Travelore News: Spirit Airlines Ceases Operations. What You Need To Know And How Other Airlines Are Stepping Up To Assist Passengers.

After 34 years of shaking up the aviation industry with its bright yellow planes and "no-frills" philosophy, Spirit Airlines has officially ceased all operations, effective immediately. Following a series of financial struggles, including two bankruptcy filings in the last 14 months and a failed government bailout, the airline has begun an orderly wind-down.

If you have a flight booked with Spirit, here is the critical information you need to navigate this disruption.

1. Current Status: What You Need to Know

As of Saturday, May 2, 2026, Spirit Airlines has grounded its entire fleet.
All Flights Cancelled: Do not go to the airport if you have a Spirit flight scheduled. All operations have stopped.
Customer Service Unavailable: Spirit has stated that their customer service lines are no longer active.
Refunds: The airline’s official announcement indicates that customers should expect refunds, though they will not be providing assistance with rebooking on other carriers.
Final Flight: The last operational flight is believed to have been NK1833, an Airbus A320 that landed late Friday night.

Pro Tip: If you paid for your ticket with a credit card, contact your bank immediately to initiate a chargeback for "services not rendered." This is often the fastest way to get your money back when an airline liquidates.

2. How Other Airlines are Stepping Up
In the wake of the shutdown, major U.S. carriers have launched "rescue" initiatives to help stranded passengers and displaced employees.

United Airlines

United has launched a dedicated support program for travel between May 2 and May 16, 2026.

Price-Capped Fares: Most one-way fares are capped at $199, with longer routes capped at $299.

How to Book: Affected passengers must visit united.com/specialfares, provide their Spirit confirmation number, proof of purchase, and a MileagePlus number (which you can join for free).

Employee Support: United is offering Spirit employees temporary pass travel for two weeks and priority recruiting.

American Airlines

American is leveraging its massive network—serving 70 of the 72 airports previously used by Spirit—to provide relief.
Rescue Fares: Immediate fare caps have been placed on routes where American offers nonstop service to compete with Spirit's former paths.
Increased Capacity: American is reviewing opportunities to use larger aircraft and add extra flights on critical routes to absorb the sudden surge in demand.

Direct Booking: Customers are encouraged to book directly via the American Airlines app or website.

3. Why Did This Happen?

The collapse of the country’s largest ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) was driven by a "perfect storm" of economic pressures:

The Fuel Shock: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East caused jet fuel prices to skyrocket in 2026, hitting budget carriers with thin margins the hardest.

Failed Mergers: Spirit’s attempt to merge with JetBlue was blocked on antitrust grounds in 2024, and a later deal with Frontier also collapsed.

Failed Bailout: The Trump administration recently proposed a $500 million federal rescue package, but talks stalled when creditors and bondholders could not reach an agreement with the White House.

4. Moving Forward: Your Travel Checklist

If you are currently stranded or have future travel plans:

1. Check your email: Look for official refund instructions from Spirit, but don't wait for them to act.

2. Contact your credit card issuer: File a dispute for the charge immediately.

3. Book "Rescue Fares": Use the dedicated links from United or American to secure capped pricing before seats fill up.

4. Monitor other ULCCs: Carriers like Frontier and Allegiant are expected to announce their own assistance packages or route expansions in the coming days.

The loss of Spirit Airlines marks a significant shift in the U.S. travel landscape. While it may lead to less competition and higher fares in the long run, the immediate focus is on getting everyone home safely.

Spirit Airlines Rivals United And Frontier Add New Routes

As Spirit Airlines continues grappling with significant financial woes, rival carriers are swooping into key markets. (Photo by Brandon Bell) Getty Images

On Thursday, United announced it was expanding its winter schedule with new flights beginning in January to 15 cities, including service between Houston and Atlanta, Baltimore, Guatemala City, Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans, Orlando, San Pedro Sula, Honduras and San Salvador; between Chicago and Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Orlando; between Newark and Chattanooga, Tennessee, Columbia, South Carolina, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando; and between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Also on Thursday, Frontier Airlines announced it will launch 22 new routes across the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America beginning in November and December. The additions include new service from Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago and other hubs in the U.S., and new international routes to destinations in Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas and more. Last week, Frontier announced 20 new routes for this winter, including new routes from Fort Lauderdale to Detroit, Houston, Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as new service from Houston to New Orleans, Honduras and Guatemala.

