The Dro Show

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Spirit Airlines is truly a sight to behold when the topic of air travel comes up. People either love the cheap deals or they absolutely loathe the cost effective airline. Although there’s an obvious love-hate relationship many people have with the corporation, so many people can’t seem to stop flying with them. Is choosing Spirit Airlines a wise decision? Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of flying with the company.

Pros:

1. Cost Effective

This will always be first on the list when it comes to flying with Spirit. I mean, it is a ULCC, Ultra Low Cost Carrier. You can find deals as low as $20 one way and $40 round trip, of course based on your departure and arrival locations. You absolutely cannot beat some of the deals Spirit has to offer in comparison to other airlines.

2. Spirit Savers Club

Like many airports, Spirit also has their own exclusive membership club. The Spirit Savers Club is an annual membership that allows customers to receive discounts on airplane tickets, bags, seating, and more. When searching for flights on Spirit’s website, there will be a price difference on regular prices versus Spirit Saver prices.

3. Great For Quick Traveling

I’ve flown with Spirit from Chicago to Miami and Miami to Chicago with no problems. Flying both cities is about 2.5 to 3 hours which is fairly quick especially if you’re bringing minimal luggage. From my own observation, I noticed the longer the travel time, the more issues occur when flying with the company. So if you’re traveling somewhere quick and there’s no need for too many bags, Spirit is definitely a great low cost option.

Cons:

1. Baggage Fees

Before I flew with Spirit, I would consistently hear people complain about the high baggage fees in particular. While you may feel you’re getting a deal with a $35 plane ticket to New York City, you’ll have to pay roughly $35 to $100 depending on these factors; locations, weight, number of bags, and when you purchase the bag fees.

In comparison to Southwest who has a two free bag policy, or American Airlines who has a standard basic economy fee of $30 for one bag and $40 for another bag when traveling within the U.S., your total may end up being about the same amount as paying with a higher priced airline.

2. Poor Customer Service & Reputation

All businesses have their hiccups, but there has been an excessive dragging of Spirit, their customer service issues, and a myriad of other shenanigans for the past decade. Many complaints include constant flight delays, cancellations, being unable to reach customer service reps, and other issues. Last year CBS News reported Spirit Airlines as number two in the airlines with the most negative complaints for 2022. They also came in number two for the worst airlines in the United States. The Business Insider article also stated Skytrax has an average rating of 2/10 from customers with a total of five thousand plus reviews. Yikes on bikes.

3. No Entertainment & No Snacks

Unlike most major airlines, Spirit Airlines does not offer in-flight entertainment or courtesy snacks and beverages for customers. Nope, not even a cup of water. For someone like me who brings their own snacks, that’s not an issue, but everyone doesn’t vibe like that. There is Wi-Fi available, but it costs. Pack accordingly and bring a book or some form of entertainment. Which brings me to the next con.

4. Fees. Fees, Everywhere

In referencing number one and number three, Spirit Airlines is known for charging fees. Although the company brags about being a ULCC, the way they make up for being charging low cost tickets is by the fees. Baggage fees, Wi-Fi costs, food and beverage fees, early boarding, printing boarding pass at the airport, changing seats and more. While many airlines do charge fees for things like changing seats, Spirit does seem over the top with everything else.

Conclusion

It’s truly your prerogative when it comes to the airline of your choosing. In my opinion, a quick 1-3 hour trip with Spirit is the best. I haven’t flown internationally with them, but I would consider it depending on pricing and comparing it with other airlines.

Have you ever flown with Spirit Airlines? Share your experiences below!

Travel season is officially loading. Travel season can be whenever you want it to be, all year round, certain seasons, but for the most part it’s spring and summer. It’s always important to make a smooth transition into going to airports in order to get to your destination on time, safe and stress free.

Here are some easy hacks for flying:

1. Arrive Early

If my flight is scheduled to leave at 12:45pm, trust and believe like Keyshia Cole I will be at xyz airport at 9:30am. I love getting to the airport early for a few reasons:

To get through TSA lines in a timely fashion
Just in case there may be an issue with ticketing, seating, etc

I love getting to my gate relaxing, munching on my snacks, getting some work done and waiting for my plane to board. Being early is being on time.

2. Have Your ID & Other Documents Handy & Ready

Your id is so important in identifying who you are as you pass through security. I purchased a cool lanyard wallet with a built in cellphone case where I can easily access my id and other important cards. It’s important to know exactly where your id is located so it doesn’t get lost and so you’re not holding up the line searching for it. Be a team player with other passengers and airport staff so everyone can move through the security lines smoothly.

3. Dress Comfortably

Travel days are known to be busy, tiring, and can be hectic. It’s best to dress comfortably for maneuvering through the airport, unless you’re just absolutely ready to walk the runway. Here are some airport clothing ideas:

Sweatshirts
Hoodies (preferably with pockets)
Sweatpants and jogging pants (again, with pockets)
Comfortable slip on shoes
Track jackets
SOCKS!

Be sure to adhere to the weather and temperature to the place you’re traveling to before leaving to ensure comfort. I’ve flown during all four seasons to humid hot places and cold ones and personally I still wear a sweatshirt and jogging pants as my default outfit. I even add on a jacket because it can get chilly on certain aircraft. If needed, I change clothes when I get my luggage in the airport bathrooms depending on how cold or hot it is and where I’m going.

