“They serve a very vital function,” mentioned Feuer, who works for a nonprofit. “I believe persons are simply form of a bit bit elitist about it.”

As Spirit faces an unsure future, Feuer and different followers are pondering what journey could be like with out it — and hoping their go-to low-cost airline will make it.

Spirit’s destiny has been up within the air because it introduced plans to merge with Frontier in 2022. That deal fell aside after just a few months, and Spirit agreed to be acquired by JetBlue. However the Division of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit final 12 months to dam the deal; final month, a choose dominated towards the acquisition, saying it will damage shoppers by lowering competitors amongst airways. JetBlue and Spirit are interesting, and Spirit declined to remark for this text.

“Spirit is a small airline. However there are those that find it irresistible,” U.S. District Choose William Younger wrote in his ruling. “To these devoted clients of Spirit, this one’s for you.”

Cue the head-scratching. Those that what it?

“There are not any devoted clients who love Spirit Airways,” wrote one individual on X. previously Twitter. “Solely a wretched path of heartbreak, fury and destruction.”

Bekyy Khera would disagree. The 32-year-old video editor loves the airline; she as soon as wrote a bit for BuzzFeed with the headline “Sizzling Take: I Love Spirit Airways And I’m Not Ashamed To Admit It.”

“They make the house extra aggressive so different airways are cheaper, which I really like,” mentioned Khera, who lives in Madison, Wis., and has flown Spirit for years. She mentioned that when she was in graduate college in Chicago, she frequently flew residence to Florida for $45. Her finest deal: a one-way flight from O’Hare to Fort Lauderdale in 2018 for $24.99.

“The cash is certainly the massive factor for me, however I’ve by no means had a problem with being uncomfortable on the flights,” she mentioned.

Followers say it’s essential to know what you’re in for when you’re flying Spirit: an “unbundled” expertise with plenty of a la carte choices. A private merchandise that may match below the seat is free, however carry-on and checked baggage price cash. Additionally, the seats include a “pre-recline.”

“Some folks get, like, shellshocked as a result of they didn’t learn what ought to be frequent data by now, that there’s going to be additional fees,” mentioned Ray Haluska, 64, a semiretired medical transportation bus driver from Latrobe, Pa.

He saves cash by shopping for his tickets on the small airport close to his residence and is aware of the size of a private merchandise, as outlined by Spirit, by coronary heart: 18 by 14 by 8 inches. He mentioned he in all probability took 15 flights on Spirit final 12 months. The airline serves some smaller airports, like Latrobe’s, that don’t have many different choices.

“I not often pay greater than $100 round-trip for a flight to Florida,” he mentioned.

Jessica Pink, 27, of Denver, mentioned Spirit allowed her and her fiancé to begin touring a number of years in the past, due to $100 one-way flights to South America. Now, the couple have a gaggle journey enterprise referred to as Journey World Tradition the place they lead journeys around the globe.

Pink mentioned she is just not loyal to 1 airline and at all times goes with one of the best value — however she likes that Spirit creates competitors and gives stripped-down choices for finances vacationers. She mentioned she will be able to afford to improve to an exit row seat or a roomy “Large Entrance Seat” on Spirit and recalled assembly “SO many” pleasant flight attendants on the airline.

“I can see that the seats and expertise could also be much less snug than a full-service airline, however I really don’t thoughts bringing by myself snacks and water,” she wrote in an e-mail. “When the choice is half or a 3rd of the value, I’ll fortunately carry my very own snack and moveable charger. I believe airline meals and snacks are overrated anyhow.”

The touring public ought to maintain some affection for Spirit, even when they select different airways to fly, mentioned Kyle Potter, govt editor of Thrifty Traveler. The location highlights low-cost flights, offers and different air journey ideas.

Potter mentioned competitors from Spirit and comparable low-cost carriers forces greater legacy airways to supply low-priced choices, as effectively.

“It’s plain how massive of a task these finances carriers play in driving down flight costs,” he mentioned.

It’s not clear what lies forward for Spirit. An appeals listening to is about for June within the Spirit-JetBlue merger, however the bigger airline has mentioned it’s evaluating its choices and should terminate the settlement if sure situations will not be met.

TD Cowen analyst Helane Becker wrote in a word to traders final month that she believes Spirit is prone to search for one other purchaser however that chapter 11 chapter was a extra doubtless state of affairs. One other analyst, JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Baker, wrote in an investor word that he was not predicting a right away chapter submitting however acknowledged “that we cannot moderately establish a viable return to profitability any time quickly.”

The individuals who depend on Spirit — and, sure, find it irresistible — are watching and ready.

“I don’t need them to go away,” mentioned Feuer, the Atlanta resident. “In the event that they went away, I’d be very unhappy.”