I flew Spirit Airlines for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised, but the new ticket system gives me pause.

Spirit moved to Terminal A, the Historic Marine Air Terminal, in 2022. An airline press release called it “one of the most convenient locations” at the airport, and I’d have to agree.

Spirit rebranded to the yellow-and-black planes in 2014.

“The yellow makes the plane very distinctive, almost like a taxi cab,” a travel industry analyst told USA Today at the time.

As I could see a few classic New York taxis right next to the plane, I had to agree.

Since there was only one airline in the entire building, it wasn’t too crowded.

First, there was the normal security line to the left.

In the middle, there was a ‘”shortcut security line,” an expedited line that costs between $7.99 and $20 to access. All of Spirit’s extra services use dynamic pricing, which is why prices fluctuate up and down depending on demand.

Starting August 27, priority check-in will be included with the Go Big tier, and not available to anyone else.

On the right was the line for those with TSA PreCheck, which I have.

The area with the gates was fine, if a little outdated. The bright-yellow signs everywhere were starting to grate a bit at 4:30 a.m. But there was a Dunkin’ and enough chairs so I could sit, so I couldn’t complain too much.

I was in boarding group three. Another service Spirit allows you to purchase is a shortcut boarding time, meaning you get on early. That costs between $7.99 and $9.99 — dynamic pricing strikes again.

I assume it’s to ensure that if you have a carry-on bag, there is space in the overhead bin. As I was only bringing a personal item on board, I didn’t feel the need to get on the plane early.

Shortcut boarding will be included with the Go Comfy and Go Big tiers. Go Savvy customers are the next group, and Go customers will be the final ones aboard.

I knew that snacks weren’t included in my airfare, but I was pretty surprised to see that not even water was free on the flight. I tend to travel with my own water bottle, so it didn’t affect me, but if I had been on a longer flight without my water bottle, I would’ve been annoyed to pay for it.

Under the new system, Go Comfy and Go Big customers get a snack and a drink included. Customers at the lower two levels will still have to pay.

You also had to pay for WiFi — either a cheaper level at $16 for just browsing or another couple of dollars to stream videos. In the future, Go Big customers will get WiFi included with their ticket.

I left Disney World at around 6:45 p.m., right as it began raining heavily — forget a delay, I was worried my flight would be canceled entirely.

My flight was supposed to depart at 8:45 p.m., but we didn’t get off the ground until 9:20 p.m. That’s nothing compared to some of the delays I’ve experienced this summer.

While I didn’t fly with a ticket under the new system, I’m unsure how it will be received by travelers.

In my opinion, one of the best things about Spirit is that you can pick and choose the added amenities you like, depending on your journey and needs. Now, I wonder if people may feel forced into buying a higher tier that comes with way more — and ultimately, more expensive — perks that not everyone would typically opt for, like a checked bag and a pre-selected non-middle seat.

In a statement, Spirit told Business Insider, “While we have these new premium selections, we’re also offering Go, where our Guests will still have the flexibility to purchase any of the following options: checked bags, standard seat selection, WiFi, and snacks and beverages.

“Spirit always has been, and always will be, about delivering value to travelers who prefer to save on their flights.”

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by my experience with the airline. If I were taking a trip that required a longer flight, I would probably still spring for an airline with nicer seats and included meals.

But for a quick trip where I can make do with the basic Go tier, Spirit is now my go-to airline.