Spirit Airlines has not been profitable since 2019. Last November, the ultra-low-cost carrier became the first major U.S. airline to file for Chapter 11 since American Airlines 13 years ago. The airline exited bankruptcy in March, only to seek Chapter 11 protection again last week. “Since emerging from our previous restructuring, which was targeted exclusively on reducing Spirit’s funded debt and raising equity capital, it has become clear that there is much more work to be done and many more tools are available to best position Spirit for the future,” Spirit CEO Dave Davis said in a news release. Earlier in August, the no-frills budget carrier warned it may not survive beyond a year in its quarterly filing, weeks after announcing it would furlough hundreds of pilots.

In May and June of this year, Spirit drastically cut capacity by approximately 1 million seats—a decrease of roughly 24% compared to the same period last year. In October, Spirit will end service in 12 markets: Albuquerque, N.M.; Birmingham, Ala.; Boise, Idaho; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Columbia, S.C.; Macon, Ga.; Oakland, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Sacramento, Calif.; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Diego, Calif. and San Jose, Calif.

Looking ahead to the fourth-quarter of 2025, Frontier overlaps with Spirit on 39% of its capacity, more than any other airline, followed by JetBlue Airways (35%), Southwest Airlines (28%), American Airlines (26%) and Delta Air Lines (25%), according to Syth’s note to investors. Some rivals may also purchase aircraft from the beleaguered budget carrier. “Notably, unless Spirit is acquired, there will be a period of time for aircraft to be transferred to other airlines,” Syth wrote.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/

Spirit Airlines Is Launching Its First-Ever Flights To Belize From Fort Lauderdale

Ambergris Caye. Cayo. Cockscomb. Pupusas. Hol Chan. Blancaneaux. Placencia. Belize is as diverse a place as you’ll find in the Caribbean. From the jungle to the beach, the Blue Hole to the jaguar preserve, it’s a tapestry of rich, authentic experiences.

There’s a reason, after all, why it’s been one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean in recent years — and the fastest growing.

Now it’s getting easier to reach, with plans for a new flight from Fort Lauderdale to Belize stating in November.

Fort-Lauderdale-Belize City Flights

The new nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale to Belize kicks off Nov. 21. Flights will be running three times per week, Spirit confirmed. It’s the first time Spirit has ever flown to Belize. That means roundtrip frequencies on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. If you haven’t been to Belize, one thing to keep in mind that is if you’re going to its popular corner called Ambergris Caye, you’ll need to book a second flight on a carrier like Tropic Air from Belize City’s airport.

The Growth of Lauderdale

The expansion only underscores Fort Lauderdale’s growing position as a major source city for Caribbean travel, with South Florida more broadly one of the most important markets for tourism to the region.

Belize’s Airlift Expansion

Thanks to its strong tourism numbers, the country has been getting a wave of new air routes from the United States. This winter, Delta is doubling its holiday service from Atlanta to Belize, and United added its first-ever flights from San Francisco to Belize in March, among others.

What the New Belize Flights Will Cost

Spirit says the new flights will start at $85 one-way from Fort Lauderdale to Belize, and $180 one-way from Belize to Fort Lauderdale. Right now, the flights are showing up as sold out on Spirits’s website, so it’s hard to say just how much they will cost when it’s all said and done.

Where to Go When You Get There

As we said, Belize is so many destinations in one; that means you can really customize the kind of vacation you want to plan, whether it’s a retreat into the jungles and rivers, an authentic journey into Garifuna culture in Hopkins; a classic beachy getaway in Ambergris Caye or a fun, hip retreat into endlessly lovable Placencia.

https://www.caribjournal.com/author/alexander-britell/

Spirit Airlines To Rebrand As Premium Carrier

Spirit Airlines emerged from bankruptcy protection on Wednesday, some four months after filing. The Florida-based discount airline lost $1.2 billion last year, and filed for bankruptcy protection with a debtor-approved plan already in place.

“We’re pleased to complete our streamlined restructuring and emerge in a stronger financial position to continue our transformation and investments in the guest experience,” said CEO Ted Christie, who will continue to lead the airline. “Throughout this process, we’ve continued to make meaningful progress enhancing our product offerings, while also focusing on returning to profitability and positioning our airline for long-term success. Today, we’re moving forward with our strategy to redefine low-fare travel with our new, high-value travel options.”

The airline had already begun the process of bundling fares last summer, creating four bundles: Go, Go Savvy, Go Comfy, and Go Big, offering a variety of inclusions ranging from checked bags, seat assignments, blocked middle seats, or first class-style “Big Front Seats.”

