I can tell you about the last time I flew Spirit airlines. I was on vacation in a place with really nice weather. Back home also had really nice weather, and it was basically clear skies all the way in between.

However, there was a hurricane in Florida.

Spirit canceled my return flight about 12 hours in advance, and booked me on a flight for the next day. Never mind that my hotel reservation ended in a few hours, so I didn’t have a place to stay or a rental car planned for the extra day. They said they didn’t have to offer me anything because it was “weather related”, on account of the hurricane that was literally more than a thousand miles away from either my departure or arrival airports.

Would a different airline have handled it differently? I don’t know. I’ve had other airlines do a better job rerouting me after a cancellation, but the conditions were different. Regardless, I’ll not be giving Spirit any more of my money.

Varies between airlines. Usually the non budget airlines are slightly better service and amenities but the difference is shrinking. However, the. Udger will have extra costs for everything, including luggage etc. so it depends on the cost difference.

No point saving $20 then paying $10 for luggage check and $10 for a snack.

Generally best to look at what’s going to suit your schedule best unless the price difference is enough to change your plans around it. 6am departure can mean a 4am rise. You’ll be tired at your destination. 9pn departure, you’ll just sleep when you land and need to pay an extra days accommodation.

Double the service? No. Maybe consider it “budget airline plus.” The measurements of the seat and getting a little screen/refreshments will be the real difference.

I wouldn’t call myself a frequent flyer, but I fly at least several times a year, and I’ve taken a lot of different airlines. To your point, I honestly haven’t seen much difference in terms of cancelation or delay between budget and regular airlines. There are 3 main differences in my mind.

First is that budget airlines nickel and dime you. Carry-on isn’t free, it’s an add-on. Your backpack size is thoroughly checked. And if you mess any of that up and they catch it, the upcharge is huge.

The second point is sort of a continuation of the first: on-flight service. Depending on the duration of the flight, non-budget airlines will give you some snacks and drinks for free. Budget airlines charge you for them. (I once had a budget airline try and charge me for water when I was fighting off a headache…) Some of the nicest airlines will even have entertainment consoles built in to the seats, even in economy.

Third is seat space and comfort. The seats on the nicer airlines have noticeably more leg room and more cushion. A lot of them have adjustable headrests and recline a bit. Sounds like a small thing, but I have pretty long legs and a bony ass, so it makes a huge difference to me.

For shorter flights/trips, I’ll still do budget airlines sometimes. For longer flights or if I have a lot of luggage, I usually have a strong preference for the nicer airlines. Of course, depending on how big the cost difference is, I’ll occasionally go against my preference.

It really comes down to your needs. If flying frequently then the perks of status can add up but if your flying for personal reasons it makes less difference other that needing to learn multiple airline policies over just one.