Frontier and Spirit Airlines to merge in 2022

[Gitelfor]

The ultra low cost carriers today announced they will merge in 2022, subject to federal approval. The deal would be valued at 6.6 billion dollars.

Frontier and Spirit to merge
Frontier to hold majority interest

 

[_19disnA]

Where I used to live, Spirit was always on the local news when irate customers got stranded at the airport due to a mechanical issue causing flight cancellations. The problem was also a limited number of days/flights so if a plane had a mechanical issue, the replacement was 2 days away. Would NEVER fly with Spirit. Always seemed like an airline run on a shoestring budget and didn't really care if people were delayed. Have flown on Frontier and never had any issues and they seem very organized and well run. Not sure if they merge if Spirit will improve or Frontier gets worse? Depends on who is actually running the show after the merger.

 

[OKW Lover]

Not sure if they merge if Spirit will improve or Frontier gets worse? Depends on who is actually running the show after the merger.

Inevitably in these mergers the initial impact will be negative. Too many moving parts that need to be coordinated and the employees don't get the message. I'd give it at least 6 months to iron out the kinks.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

It's mixing 2 low cost, limited offering airlines together.
I can't see it improving either one in any measurable way.
You'll still have limited flights per day and days flown and no relationship with legacy carriers to help in case of stranded passengers
You'll still have airlines that nickel and dime the customer to the point they are rarely cheaper
You'll still have airplanes with the smallest passenger space and most uncomfortable seats.

 

[Gitelfor]

Site was set up for information about the proposed merger.

 

[MrKnight]

Both horrible airlines, this has to be one of the worst mergers yet.. I would recommend staying away from both airlines..

 

[Cheburashka]

I flew on Frontier once many years ago because my pushy ex insisted on it. Looking back, I never should have agreed. For one thing, it wasn't cheap, and money was tight back then. It probably would have been cheaper to book a flight on a legacy airline, but my ex was really into the idea of flying Frontier, which was pretty new back then, and I rarely flew in those days so I didn't know any better.

We had an early morning flight, would have been first flight of the day scheduled to depart, on a beautiful clear day, and it was delayed for several hours. No other flights in the airport were noticeably delayed, and it certainly wasn't due to weather. We heard a rumor that the intended pilot had been drunk or hung over but who knows if that was true. Anyway, I have no desire to fly them again and never will.

I wouldn't book a flight on Spirit if it were free. Aside from the discomfort, I am not willing to risk last-minute multi-day delays potentially ruining my vacation or delaying my return to work.

 

[PittPantherfan]

I'd rather drive 18 hours than fly Spirit!

 

[mikehn]

That's funny cause I actually considered driving to FL so I wouldnt have to rent a car. But by morning I sobered up.

 

[RMO87]

Here's a funny I came across today on the merger. Made me LOL!

“The $2.9 billion Frontier Airlines deal doesn't include an additional $1 billion in fees to buy the seat belts, armrests and cushions on all the Spirit Airlines airplanes.”—Writer Joel Petlin ( @joelmpetlin) on the announced merger of ultra-low-cost airlines Frontier and Spirit

 

[Gitelfor]

Here's a funny I came across today on the merger. Made me LOL!

“The $2.9 billion Frontier Airlines deal doesn't include an additional $1 billion in fees to buy the seat belts, armrests and cushions on all the Spirit Airlines airplanes.”—Writer Joel Petlin ( @joelmpetlin) on the announced merger of ultra-low-cost airlines Frontier and Spirit

Spirit aircraft have cushions?

 

[Gary2T]

Loved seeing this annoucned on Monday as we waited at MCO to board our Frontier flight. The merging of two airlines with stellar reputations in customer service and reliability. Made even better by the fact that no Frontier flights were coming in or going out all morning. Seems there was a rather widespread (not just MCO) tech issue that grounded most Frontier flights systemwide. The line to talk to somebody rivaled the famed Magical Express lines of last year. It stretched from the Frontier area down to almost the large open area before the Southwest desk last I saw it, plus the switchback queues at the desk itself.

Our 10am flight to MDT (Harrisburg, PA) was delayed to 2pm before being cancelled alltogether. Next flight to MDT scheduled 2 days later. Didn't even try to get on it. Just put in for a refund and booked a Southwest flight leaving at 9pm headed to BWI, then rented a car to get back to Harrisburg to get our car. Finally made it home at 4am Tuesday.