This is in contrast to the business model the airline employed throughout much of the past decade. Spirit was famous for offering bargain basement fares with nothing included, adding on fees for everything from carry-on bags to printing a boarding pass at the airport. The Big Front seat was available as a separate fee, but didn’t come with any extra perks like bags, snacks, drinks, or priority boarding or security—those still had fees attached. Now, with the Go Big fare bundled, the fare type really amounts to a discounted first class. Go Comfy is a lighter version, with an empty middle seat.

The bundled fare products look similar to the four fare-type matrices used by the legacy airlines to sell their own products. Delta, for example, offers Basic, Main, Comfort Plus, and First on their own flights. That stratification of fare products was implemented by the country’s largest airlines in order to compete with the “unbundled” lower fares offered by Spirit. Now that those airlines are back to profitability, it appears Spirit’s role in the industry has evolved from that of a disruptor to that of an imitator.

While the legacy carriers, including American, Delta, and United rebounded following the pandemic on a boost in demand for premium products like extra legroom seats and first-class cabins, low-cost, and ultra-low-cost carriers like Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit have struggled to adapt their business models. Spirit announced a merger with Frontier in 2022, only for JetBlue to swoop in with a better offer by July.

The U.S. Department of Justice sued to block the combination, saying it would violate antitrust laws, and a federal court judge agreed, blocking the merger in early 2024. Spirit filed for bankruptcy in November and declined a second takeover attempt from Frontier in February, saying they would prefer to stick with their ongoing plans to emerge from bankruptcy as a premium airline.

The company didn’t provide any further details on what changes to its product were anticipated in the coming months as it seems to attract more affluent travelers willing to spend more on its flights.

In the January 2025 Air Travel Consumer Report, which includes data from November 2024, Spirit Airlines ranked fourth in on-time performance, operating just over 85% of its flights on time. The company also ranked fourth in fewest flights canceled for the month.

Spirit is the nation’s sixth largest airline in terms of passengers carried, boarding 44.1 million travelers in 2024, behind Alaska Airlines and ahead of JetBlue. The airline operates flights in the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean, and describes itself as a “low-fare carrier” offering “elevated travel options with exceptional value”.

https://www.fodors.com/news/author/scott-laird

Spirit Airlines Expands U.S. Military Benefits To Include Spouses And Children

Spirit Airlines is saluting our U.S. military service members and their families with the special thanks they deserve. Today, the airline announced it is extending the existing benefits for active-duty U.S. military service members to their spouses and all their children when traveling with the service member effective immediately, including two free standard checked bags, one free standard carry-on bag, and the existing one free personal item per person. Complimentary priority boarding is also available for active-duty service members, and their spouses and children when traveling with the service member.

"We applaud and appreciate our military families who make sacrifices every day to support their loved ones who are in service to our country, and we're happy to extend our gratitude to them with new inclusion in our military benefits," said Matt Klein, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Spirit Airlines. "These expanded free baggage benefits, coupled with Spirit's low fares to more than 85 destinations, make travel for our U.S. military families more accessible and offers them the opportunity to make new memories together more often."

In addition to the newly expanded military benefits, Spirit has a long history of supporting initiatives for U.S. service members. The airline partners with Luke's Wings and Wounded Warriors to provide immediate family members with free flights to visit service members and veterans who have been injured in the line of duty. The effort aims to benefit the families of our military and help to encourage and motivate the service member's recovery.

Spirit also proudly partners with Honor Flight South Florida up to four times a year to fly World War II and Korean War veterans, as well as those veterans who are terminally ill, to the Washington D.C. area to visit and reflect at the memorials built in their honor. In spring 2023, Spirit flew more than 80 veterans as part of Honor Flight South Florida and will host another Honor Flight this summer.

Furthermore, the Spirit Charitable Foundation focuses on supporting active-duty military and veterans through its Service Member pillar. The Foundation has donated more than $600,000 to nonprofits supporting our service members in the last five years.

Spirit is proud to employ hundreds of military reservists and veterans across the company and provide support through the Veterans Resource Group and Allies, which aims to ensure that resources and opportunities are extended to Spirit Team Members who have served in the U.S. Military, those currently serving, and their families and allies.

spirit.com.

Travelore News: JetBlue, Spirit Seek Expedited Appeal Of Ruling Blocking Merger

JetBlue Airways opens new tab and Spirit Airlines opens new tab are seeking an expedited appeal aimed at reversing a lower court ruling that blocked their $3.8 billion merger.

The airlines in a joint court filing asked the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse the decision that they argue "disregards the benefits of the transaction to the majority of the flying public."

The airlines said if the appeal is not expedited, the court may have no opportunity to review the decision because the merger agreement includes an outside closing date of July 24.

"If the merger agreement terminates before this Court can issue its decision" benefits from the deal will be lost, they argued.

On Friday, JetBlue raised doubts about the merger deal, saying it might be unable to meet certain conditions required as part of the agreement for unspecified reasons.

JetBlue said it continues to evaluate options under the agreement and, unless the agreement is terminated, it would abide by its merger obligations. In response, Spirit said Friday there was no basis for terminating the merger agreement. It said it would continue to abide by its obligations and was expecting JetBlue to do the same.

Without the JetBlue deal, Spirit faces a rough road ahead as the ultra-low-cost carrier has grappled with weak demand in its key markets as it seeks to return to sustainable profitability. Some analysts have even suggested the company could face bankruptcy if it cannot shore up finances.

Earlier this month, a U.S. judge blocked the airline's planned merger with JetBlue, after finding that the proposed deal could threaten competition in the U.S. aviation market and harm ticket prices.

JetBlue said on Tuesday it was evaluating deeper cost cuts after the company forecast a fall in revenue and higher costs in the first quarter as it grapples with uneven travel demand.

Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Mark Potter

Travelore News: US Seeks To Block JetBlue's Spirit Airlines Deal At Trial

A U.S. Department of Justice lawyer on Tuesday urged a federal judge to block JetBlue Airways' (JBLU.O) planned $3.8 billion acquisition of ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines (SAVE.N) at the start of closely-watched antitrust trial.

case in federal court in Boston is part of a broad effort by President Joe Biden's administration to preserve competition among the lowest cost airlines, ensuring air travel remains affordable for many more US consumers.

Justice Department attorney Arianna Markel in her opening statement told U.S. District Judge William Young that the deal would lead to fewer flights and seats and higher prices.

She said a JetBlue internal analysis projected its fares would increase 30% once Spirit, which competes with JetBlue on around 100 routes nationally, is not a competitor. Passengers would suffer roughly $1 billion in net harm annually, she said.

"JetBlue is counting on the fact that eliminating Spirit and the competition Spirit provides will allow JetBlue to raise fares," Markel said. "That is real harm to real people."

JetBlue attorney Ryan Shores countered that the case was a "misguided" challenge to a merger between the U.S.'s sixth and seventh largest airlines, which combined control less than 8% of the domestic market dominated by four larger airlines.

Those four U.S. carriers - United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines - dominate 80% of the domestic market following a series of previous airline mergers that the federal government blessed, Shores said.

Yet Shores said the government had wrongly tried to bar JetBlue from growing into a larger challenge to those four airlines and disrupt a market that has become "bad for competition and bad for consumers.
"
"The government in this case has lost the forest for the trees," Shores said.

The trial began on the same day JetBlue posted lower-than-expected third-quarter results, citing air traffic control and weather delays during the summer travel season, and projected a larger-than-expected fourth-quarter loss.

Its shares were down 16.7% to a near 12-year low in morning trading.

JetBlue has called the deal pro-consumer and has sought to ease U.S. regulators' antitrust concerns by agreeing to sell off Spirit's gates and slots at certain airports in New York City, Boston, Newark and Fort Lauderdale.

But the Justice Department has said those divestitures are not enough, and in a lawsuit filed in March argued the combined airline would harm consumers by increasing fares and reducing choice on routes nationwide.

The department is suing alongside Democratic attorneys general from six states and the District of Columbia. They call Spirit a "disruptive and innovative airline" whose low-cost, no-frills model has forced price cuts industry-wide.

The department's case is part of a broader push by the Biden administration to aggressively step up antitrust enforcement, an initiative that has had mixed results in court.

JetBlue was already the focus of one of its earlier cases, with a different Boston judge, Leo Sorokin, in May siding with the government in finding that JetBlue's U.S. Northeast partnership with American Airlines violated antitrust law.

JetBlue subsequently decided to terminate the alliance. American Airlines is appealing Sorokin's decision.

Reuters. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Nick Zieminski and Marguerita Choy

Travelore News: JetBlue Agrees To Buy Spirit For $3.8B After Bidding War

JetBlue Airways has agreed to buy Spirit Airlines for $3.8 billion and create the nation’s fifth-largest airline if the deal can win approval from antitrust regulators.

The agreement Thursday capped a months-long bidding war and arrives one day after Spirit’s attempt to merge with fellow budget carrier Frontier Airlines fell apart.

Spirit CEO Ted Christie is being thrust into the awkward position of defending a sale to JetBlue after arguing vehemently against it, saying that antitrust regulators would never let it happen.

