Discount airlines Spirit and Frontier have waived a number of fees for passengers who change or cancel their flights.
It’s a major change for the airlines, which were close to merging in 2022. They have been known to advertise low fares, but add more fees than larger airlines.
Consumers choose from a menu of extras that increase the final price they pay, often by a significant amount.
Denver-based Frontier has struggled harder than any other U.S. airline to recover from the pandemic. Its executives said eliminating fees on some tickets would increase their appeal to more travelers.
Before the change, Spirit passengers were charged between $69 and $119 to change or cancel their airline tickets.
Discount airlines Spirit and Frontier have waived a number of fees for passengers who change or cancel their flights.
Given Spirit’s low fares, passengers often paid more for the modifications than for the ticket.
The airline has now eliminated the fees.
For Frontier, the charge was about $99 for changing a flight within a week of travel.
Frontier is moving to four fare classes, which it calls basic, economy, premium and business.
Those in ‘basic’ will still have to extra payment for things like carrying carry-on luggage, selecting a particular seat, and changing or canceling a reservation.
But change fees will be waived for passengers in the other three groups, who will also be able to purchase extras such as seat selection and carrying a carry-on bag in bundles instead of just one.
Spirit and Frontier made the changes on the same day this month, May 17.
Larger rivals like Delta, American and United abandoned modified fares during the pandemic.
He economical carriers They have struggled, however, as major airlines created their own one-way tickets to appeal to more cost-conscious travelers.
Spirit said in a statement: ‘As we have said, our product and strategy will help us compete better, elevate the guest experience and return to profitability.
“We are excited to implement a no-change, no-cancellation-fee policy for all Guests starting May 17.
‘This new policy is among the best in the industry because it applies to each and every Guest. We have many other improvements in the works and look forward to sharing more soon.”
Before the change, modifying a Spirit flight could cost a traveler up to $119 in fees.
But customers who book now are entitled to full flexibility to change their flight plans, but changes are subject to fare differences and travel credits.
Frontier also said it will return to providing phone support to customers within 24 hours of their flight.
CEO Barry Biffle called the announcement “the beginning of a new era for Frontier.”
Frontier has not made a full-year profit since 2019 and has lost about $400 million since then and failed in an attempt merge with the Spirit.
Denver-based Frontier has struggled harder than any other U.S. airline to recover from the pandemic.
Baggage fees increase for the world’s main airlines
The airlines, which were close to merging in 2022, made the changes effective last Friday.
The company’s shares fell 2 percent on Friday.
This comes after major airlines announced they would sue transportation officials over a new rule requiring advance disclosure of additional fees.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Friday night.
This follows the U.S. Department of Transportation’s issuance of final rules in April requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose service fees along with airfare, saying it would help consumers avoid fees unnecessary or unexpected.
