SpiceJet Review [2024]: Low fares but are they trustworthy?

Are you hoping to explore India and hit all the major cities and sights by flying domestically? SpiceJet might just be your ticket to all that India has to offer! 

SpiceJet is a popular Indian airline among locals and travelers alike. They also offer cheap tickets to many of India's biggest cities and some off-the-beaten-path destinations.

India has many domestic airlines to choose from, like Indigo, Akas Air, Air India, Go Air, and Vistara, which all offer a wide range of destinations. 

So how do you choose which airline is best for you? How reliable are they? You're about to find out if SpiceJet's budget tickets are worth it. 

What is SpiceJet?

SpiceJet airlines is one of the two biggest budget airlines operating in India. The airline is based in Gurgaon, Haryana, a northern state in India, and serves over 8 million customers annually. 

SpiceJet has been recognized as India's 3rd largest airline when measuring the total number of passengers annually. They aim to have the highest consumer value by providing honest and ethical service.

Where does SpiceJet Fly?

SpiceJet has 55 domestic and international destinations. Their international flights include: 

• Kathmandu
• Bangkok
• Singapore
• Colombo

Some of SpiceJet's domestic destinations are:

• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Pune
• Goa
• Hyderabad
• Chennai

Who Owns SpiceJet?

SpiceJet is a publicly traded company owned by Ajay Singh, who bought the company in 2015. 

They operate a fleet of 99 planes, including Boeing 737 and Bombardier Dash 8. 

Is SpiceJet Safe?

SpiceJet had some mid-flight incidents in 2022, like a cracked windshield and a fuel leak. This is causing their customer base to be concerned. SpiceJet maintains that its planes are adequately inspected and safe for customers to travel. 

Although they have some planes grounded recently due to inspection failure, SpiceJet is a relatively safe airline with a clean record. 

SpiceJet Cancellation Policy

After purchasing a ticket with SpiceJet, you have 24 hours to change or cancel the ticket and get a full refund. 

After the 24-hour window, there is a cancellation fee for international and domestic flights. 

SpiceJet Customer Service

SpiceJet doesn't have a great track record when it comes to quality customer service. Many travelers report being charged extra fees and having canceled payments charged to their credit card days later. 

There are complaints of poor inflight service and food. And a customer care line that's difficult to use is bringing their service rating down. 

Right now, SpiceJet has a rating of 1.4 on Trusted Pilot, with some of the better reviews mentioning issues with their flights. 

The SpiceJet web check-in is simple to use, but if you need assistance, customer service is hard to contact and is reportedly rude and unhelpful.

SpiceJet Baggage Policy

This budget airline comes with typical extra fees for baggage. Only one carry-on bag is allowed on board, with a weight restriction of 7 kg. 

You can add extra or overweight luggage when booking your ticket, which will cost about $11. If you arrive at the airport to find your bag is overweight, there is an added charge of ​​$7 per kg on domestic flights. Any additional luggage pieces are $12 per item. 

SpiceJet has some interesting rules regarding what can and cannot be in your cabin bag. Items like E-cigarettes and certain Macbook Pro laptops are entirely banned on cabin bags and checked-in bags.

If you have a Macbook Pro laptop with a 15-inch screen that was purchased between September 2015 and May 2017, then unfortunately it's a no-go!

The In-Flight Experience

Everyone's individual experience varies, but there are some things to expect when flying with a low-cost airline. Sneaky fees and hidden costs abound. So unless you carry small hand luggage, expect to pay a little extra. 

Everything on SpiceJet costs extra and should be booked ahead of time when you buy your flights to avoid excess costs at the airport.

There are three price options for add-ons on your SpiceJet flight:

Spice Saver

This option is their cheapest, covering just the hand luggage and no add-ons.

Spice Max 

The Spice Max option includes priority privileges such as extra legroom and a complimentary meal and drink. 

Spice Flex

This option allows you to change your ticket for free and includes a preferred seat choice, free meal, drink, and a free RT-PCR test if needed. 

Add-ons like seat and meal combos, priority check-in, extra baggage, and insurance can all be purchased as extras regardless of your selected Spice option. 

When purchasing the basic ticket, a budget airline's inflight experience is as expected. There's barely any legroom, uncomfortable seating, no inflight entertainment, and no meal service. 

SpiceJet vs. Indigo

Indigo is another popular airline in India that also offers affordable tickets. Many customers report that their staff is friendly and helpful, the website is easy to use, and their flights are usually on time. 

Indigo flights are significantly more expensive than SpiceJet, but their basic fare includes hand luggage and a checked-in bag, whereas SpiceJet does not. 

Overall, SpiceJet is more affordable than Indigo, even when you factor in the extra baggage costs. But if it's service you're after, then Indigo offers a slightly better experience.

Is SpiceJet a Good Airline?

SpiceJet is a safe and decent airline if you're backpacking in India and looking to get around on a budget. 

It's always best to check recent reviews before booking with any airline. Traveling with SpiceJet will be a good option if you don't mind a no-frills travel experience. 

SpiceJet has a rating of 3.5/5 on Trip Advisor, but its ratings on other sites are much lower. 

Foreigners Traveling in India

It's good to note that foreigners will have difficulties purchasing local flights online in India with a foreign credit card. It's best to plan and book all your local flights with the same credit card before you leave your home country. 

It's also important that you travel in India with the same credit card, as you will be asked to show the credit card before boarding or to provide the details on the front and back of the card.

Is SpiceJet Worth it?

What SpiceJet lacks in extras, it makes up for with significantly lower ticket prices! SpiceJet is worth it if you don't mind a slightly uncomfortable flight or if you aren't traveling a long distance.

If you're looking for a little bit more comfort or are traveling internationally from India, it may be worth rethinking SpiceJet. In that case, you'd be better off overlooking the higher prices and looking into some of India's other airlines like Indigo, Vistara, or Air India. 

Foreigners in India can easily afford a slightly higher ticket while still traveling on a budget, so it would be worth it to weigh out other options. 

Traveling in India can be a bit hectic without the added difficulty of flight/ticket issues. It's best to take the easier route when booking local flights, especially during busy periods such as Diwali.

Our Rating: 2.3/5

Pros:

• Cheap tickets
• Many local and international destinations
• Safe flights

Cons:

• Difficult customer service
• Extra charges for everything
• Uncomfortable seats 

Plan your next trip with Pilot! 

Now that you've researched some of India's local airlines, it's a good time to start planning the rest of the journey! Even if you choose to fly with SpiceJet or a different airline, be sure to plan the rest of your itinerary with Pilot.