Ultra-low-cost carrier known for aggressive base fares and extensive ancillary revenue model
Price-sensitive travelers on specific routes with minimal baggage needs and flexible schedules
Ultra-low-cost carrier balancing affordable base fares with better operational performance and customer experience
Budget travelers seeking the best balance between low fares, reliability, and reasonable fees
Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines are both ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) competing in the budget airline market. Frontier generally offers slightly better operational reliability and customer satisfaction metrics, while Spirit maintains an aggressive pricing strategy with extensive baggage fees.
Both airlines serve budget-conscious travelers seeking the lowest base fares, but Frontier edges ahead with better operational metrics, higher customer satisfaction, and more reasonable ancillary fees. Spirit remains competitive for those prioritizing absolute lowest base fares and willing to accept stricter fee structures and lower reliability standards.
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Price-sensitive travelers on specific routes with minimal baggage needs and flexible schedules
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| Metric | Spirit | Frontier | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Base Fare(USD) | $89 | $95 | -6% |
| On-Time Performance Rate(%) | 79.2% | 82.1% | -4% |
| First Checked Bag Fee(USD) | $35 | $30 |
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Choose Frontier if
Budget travelers seeking the best balance between low fares, reliability, and reasonable fees
| +17% |
| Customer Satisfaction Score(Percentage) | 62 | 65 | -5% |
| Fleet Size(aircraft) | 162 | 178 | -9% |
| Number of Destinations(destinations) | 78 | 85 | -8% |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated Jun 2026.
Spirit
$89🏆
Frontier
$95
Spirit
79.2%
Frontier
82.1%🏆
Spirit
$35
Frontier
$30🏆
Spirit
$5-$15
Frontier
$3-$10🏆
Spirit
62
Frontier
65🏆
Spirit
162
Frontier
178🏆
Spirit
78
Frontier
85🏆
Spirit
1 personal item
Frontier
1 personal item
Both are ultra-low-cost carriers, but Frontier offers better operational performance (82.1% on-time vs 79.2%), higher customer satisfaction, and lower ancillary fees. Spirit focuses on the absolute lowest base fares ($89 average vs $95), making it attractive to price-sensitive travelers who can minimize baggage usage.
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| Attribute | Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Base Fare(USD) | $89 | $95 |
| First Checked Bag Fee(USD) | $35 | $30 |
| Seat Selection Fee Range(USD) | $5-$15 | $3-$10 |
| On-Time Performance Rate(%) | 79.2% | 82.1% |
| Fleet Size(aircraft) | 162 | 178 |
| Customer Satisfaction Score(Percentage) | 62 | 65 |
| Number of Destinations(destinations) | 78 | 85 |
| Carry-on Baggage Policy | 1 personal item only | 1 personal item only |
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes