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Spirit Airlines doubles down on Kansas City with 4 new routes and expanded service

April 29, 2021
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3 min read
Spirit Airlines A321neo Big Front Seat Zach Griff - 6
Spirit Airlines doubles down on Kansas City with 4 new routes and expanded service
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Kansas City is the big winner in Spirit Airlines' latest network adjustment.

On Thursday, the Miramar, Florida-based carrier announced that it will add four routes from Missouri's Kansas City International Airport (MCI) to the following destinations in Florida:

  • Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
  • Fort Myers (RSW)
  • Pensacola (PNS)
  • Tampa (TPA)

Service to Tampa begins on June 9, while flights to the remaining three Florida cities begin one day later on June 10.

Spirit will serve its Fort Lauderdale hub with daily flights, while the remaining three routes range from three- to four-weekly frequencies. By offering daily service to FLL, Spirit can connect flyers to the broad international network it flies from there.

"Fort Lauderdale is Spirit’s largest gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America, which means nonstop flights from MCI come with easy connections to countries and territories throughout Latin America and the Caribbean," Spirit said in its press release.

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Spirit's Big Front Seat is one of the best travel deals (Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)

In addition to the new routes, Spirit will also boost existing Kansas City routes, doubling its capacity at MCI compared to 2019.

Flights to Orlando (MCO) and Las Vegas (LAS) will both go from 1x daily to 2x daily, while service to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR), will go from 2x to 3x weekly.

Spirit's growth in Kansas City comes as the carrier is seeing increased demand for air travel, especially from local flyers looking for an adventure. In recent weeks, pandemic-weary travelers have taken to the skies in numbers previously unseen since early 2020.

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For many, the destination of choice has been Florida, so if the trend continues, it makes sense for Spirit to add flights there. In fact, Pensacola is one of Spirit's newest destinations, opening for the airline on June 10 with eight routes. It'll have nine with the Kansas City addition, a sign that travelers are still looking to relax in the Florida panhandle.

More growth: Spirit Airlines adds 2 new cities in 12-route expansion

"Our Kansas City Guests told us they’re ready to get out and travel as vaccination efforts continue, and we’re responding with an unbeatable list of options stretching from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale,” John Kirby, Spirit's vice president of network planning, said in a statement.

Despite the pandemic, Spirit's network has undergone a growth spurt. The carrier has added new pins to its route map, including Milwaukee (MKE); Louisville, Kentucky (SDF); Pensacola (PNS); and St. Louis (STL).

Spirit has also boosted flights to New York LaGuardia (LGA), where it just moved into a second terminal. The carrier is also slated to launch a Saturday-only transcon LGA to LAX route — poised to become LGA's longest — in the coming weeks.

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.