is it is a big topic and this is a quick simple blog about this; I have written many in depth blogs in the past and YouTube Videos so check them out. I train like this, my athletes do and I have many friends doing this training who have all gone to do well whether it’s a PB or a medal.

How long should I be in zone 2?

‘How long should Zone 2 training be?’ Typical ride durations for Zone 2 training will be 2-5 hours for most cyclists.

How does Zone 2 running work?

What is Zone 2 Training? – Zone 2 training is typically the lowest zone used for training purposes. Think of it as going for a jog while you can still hold a conversation – somewhere between 60-70% of your maximum heart rate. The purpose behind Zone 2 training is to be able to sustain a pace just below your aerobic threshold for 30+ minutes.

Where is zone 2 on a plane?

Zone 1 is the plus seating. Zone 2 is row 17 to the back of the plane. Zone 3 is row 11-16 and Zone 4 is rows 5-10.