“A lot has been said over the last few months obviously, always with our stakeholders in mind,” Christie said on CNBC. “We have been listening to the folks at JetBlue, and they have a lot of good thoughts on their plans for that.”

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes has argued all along that a larger JetBlue would create more competition for the four airlines that control about 80% of the U.S. market — American, United, Delta and Southwest.

Shares of Spirit, based in Miramar, Florida, rose 3.5% at the opening bell Thursday, to $25.15, still below the price that JetBlue is offering. JetBlue shares were essentially flat.

Spirit Airlines regularly ends up as the worst, or close to the worst, when airlines are ranked by the rate of consumer complaints. Still, some consumer advocates worry that fares will rise if it disappears.

Spirit and similar rivals Frontier and Allegiant charge rock-bottom fares that appeal to the most budget-conscious leisure travelers, although they tack on more fees that can raise the cost of flying.

“Spirit is going to disappear, and with it, its low cost structure,” said William McGee of the anti-merger American Economic Liberties Project. “Once Spirit is absorbed (into JetBlue), there is no question that fares are going to go up.”

Others, however, say that Frontier will grow — it has a large number of planes on order — and fill any gap left by Spirit in the cheapest segment of the air-travel market.

JetBlue and Spirit will continue to operate independently until the agreement is approved by regulators and Spirit shareholders, with their separate loyalty programs and customer accounts.

The companies said they expect to conclude the regulatory process and close the transaction no later than the first half of 2024. If that happens, the combined airline would be based in JetBlue’s hometown of New York and led by Hayes. It would have a fleet of 458 planes.

JetBlue said Thursday that it would pay $33.50 per share in cash for Spirit, including a prepayment of $2.50 per share in cash payable once Spirit stockholders approve the transaction. There is also a ticking fee of 10 cents per share each month starting in January 2023 through closing to compensate Spirit shareholders for any delay in winning regulatory approval.

If the deal doesn’t close due to antitrust reasons, JetBlue will pay Spirit a reverse break-up fee of $70 million and pay Spirit shareholders $400 million, minus any amounts paid to the shareholders prior to termination.

Spirit and Frontier announced their plan to merge in February, and Spirit’s board stood by that deal even after JetBlue made a higher-priced offer in April. However, Spirit’s board could never convince the airline’s shareholders to go along. A vote on the merger was postponed four times, then cut short Wednesday when Spirit and Frontier announced they were terminating their agreement, which made a Spirit-JetBlue coupling inevitable.

JetBlue anticipates $600 million to $700 million in annual savings once the transaction is complete. Annual revenue for the combined company is anticipated to be about $11.9 billion, based on 2019 revenues.

By DAVID KOENIG and MICHELLE CHAPMAN

Spirit Wins Takeoff And Landing Rights At Newark-Liberty International Airport

Spirit Airlines will get valuable takeoff and landing times that Southwest Airlines is abandoning at busy Newark-Liberty International Airport near New York City.

The U.S. Transportation Department said Tuesday that Spirit “is most likely to provide the lowest fares to the most consumers” at the airport in Newark, New Jersey.

JetBlue Airways — which is locked in a bidding war with Frontier Airlines to buy Spirit — also tried to get the 16 available slots, and Alaska Airlines applied for four of them.

Southwest acquired the takeoff and landing rights at the congested airport in 2010, after the Justice Department required United Airlines to give them as a condition of buying Continental Airlines. United is still the dominant airline at Newark. Southwest dropped Newark in 2019 to consolidate its area service at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

Federal officials limit takeoff and landing rights at big airports in New York and Washington in an attempt to avoid gridlock.

The Transportation Department said that because of concern about canceled and delayed flights, it will require Spirit to report more than the usual amount of information about any disruptions at Newark.

Airline Seat Selection Fees: It's Pay To Play

(CNN) — Historically, January has been a great time to scoop up discount deals on airfares for the year.

This year, however, would-be travelers will have to double- and triple-check search results to make sure their fares include an important element: A preboarding seat assignment.

The reality is the sign of a curious new travel trend that effectively charges passengers more money for tickets with confirmed seats. This approach to pricing has been common among low-cost carriers such as Spirit and Allegiant for ages. Now, it seems, the nation's largest airlines are giving it a whirl, too.

United was the latest big-name carrier to take the plunge: On December 14, the company unveiling a new "Preferred" option that comprises a limited number of aisle and window seats toward the front of economy on every flight. Other traditional carriers — American, Delta and Alaska among them — offer some form of upgraded fare class that includes seat assignments for a small premium.

