I'll be honest. I used to avoid Spirit like expired airport sushi. The fees, the seats, the general vibe of flying in a bus with wings. But after their restructuring wrapped up in early 2026, something's different. And if you fly out of Florida, you should probably pay attention.
What Changed Post-Restructuring
Spirit cut about 30% of their underperforming routes and doubled down on what works: Florida to the Caribbean, Florida to major domestic cities, and a handful of Texas routes. They're not trying to be everything anymore. They're trying to be the cheapest option on routes where price is all that matters.
And it's working. We've seen FLL to San Juan for $49 one-way. MCO to Cancun for $67. TPA to New Orleans for $38. These aren't mistake fares. They're just... the regular price now.
The New Fee Structure
Here's where it gets interesting. Spirit simplified their fee menu. Carry-on bags are $35-$45 depending on route (down from the chaotic $55-$65 range). They added a "Go Bundle" that includes carry-on, seat selection, and one checked bag for $50-$70 per segment. Is it still more than Southwest includes for free? Yes. But the base fare is often $80-$120 cheaper, so the math works if you pack light.
Routes We're Watching
Our team tracks Spirit deals daily and pushes them to Premium Plus members first. The best routes right now from Florida:
- FLL to Bogota: $127 round trip
- MCO to Cartagena: $143 round trip
- TPA to Medellin: $156 round trip
- MIA to Kingston: $89 round trip
Should You Actually Book Spirit?
For flights under 3 hours? Absolutely. I flew FLL to Santo Domingo last month and it was fine. Not great, not terrible, fine. The seat was narrow, there was no entertainment, and I brought my own snacks. But I paid $71 each way. That's a weekend trip for the price of a nice dinner.
For longer flights, maybe consider the Go Big bundle for extra legroom. But for quick Caribbean hops from Florida, Spirit's comeback is the real deal.
Check out the latest Spirit deals in your deals dashboard or join Early Bird Air to get alerts when these fares drop.