In 2006, the Spirit Airlines that most customers know today began formation, as Indigo Partners took a majority stake in the airline and implemented its ultra-low-cost carrier business model. Along with the transformation into a ULCC in the late 2000’s, Spirit bolstered its presence in the Caribbean and Latin America, adding countries like Peru, Costa Rica, and Aruba to its route map. In 2010, the fees that have been synonymous with the airline started to roll-in as Spirit became the first U.S. carrier to charge for carry-on baggage and printing boarding passes at the airport by agents. Although many complaints get lodged against the airline because of its pricing tactics and unbundled "Bare Fares," Spirit remains a solidly profitable airline.

The Miramar, FL, based Spirit serves 65 destinations in the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean with its 500 plus daily flights. As the seventh largest airline in the U.S., Spirit Airlines flies the majority of its 24 million annual passengers through its airport bases located in Atlantic City (ACY), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DFW), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and Las Vegas (LAS).

The company launched its loyalty program FREE SPIRIT in 2006, in which members can earn points by flying with the airline or from a shortlist of dining, cruise, and hotel partners. Spirit Airlines does not belong to any airline alliance and miles accrued with the FREE SPIRIT program must be redeemed solely on Spirit flights since the airline does not have a partnership or code-share agreements with any other carriers.

Spirit’s fleet is just shy of 120 airplanes and is made up entirely of Airbus aircraft. Dubbed the Fit Fleet, Spirit Airlines has one of the most fuel-efficient and by average age, the youngest fleet of any U.S. based airline. Read Less