Spirit Airlines is trying to go upmarket with snacks, Wi-Fi and checked bags included

Free Wi-Fi? Free checked bag? Free snacks? On Spirit? The Florida-based carrier that is practically synonymous with budget air travel in the U.S. said Tuesday that it plans to offer packages for its highest-priced tickets, wrapping in perks it used to charge for a la carte. It’s a bid to increase revenue as it struggles with the aftermath of a U.S.-blocked takeover by JetBlue, engine recalls, an oversupplied domestic market, and larger rivals who have capitalized on premium and cost-conscious travelers alike. Starting late next month, Spirit will offer four categories of service (story has details.) The options will be available to book Aug. 16, and all four will be available on flights from Aug. 27. Spirit is competing with larger airline rivals like United that have capitalized on cost-conscious travelers with their own bare-bones products but still offer higher-priced options like extra legroom and first class. “What we realized now is that we were sort of ceding other markets to other airlines,” Christie said in an interview. “Now we’re saying, no, we can still do what we were doing before, but we’re also going to compete for people who are willing or want a little bit more of a premium feel and and would pay for that. They just didn’t have it on us.” Spirit earlier this month warned of a wider-than-expected loss after nonticket revenue — what it collects in the form of fees — came in lighter than it had previously forecast. The carrier has also warned pilots about potential furloughs in the coming months.<br/>