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Spirit Airlines Is Gone: Where to Find Cheap Replacement Flights from SMF, SFO, and OAK in 2026
Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2nd, 2026, and if you flew on those $29 base fares out of Sacramento, Oakland, or San Francisco, you're probably still feeling the gap. The good news: cheaper flights still exist from all three Bay Area and Sacramento airports — you just need to know which airlines to watch and when to book.
Which airlines now offer the cheapest flights from SMF, SFO, and OAK?
The budget vacuum left by Spirit has been partially filled by a handful of carriers, depending on your departure airport. Here's where to look first:
Southwest Airlines remains the most accessible low-cost option out of SMF (Sacramento International) and OAK (Oakland International). Note that Southwest ended its long-running free checked bag policy in 2024, with the change taking effect in May 2025 — as of 2026, bags are fee-based for most travelers; verify current bag fees and any exceptions at southwest.com before booking. That changes the all-in math, so factor in bag fees when comparing Southwest fares to competitors. Even so, watch for Southwest's periodic fare sales, which still regularly produce sub-$100 one-way fares to Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Southern California.
Alaska Airlines flies extensively from both SMF and SFO and frequently discounts routes to the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, and the Southwest. Alaska's Saver fares are genuinely cheap — closer to what Spirit used to charge — but come with Spirit-like restrictions: no changes, no upgrades, last to board.
Frontier Airlines still serves OAK and select SMF routes. Frontier is Spirit's closest structural replacement — ultra-low base fares with fees for everything else. If you pack light and book early, Frontier can still deliver the cheapest seat in the market on routes like OAK to Denver or OAK to Las Vegas.
United Airlines and Delta Air Lines both operate Basic Economy fares out of SFO that, when discounted, approach budget-carrier pricing. United's Basic Economy is particularly competitive on transcontinental routes — New York (EWR/JFK), Chicago (ORD), and Miami — especially during off-peak windows in January, February, and September.
Is Frontier Airlines a real replacement for Spirit out of Oakland?
For OAK travelers specifically, Frontier is the most direct Spirit substitute. The airline operates a similar unbundled model: the base fare covers a personal item only. A carry-on bag adds roughly $40–$60 depending on when you pay for it, and a checked bag runs similar. The key rule: always add bags during booking, never at the gate. Gate bag fees at Frontier can run $100 or more each way — the same trap Spirit flyers learned the hard way. Book early, fly light, and Frontier's OAK fares to Las Vegas, Denver, and Phoenix are frequently the lowest available.
What's the cheapest way to fly out of SMF right now?
Sacramento travelers have a practical advantage many overlook: SMF is genuinely uncrowded compared to SFO, which means airlines price it competitively to fill seats. Southwest and Alaska are the workhorses here. For domestic leisure routes, set fare alerts on both carriers for SMF departures. Alaska's flash sales — often announced Tuesday or Wednesday evenings — have produced SMF-to-Hawaii fares under $250 round-trip in 2026. Southwest's Wanna Get Away fares from SMF to Burbank, Las Vegas, and Phoenix regularly undercut $80 one-way, though remember to account for Southwest's checked bag fees when calculating your total cost.
Should you drive to SFO or OAK for a cheaper fare?
Sometimes. SFO offers the widest route network and the most competition on international and transcontinental routes, which drives prices down. If you're flying to Europe, Asia, or the East Coast, checking SFO fares first is worth the 90-minute drive from Sacramento. OAK tends to be cheapest for leisure routes in the West — Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Denver — largely because Frontier and Southwest both operate there. Factor in parking ($30–$40/day at SFO, less at OAK) and your time before assuming the cheaper fare is actually cheaper.
What Travelers are Asking
What replaced Spirit Airlines at Sacramento airport (SMF)?
No single airline has directly replaced Spirit at SMF. Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines now cover the most budget-friendly options from Sacramento, with Alaska's Saver fares and Southwest's Wanna Get Away fares serving as the closest functional equivalents. Keep in mind that Southwest now charges for checked bags (a policy that took effect in May 2025) unless you hold a Southwest co-branded credit card — verify current exceptions at southwest.com. Frontier Airlines operates limited SMF service on select routes.
Does Frontier Airlines fly from Oakland (OAK) in 2026?
Yes. As of 2026, Frontier Airlines continues to serve Oakland International (OAK) with ultra-low base fares to destinations including Las Vegas, Denver, and Phoenix. Frontier's unbundled pricing model mirrors Spirit's — base fares cover a personal item only, with additional fees for carry-on and checked bags.
How do I find the cheapest flights from the Bay Area after Spirit shut down?
Set fare alerts on Google Flights for your home airport (SMF, SFO, or OAK) and check Southwest's website separately — Southwest doesn't appear on Google Flights or most third-party tools. For Bay Area departures, compare SFO and OAK fares side by side, as the cheaper airport varies by route and date.
Are Basic Economy fares on United or Delta as cheap as Spirit used to be?
On certain routes and dates, yes. United Basic Economy out of SFO and Delta Basic Economy occasionally match or approach former Spirit pricing on high-competition routes like SFO to New York or SFO to Miami. The key difference: United and Delta Basic Economy still include a carry-on bag, whereas Spirit and Frontier do not, making the all-in cost comparison more favorable than the headline fare suggests. Southwest began charging for checked bags in May 2025 — confirm the latest baggage fees and any credit card exceptions at southwest.com before booking.