Spirit Airlines vs United Airlines
Side-by-side comparison of Spirit Airlines and United Airlines: cabin and checked baggage allowances, fees, online check-in deadlines, alliances, hubs and contacts.
United States
| Spirit Airlines | United Airlines | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1980 | 1926 |
| Type | Low-cost carrier | Full-service airline |
| Alliance | - | Star Alliance |
| Main hubs | Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Atlantic City International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport | Narita International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, O'Hare International Airport |
| Aircraft types | 5 | 7 |
| Cabin bag size | 56 × 46 × 25 cm (22 × 18 × 10 in) | 56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in) |
| Checked bag (Economy) | not included | 1 piece · 23 kg (51 lb) |
| First checked bag fee | - | from 45 USD |
| Extra bag fee | - | from 55 USD |
| Online check-in opens | 24 h | 24 h |
| Online check-in closes | 1 h | 45 min |
| Airport check-in fee | from 25 USD | free |
| Customer service phone | 855-728-3555 | - |
Key differences
- United Airlines lets you check in online closer to departure (45 min vs 1 h).
- Spirit Airlines is a low-cost carrier: expect a cheaper base fare with bags, seats and airport check-in sold separately, while United Airlines bundles more into the ticket.
- United Airlines is a Star Alliance member, so miles and status benefits carry over to partner airlines.
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Allowances shown are for the basic Economy fare on most routes. Fees are the lowest published prices and change often - confirm on the official websites before booking.