By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-967323.mp3
Dallas, TX – Low-cost Spirit Airlines today began twice-a-day service from DFW to Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas. KERA's Shelley Kofler says this is a return to Texas for Spirit.
Spirits non-stop flights to Las Vega connect through to the West Coast. Direct flights to its hub in Fort Lauderdale connect with service to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Spirit briefly flew between DFW and Fort Lauderdale in 2006 but ended that service after about a year.
Misty Pinson of Spirit says the airline's growth makes the North Texas market a better match this time.
Pinson: We're growing now. We have more aircraft onboard. We have a young fleet and a growing fleet and we now have the capacity to serve the market.
Travel experts say that if you're booking on Spirit you need to add up all the costs. Spirit offers rock-bottom fares, but charges extra for most services including snacks, changing tickets, assigned seats and carry-on baggage in addition to checked bags.
Pinson: We offer you a very low base fair that gets you safely from Dallas Fort Worth to Las Vegas or whatever your destination may be. Then we offer an ala carte menu of options that gives you the opportunity to pick and chose what you want to add on to that travel based on your travel needs.
Right now you can fly Spirit Airlines one-way from DFW to Fort Lauderdale for $59 plus tax. But if you carry on a bag that doesn't fit under your seat it could cost you another $30-$45.