Airlines say the moves are part of a concerted effort to diversify products and give customers more options, a pay-to-play environment in which customers who are willing to spend more receive the peace of mind that comes with confirmed seat assignments and the comfort of larger seats with more legroom.

Critics say the move is yet another push for profits at a time when other perks such as bag allowances and on-board food have been monetized.

The bottom line: Assigned seats are no longer a given with every purchase, which is a departure from how the booking process has generally worked until recently.

"Airplane cabins are a type of real estate. And as with all types of real estate, some locations are more appealing than others," said Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group, a travel industry analysis firm in San Francisco. "In a way, this is no different than how a Broadway theater or a music concert venue sells its tickets: The better seats cost more than those that are less appealing."

Understanding a trend

To be clear, most airlines still have options for travelers who don't wish to pay more for seat assignments. These are considered basic economy fares, and all major airline carriers have them in one form or another. In these cases, a passenger would purchase a ticket that gets him or her on the plane, then get a seat assignment upon check-in or at the gate before boarding.

The upside to this approach: Rock-bottom prices. The downsides: Significant baggage restrictions (in some cases, no carry-ons), and no guarantees as to what part of the economy cabin you'll sit.

These basic economy fares work for budget-minded travelers but are dicey propositions if you have specific seat preferences or you're traveling with others, according to George Hobica, creator and founder of the Los Angeles-based Airfare Watchdog, a website that tracks low fares.

"If you're traveling with an elderly parent and you can't afford to pay extra for the peace of mind that you can sit together, rules of these basic fares can feel particularly diabolical," he said. "The same is true for families with young kids, though some airlines will attempt to seat you next to your child at no additional charge."

Tickets with seat assignments eliminate this uncertainty. A recent check of the three major airlines revealed economy fare classes with confirmed seats ranged from $9 to as much as $59 more than the most basic fares available.

During peak travel times or on international flights, the differences can be even more significant.

Most airlines automatically upgrade frequent travelers who have achieved certain status levels in their loyalty programs. Everybody else must pay the difference. This could explain why some have dubbed the differences in price as "seat-assignment fees." Technically, they're not fees at all. But they feel like fees. And that hurts—especially at a time when fees represent major revenue for the airline industry.

The most recent statistics from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics indicate that U.S.-based airlines collected more than $4.5 billion in baggage fees alone in 2017—a record amount and a nearly 10 percent increase over the $4.1 billion reported in 2016.

To put that into perspective, U.S. airlines profited $15.5 billion in 2017, up from $14 billion in 2016.

Richard Quest and Samuel Burke discuss a study that found widening airplane seats by an inch helped people sleep better.

Passengers clap back

Not surprisingly, many passengers and passenger advocates have had trouble adjusting to the new reality of paying more for seat assignments.

Brett Snyder, a former airline employee who now writes the Cranky Flier blog, described the phenomenon as "effectively a money grab" on the part of the carriers. Douglas Kidd, executive director of the National Association of Airline Passengers, said "unless it involves an upgrade to a better class of service, we do not believe that seat selection charges in economy are appropriate or justified."

Then there's Caitlin Childs, a 34-year-old nonprofit executive from Northern California who experienced the new seat situation for the first time while booking a weekend trip from the Bay AAt American, spokesperson Ross Feinstein explained that the airline keeps a small number of seats on every flight open, so gate agents can respond to individual requests from passengers who haven't confirmed spots before arriving at the airport.

Ultimately, Harteveldt said the future of airline pricing may be linked to the economy, and that a slowdown could nix airlines' desires to add fees or increase prices for optional products they sell now.

"I'm not sure what's left for airlines to monetize, but where there's a will, there's a way," he said.

Matt Villano is a writer and editor in Northern California. Learn more about him at whalehead.comrea to New York.

After doing a preliminary search with online travel agencies such as Expedia and Kayak, Childs was excited to see round-trip fares for about $275 per person. Upon closer inspection, however, she realized those prices were basic fares -- tickets with confirmed seat assignments were an additional $68 each.

"I totally felt like it was a bait and switch," said Childs, who ended up spending just over $342 per ticket. "Ultimately I ate the cost but was frustrated about it."

Childs added that if the airline had done a better job of communicating from the beginning about the differences in fares, she would have felt less betrayed and would have been less irritated about paying more for tickets with seat assignments.

What's next

Perhaps better communication is on the horizon.

Delta has laid out all its ticket options on a new webpage, while United openly is preaching the benefits of "segmentation" of the passenger cabin. During a conference call with reporters around the Preferred launch in mid-December, United CEO Oscar Munoz defended the new fare class by explaining that the airline is trying to offer more products to appeal to a broader number of customers, adding that "there's certainly not a 'piss-off-the-customer-factor' in anything we do."