-Went with Southwest instead of a later Frontier flight into BWi because at the time no Frontier flights had went in or out yet. Didn't have any faith in a Frontier flight actually happening that day.

-Flown Frontier many time before with the worst problems being delays under 2 hours. But when things go bad, good luck.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Loved seeing this annoucned on Monday as we waited at MCO to board our Frontier flight. The merging of two airlines with stellar reputations in customer service and reliability. Made even better by the fact that no Frontier flights were coming in or going out all morning. Seems there was a rather widespread (not just MCO) tech issue that grounded most Frontier flights systemwide. The line to talk to somebody rivaled the famed Magical Express lines of last year. It stretched from the Frontier area down to almost the large open area before the Southwest desk last I saw it, plus the switchback queues at the desk itself.

Our 10am flight to MDT (Harrisburg, PA) was delayed to 2pm before being cancelled alltogether. Next flight to MDT scheduled 2 days later. Didn't even try to get on it. Just put in for a refund and booked a Southwest flight leaving at 9pm headed to BWI, then rented a car to get back to Harrisburg to get our car. Finally made it home at 4am Tuesday.

-Went with Southwest instead of a later Frontier flight into BWi because at the time no Frontier flights had went in or out yet. Didn't have any faith in a Frontier flight actually happening that day.

-Flown Frontier many time before with the worst problems being delays under 2 hours. But when things go bad, good luck.

You are right that when things go wrong they go way wrong. It’s a gamble to fly with these low cost airlines. Vacation travel is just not an area of my life I want to gamble with. Well actually I don’t gamble at all but surely not gonna start with vacation

 

[disneyseniors]

I only flew Spirit once with my daughter who booked the flight from N.MN. to Columbus, Ohio. It was tight with small seating, IMO. I had one seat open beside me and along came a huge, tall, linebacker type to sit by me in that little seat, LOL, He had to duck because he was so tall. I guess I looked at him walking down the aisle and grimaced, and he looked at me and laughed. He knew what I was thinking. He was heading to a college, so maybe he was a linebacker? We had a nice, close flight anyway. The flight itself was on time and had no problems. Maybe we were lucky? IDK.

My daughter and family are flying Sprit out of N Dakota to Arizona next month. I hope all goes well for them because I don't really trust Spirit even though our flight was okay. We always fly Delta and love that airline - always on time, no problems and we have flown a lot of times. Maybe this merger will work out for the best for both airlines.

 

[Kim&Chris]

The absolute worst flight I've ever taken was on Spirit. I don't care if they take me to Disney for $1, I'll never use them again.

 

[Lewisc]

Frontier had a computer issue which resulted in numerous cancelations earlier this week. Last year Southwest had a computer glitch and had to cancel or delay hundreds of flights. It happens.

 

[Gary2T]

Frontier had a computer issue which resulted in numerous cancelations earlier this week. Last year Southwest had a computer glitch and had to cancel or delay hundreds of flights. It happens.

I understand that stuff happens. It’s just that the capacity (1 flight every few days in my case) doesn’t allow for a timely replacement flights. I know this going in and accept it in exchange for the low fares. I often even book backup flights on Southwest points. Just didn’t have enough points for 6 tickets each way this time around. I opted for backup southwest flights going to MCO so we wouldn’t miss any vacation.
Despite the issues experienced this week, I’m sure I will continue to book the ultra low cost carriers on occasion in the future. The low fares allow us to take “bonus” trips throughout the year.

 

[mikehn]

I hear you. I got a lucky streak going. I never have any of the issues posted. Back in the day, I used to commute back and forth to Denver for work and never had any issues with Frontier.

 

[Tink3815]

How do the seats on Frontier compare to the seats on Southwest ? We normally fly Southwest. I am considering Frontier because they are so much cheaper for last minute trips. They do have non stops to MCO from my area.

 

[Ross Kratter]

How do the seats on Frontier compare to the seats on Southwest ? We normally fly Southwest. I am considering Frontier because they are so much cheaper for last minute trips. They do have non stops to MCO from my area.

The seats on Frontier are closer together, do not recline, are smaller, and are less padded.