Photo by Rob Wilson on Unsplash

4. Pack Correctly & Adhere to TSA Rules

I was returning home one time and I accidentally put a container of body scrub in my carry on bag instead of my check in bag. TSA carried my poor little scrub away. Ouch. There is a major TSA rule of not having liquid items over 3.4 oz. Knowing how to pack correctly is important so you don’t have to have items confiscated or waste time rearranging your wardrobe and toiletries in the middle of the airport (again, see the first tip on time management).

Packing accordingly also applies to bringing the correct sized luggage to the airport. Besides TSA, always check in with each individual airline you’re flying with, although most have the same regulations. There are plenty of parking tutorial videos on TikTok and YouTube that will show you how to pack and what to pack.

5. Regularly Check for Flight Updates

One time I was flying into Miami from Louisville and my gate got switched at the last minute. I got to my gate in more than enough time, but if I hadn’t checked or received notifications? It’s so important to check flight logs and monitors or have flight notifications via email or apps to not only ensure you’re at the correct gate, but to also be informed on boarding times and possible delays and gate changes.

6. Bring Snacks & An Empty Water Bottle

As mentioned above, liquids over 3.4oz aren’t allowed in personal item bags or carry on bags and no one wants to pay a whopping $12 for a bottle of water at the airport (trust me, I did this in Vegas and you don’t want to do that). It’s best to bring a clean, empty water bottle to grab water at fountains or other beverages once you’ve passed security.

Airplane snacks are cool, but I absolutely prefer to bring my own snacks. I’m also vegan and my diet is limited, so bringing my own goodies helps a ton. This also saves money from buying pricey snacks in the airport and you can enjoy your own food. If there are delays, having your own snacks is beneficial in case you get hungry. I usually pack mine in my personal item backpack.

@___dro__ 6 Easy Airport Travel Tips 🛫 Save this for your next airport visit! I love flying and doing these helps me get through anybody’s airport anywhere with a breeze 🙏🏽 • • • • • #fyp #fypシ #foryoupage #airport #airportlife #traveltiktok #traveltips #travelhacks #airlinetiktok ♬ Happiness (feat. Asake & Gunna) - Sarz & Asake & Gunna

What airport tip is helps you the most? Share below!

I remember seeing people rant and rave about Nolaskinsentials back on X (formerly and still known as Twitter) in 2017/2018. I’m on the late train, but I had to jump on it regardless. I don’t usually go for social media hype, but the hype is real when it comes to Nolaskinsentials.

Nolaskinsentials is a black owned, woman owned vegan skincare company ran by Jane Ormon. It was started in 2017 due to Ormon having a hard time finding suitable products for her darker complexion. Nolaskinsentials is cruelty free and handcrafted created with real, natural ingredients, which is why I wanted to check it out.

Here are the products I purchased from them to review:

Papaya Burst Cleanser

Let’s Get Intimate Bikini Scrub

Pumpkin & Vanilla Bean Face Exfoliant

Passion Fruit Hyperpigmentation Soap

Here’s my take on each product after using them all for a few months:

Papaya Burst Cleanser

I wanted to use the Papaya Burst Cleanser as an addition to my skincare regimen after reading a suggestion to use two cleansers for your face. I already use black soap and sometimes charcoal soap, so I chose the papaya soap for deep cleansing.

This soap is helpful for acne prone skin and dark spots. While I don’t have dark spots anymore, as someone with acne prone skin I found this cleanser extremely helpful to my regimen. I have no issues with this cleanser, it goes a long way and keeps my skin glowing.

Rating: 10/10

Let’s Get Intimate Bikini Scrub

I started getting Brazilian waxes over the pandemic shut down. One thing that was stressed to sustain healthy skin was to regularly exfoliate the intimate area. This is why I purchased the Let’s Get Intimate Bikini Scrub. I used this scrub before and after waxes. It’s a Himalayan salt base and is useful for ingrown hairs and razor bumps.

This is a pretty solid scrub. As someone who exfoliates weekly, I wish it would come in a larger container (the size is 8oz). Otherwise this was a nice scrub and it did prevent ingrowns.

Rating: 8/10

Pumpkin & Vanilla Bean Face Exfoliant

This scrub is $20 for a 4oz container but is some of the best exfoliant I’ve ever used, hands down. Besides the amazing vanilla scent, this scrub is amazing on my face. I exfoliate once a week, both face and body. This scrub has a sugar base and is for acne prone and textured skin.

What I love most is the how smooth and soft it is to the skin while using. I wouldn’t expect a vanilla scented scrub to be compatible with acne prone skin, but it’s that amazing and left my skin smooth and glowing. Because it’s only used on the face, it lasts a very long time too.

Rating: 10/10

Passion Fruit Hyperpigmentation Soap

We all have pesky scars and hyperpigmentation we want to get rid of. I got the Passion Fruit Hyperpigmentation Soap with hope of lightening some scars on my legs although many use it for their faces as it’s recommended for acne prone skin and scarring.

My fairest review on this is that I haven’t been using the soap long enough to really see a change on any leg scars and I may need to use a stronger cream to get rid of them instead. All in all, it’s a quality soap, but I personally would suggest it be used on the face instead of the body based off of my review for body usage after a few months.

Rating: 8/10

That’s my take on Nolaskinsentials products. I absolutely adore the Papaya Burst Cleanser and the Vanilla & Bean Exfoliant the most. I’m super excited to try more products from this company. Highly recommended and worth a try!

Have you ever used Nolaskinsentials? What’s your favorite product or what product would you try if you haven’t tried it before?