Spirit Airlines has a bad reputation, partly due to the many stories circulating online about its passengers’ bad experiences.
With no Wi-Fi, no access to in-flight entertainment, no food or drink service, and no outlets to plug in my phone charger or CPAP machine, my last flight on Spirit Airlines was relatively cheap, included random fees, and was devoid of any semblance of luxury.
Considering that several passengers on board the Spirit Airlines flight were smoking and there was pretty severe turbulence throughout the flight, it was no surprise to me that so many people believe Spirit Airlines is unsafe.
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Unfortunately, my experience was not the only one, as there are many memes and viral videos criticizing the customer service and quality of in-flight amenities on Spirit Airlines flights. Read on to learn why people believe Spirit Airlines is unsafe.
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Is Spirit Airlines safe?
Measured by its ability to get passengers from point A to point B in one piece, Spirit Airlines is safe. According to CabinZeroThe data shows that Spirit Airlines has never had a fatal accident and the airline has not recorded a crash since 1972.
To operate flights, Spirit Airlines meets Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety requirements. Spirit Airlines pilots are trained to operate the aircraft and handle emergencies, and Spirit Airlines’ fleet is regularly maintained and inspected by qualified personnel.
Spirit Airlines’ cancellation rate is 3.8 percent, per CabinZerois lower than some competitors, although the rate of flight delays may vary for various reasons.
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In April 2024, Spirit Airlines earned WalletHubhas been praised as both the cheapest and safest airline.
“Safety and affordability have always been core values of our airline and this recognition by WalletHub truly underscores the values that are at the heart of everything we do,” said Ted Christie, president and CEO of Spirit Airlines, in a press release.
In addition, Spirit Airlines received the FAA’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Diamond Award of Excellence for the sixth consecutive year in February 2024. The award is the FAA’s highest recognition for the safety of maintenance personnel and technicians.
“Continuous learning opportunities for our maintenance technicians help enhance their technical skills and reinforce the importance of safety in everything we do,” said John Bendoraitis, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Spirit Airlines.
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Why some people think Spirit Airlines is unsafe:
Some passengers may confuse disruptions to their travel plans and lack of amenities on Spirit Airlines flights with the uncertainty on board their flights.
Across the board, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines were the worst-rated airlines in the “Most Comfortable Airlines” category from 2016 to today, according to WalletHub.
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In addition, Spirit Airlines ranked first in the number of canceled flights and the number of misdirected baggage reports. It was also the only airline not to receive the highest score in the categories of legroom, entertainment options and complimentary refreshments.
Although Spirit Airlines has not recorded a single death in its history, AeroInsidewhich maintains a flight incident record for each airline, there have nonetheless been a number of concerning reports. Incidents at Spirit Airlines include smoke in the cabin, turbulence causing injuries, engine failures and cracked cabin windows, and a battery fire, all of which occurred in 2023.