At American, spokesperson Ross Feinstein explained that the airline keeps a small number of seats on every flight open, so gate agents can respond to individual requests from passengers who haven't confirmed spots before arriving at the airport.

Ultimately, Harteveldt said the future of airline pricing may be linked to the economy, and that a slowdown could nix airlines' desires to add fees or increase prices for optional products they sell now.

"I'm not sure what's left for airlines to monetize, but where there's a will, there's a way," he said.

By Matt Villano, a writer and editor in Northern California. Learn more about him at whalehead.com.

What Each U.S. Airline Charges For A Bigger Seat

(Photo: Wayne Slezak, United Airlines)

Air travel today can be a cramped mess, but who wants to pay an arm and a leg for a spacious spot in business class? On the bright side, a few extra bucks can often get you a few extra inches of legroom and even a single inch of seat pitch (the distance between the seat in front of you and your own) can make a difference.

If you’re on an airline that allows you to choose an economy seat for free and that’s all you care about, SeatGuru has seating maps for every carrier’s aircraft. The only problem is airlines can sometime switch planes at the last minute, so your aisle up front could disappear.

Sometimes, a few extra bucks can be worth it. Here's what some airlines charge for a better seat in economy.

USA TODAY

Think airline seats have gotten smaller? They have

American: Starting at $4 (and up), you can get a more advantageous seat such as an aisle or window. But an extra $20 or more nets the real payoff of up to six more inches of legroom. Warning: Prices can rise to close to $200 per seat, depending on the route.

Delta: Extra comfort in the form of up to four more inches of legroom over regular economy need not cost a fortune. Example: On a Los Angeles to San Francisco flight in April, extra legroom was priced at $19 each way, but again, prices vary.

JetBlue:  This airline already offers a comparatively good deal, space-wise, with 32 to 33 inches of legroom (compared to 28 on many Spirit flights), plus an 18-inch-wide seat. But you can get even more starting at $10 one-way by purchasing the Even More Space seat.

Southwest: You get a lot of freebies when you travel on Business Select (including totally refundable tickets, free drinks and free TV) but these tickets can cost 10 times as much as the cheap Wanna Get Away fares and all seats are the same size. If you want the comfort of an aisle or window, or a seat close to the front, EarlyBird boarding is your best bet. The ticket add-on is just $12.50 per flight no matter where you fly and because of Southwest's open seating policy you can be among the first to choose where you'll sit.

Spirit: The ultra discounter gives you no choice of seats if you do not pay; you’ll simply be assigned one randomly. Basic seat selection costs from $1-$50 or get a Big Front Seat (additional legroom, no middle seat) for $12-$199, depending on the flight.

United: Book an Economy Plus seat for a single flight from $9 to $299 or if you fly a lot and fly far, book a subscription form $499 to $1,099. You can also book Economy Plus packages that provide other goodies.

USA TODAY

The worst places to sit on a plane

Rick Seaney, Special for USA TODAY

FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney is an airline industry insider and top media air travel resource. Follow Rick (@rickseaney) and never overpay for airfare again.

Airlines To Offer Cheaper Flights, But Are They Worth The Savings?

Graham Roumieu

Rock-bottom fares once unique to low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier may, in the coming months, be offered by all three of the nation’s legacy airlines, American, United and Delta.

Great news for you and your wallet, right? The answer isn’t so clear-cut.

Spirit Airlines cemented its no-frills reputation a couple of years ago when it declared itself the “home of the bare fare”: a ticket that doesn’t include a seat assignment, a checked bag, even water. (The airline’s Twitter accountis duly frugal: “A big social media team costs money,” it explains, “so we put our feed on Autopilot to save you cents on every ticket.”) Frontier also offers bargain fares that don’t include seat assignments, in-flight entertainment and checked or carry-on bags as well as a slightly more costly package called “the works,” with privileges such as being able to choose your seat and bring a carry-on bag. Travelers have flocked to these airlines, drawn by fares like $53 each way between Chicago and New York on Spirit, and $79 each way between Miami and Philadelphia on Frontier. Unwilling to lose customers in certain markets where the low-cost airlines fly, major domestic airlines are rolling out their own no-frills fares.

Delta was the first to take the plunge, introducing “basic economy” fares on routes where it wanted to compete with discount carriers. Basic economy tickets do not include advance seat assignments. They cannot be changed or refunded (after a one-day grace period). And there are no free upgrades for anyone — even travelers with elite status, or travelers willing to pay to upgrade to business class or simply a preferred seat in coach.

