Spirit Airlines is giving customers the option to save $5 each way by checking in online or at an airport kiosk to print their own boarding pass.

Published: 22 Jun 2011

Spirit Airlines is giving customers the option to save $5 each way by checking in online or at an airport kiosk to print their own boarding pass.

Spirit says it is lowering fares on all non-stop flights by $5 each way from November onwards, providing savings for customers checking in online and printing their own boarding passes. Customers who choose to have their boarding pass printed by an agent will be charged $5. As a result, those who prefer having an agent print their boarding pass will see no change in their total price.

The airline recently surveyed its database of four million consumers to learn if they would be interested in saving money by checking in online. An overwhelming 94 percent said they favoured lower fares in exchange for checking in online.

Spirit says it wants to give its customers the ability to choose the extras they want without forcing them to pay for add-ons they don’t want or need.

“If you choose to check in online you will save more than ever before. If you choose to continue checking in with an agent you will see your fare go down as much as the new fee. It’s a win-win for everyone: more ways to save and only charging customers for services they actually use,” said Spirit’s chief marketing officer Barry Biffle.

Choice

Ben Baldanza, president and CEO, Spirit remarked: “Why would you want to pay for services you don’t use? Sure, we could charge more and include everything in a high fare, but that presumes that all customers want all options.”

By lowering the fare for everyone and then charging only those who choose for us to print their boarding pass, the airline says it is letting the customer decide.

Baldanza added, “Imagine if you went to a restaurant and all the meals came with dessert. That’s great if you like dessert, but if you don’t, you would prefer the option to pay less for the meal and not take the dessert.”

Fee

Spirit’s $5 fee for printing a boarding pass is per person and applies to all domestic and international flights booked June 21, 2011 and beyond for travel November 1, 2011 and beyond. The fee is waived in cities where Spirit does not have airport check-in kiosks or if a customer is not able to use the automated kiosk to print their boarding pass.

Starting June 26, 2012, Spirit’s online check-in will continue to be free, boarding passes at airport kiosks will be $1.00, and printing a boarding pass from an agent will be $5.