It’s been almost four months since Spirit Airlines left us - the airline universally ridiculed for nickel-and-diming its passengers with extra fees. How has the industry responded now that the notorious fee-charger is no longer charging said fees?

The other airlines have greatly increased their own ancillary fees.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the bitter irony of this. The airline most known for charging extra went away, and the average fees for all passengers went up. And not just up - they jumped by over one-third: 36% higher per passenger than last year.

Of course, there is more to this story, namely the sharp jump in fuel prices around the time (and not unrelated to the timing of Spirit’s ultimate demise). Fare increases are difficult to come by. Even though for the airlines, the exit of Spirit has greatly improved pricing power (also known colloquially by the traveling public as “whoah, that got expensive”), the increase in ancillary fees has been downright incredible.

Fares are up without the lowest-fare provider. How much? 18% higher on domestic routes and 9% on international. Note the significantly higher domestic fare increases compared to international at the height of international demand due to the World Cup. If fuel prices were driving fares higher, why would the domestic jump be twice that of international? (Hint: Look to where the bulk of Spirit’s network operated.)

Also consider that the year-over-year comparisons are catching last year’s post-liberation day lull in bookings and fares, making this year look even more impressive. Still, either way you look at it, fares are up this year.

But those numbers are child’s play when compared to the rise in ancillary fees collected per passenger. How much higher than the incredible jump in domestic fares? Twice as high. 35.6%.

Why have airlines increased fees so much higher than fares? Because they can, of course.

And yes, we considered that Southwest started charging for bags in May, but that was May 2025. It was over a year ago, making the year-over-year comparisons quite meaningful.

Each passenger paid an average of $45.31 for a round-trip ticket. And this is without the $128 per round-trip ticket Spirit was able to charge as reported in 2024. Consider that for a moment: The airline that charged four times the average ancillary fees went away - and overall average ancillary fees still rose by 35%.

For all the heat thrown in Spirit’s direction for charging extra, surviving airlines sure are excited to do the same.

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