Last year Delta put a number of changes to the fare rules into effect and announced that basic economy had spread to more than 450 markets since its introduction in 2012. Now the other big domestic carriers plan to follow suit. United said during its quarterly earnings call in January that it plans to introduce an entry-level fare “that will appeal to the purely price sensitive customer” in the second half of this year. American Airlines said during its quarterly call that it will roll out the first phase of a basic economy product in the same time frame.

The particulars of the programs are still under wraps. In the meantime, the frequent flier world is abuzz. On FlyerTalk, a popular frequent flier website and forum, United’s earnings call sparked chatter amid elites that the new discounted fares would be as restrictive as Delta’s basic economy fares. “I’m assuming as an elite we won’t be allowed to book these Entry Level fares right?” one member wrote. “Or we will and we won’t get any of our benefits?”

Another member pointed out that many business travelers work for companies whose policies require them to book the cheapest fare, which would mean they would have to fly with no perks and less flexibility. “A lot of business travelers are going to be hurt by this,” the user said. (Other members hypothesized that they would be able to avoid the fares because their company policy is to take the “lowest logical fare” — and that such stripped-down fares are not logical for business travel.)

For the most cost-conscious travelers, no-frills fares allow them to afford certain trips that they might not otherwise have been able to take. And, of course, no-frills fares are good for the airlines. “The more we segment our fares,” Jim Compton, vice chairman and chief revenue officer for United Airlines, told investors during the most recent earnings call, “the better opportunity we will have to minimize revenue dilution.”

It’s too early to know how these no-frills fares will affect different types of travelers (I’ll revisit that later this year). But the big domestic airlines are in the habit of copying one another, which suggests that Delta’s basic economy fares are the best indicator of what’s to come.

“We realize that Basic Economy fares aren’t for everyone,” Delta explains on its news site, “including families traveling with children.”

That’s in part because the fares don’t allow travelers to choose a seat in advance, so a mother could end up sitting in a different row than her children. (The airline makes it clear on its website what basic economy does and does not include.)

For travelers who frequently need to change their tickets, such fares are problematic because voluntary changes are not allowed.

For elites, the restrictions already implemented by Delta on such seats seems to send a message: We value your loyalty— sometimes.

“Delta’s elite frequent fliers need to shout from the rooftops, ‘I am not my fare,’” wrote Gary Leff, an air travel expert and author of the blog, View From the Wing. “I am a valued customer, or I am not, and how welcome I’m made to feel should not change between Tuesday on a full fare and Thursday on a discount one when I’m buying a ticket pretty much every week.”

For the occasional leisure traveler, how helpful the new fares will be remains to be seen. But let’s say that at some point you spot one of these rock-bottom fares on a big domestic carrier and it’s on par with a fare from, say, Spirit. Which carrier do you choose?

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As a general rule of thumb, don’t assume that a low-cost carrier, or a legacy carrier that offers no-frills fares, always has the best price. You still have to do your homework, which means comparing prices as well as reading the fare rules, especially with regard to the flexibility of your ticket and its ability to earn you miles in your preferred program. Also look at which airline offers the most convenient flight times and airports. If possible, spending a few dollars more can be worth it. When Delta first introduced basic economy, Brian Kelly, author of the Points Guy blog, priced a particular itinerary and found a basic economy fare to be “a measly $12 cheaper.”

“Frankly, I’d rather pay the extra few bucks and be assured of a seat assignment I liked,” he wrote.

If looking at the fare rules and flight times doesn’t bring you any closer to a decision, and all things are still equal, consider the planes and the perks. Spirit, for example, has seats that don’t recline. There’s no Wi-Fi. Or video. A Delta basic economy fare is on a plane with seats that recline. Wi-Fi is available. You get in-flight entertainment. And a snack. So in that case, if the fares are about the same and you’re not trying to accrue miles, Delta would be a smart choice because you would have a more comfortable flight.

There is also the bigger picture to consider. Will economy seats with no benefits become the industry norm? Delta is already expanding its basic economy fares to routes where it does not compete with Spirit or other low-cost carriers. Will such fares further dilute frequent-flier programs by barring elites from upgrades? Will the big domestic airlines squeeze their smaller competitors, endangering their health and, in turn, healthy competition? We’ll learn more before the year is out.

Stephanie Rosenbloom

A version of this article appears in print on February 21, 2016, on page TR2 of the New York edition with the headline: More No-Frills Fares on the Horizon. Order Reprints| Today's Paper