How is Spirit despite all of their fees?

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Trying to find the most economical flights for our family of 4 plus my parents from LAX to MCO. Not counting bags it's $75 cheaper per person each way for the times I want (and since Southwest is the only airline that offers free bags I'm not counting that cost. SW doesn't have red eyes which is what I want anyway).

So how are they? Do I go with them to save my family all that money? They also don't have direct flights which I'd prefer but would be willing to save several hundred dollars and suck it up.

Trip isn't until beginning of November so I have some time to book.

 

[JanaDee]

Trying to find the most economical flights for our family of 4 plus my parents from LAX to MCO. Not counting bags it's $75 cheaper per person each way for the times I want (and since Southwest is the only airline that offers free bags I'm not counting that cost. SW doesn't have red eyes which is what I want anyway).

So how are they? Do I go with them to save my family all that money? They also don't have direct flights which I'd prefer but would be willing to save several hundred dollars and suck it up.

Trip isn't until beginning of November so I have some time to book.

Read a bunch of the reviews online. You'll more than likely want to book a different airline.
http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/spirit.htm

 

[adrienne21snow]

Look, I love Spirit and use it often because I love a deal, but it is truly the Greyhound of the skies. You may end up with no legroom and no room for your tiny, single allowed carry on bag. Also, when they say bare fair-they mean it. No free soda, juice, or peanuts, just a chair. I only like to use it for flights under 3 hours or so because they are bit miserable for longer flights. I'm not a very big person (5'6", 120 lbs) and I feel quite crowded on their planes.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Read a bunch of the reviews online. You'll more than likely want to book a different airline.
http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/spirit.htm

Those reviews are very honest and helpful. Yikes. Thank you.

Look, I love Spirit and use it often because I love a deal, but it is truly the Greyhound of the skies. You may end up with no legroom and no room for your tiny, single allowed carry on bag. Also, when they say bare fair-they mean it. No free soda, juice, or peanuts, just a chair. I only like to use it for flights under 3 hours or so because they are bit miserable for longer flights. I'm not a very big person (5'6", 120 lbs) and I feel quite crowded on their planes.

My husband is 6'4"- it doesn't quite sound like it's worth the savings. I'd feel awful about his lack of comfort. I'm 5'7" and it doesn't sound like it'd be fun for me either!

 

[Flight]

I have never flown on Spirit Airlines. I did see an interview with their CEO where he acknowledged that the legroom was almost non existant( I am paraphrasing) but people continue to fly with them because of the price.

 

[debster812]

The other important thing to remember, is that Spirit 'is what it is'. It's a low cost, NO frills, discount airline. When everything runs smoothly, they are fine, get you from point A to point B. However, if there are any sort of irregular ops, things can go south, and in a big hurry. Their customer service is less than stellar, and virtually non-existent.

We flew with them 8 or 9 years ago for a long weekend from Boston to Myrtle Beach. We should have been in MYR by 10:30am on a Friday. Due to delays, crews timing out, and their inability to re-book we would up flying to RDU, and connecting to MYR. We did not arrive at our hotel until after 7pm. Lost an entire day.

Flying home, there was very bad fog all the way up and down the east coast. Our plane had not even left Boston by the time it was supposed to be departing MYR. Again, we are completely understanding in that things happen, but there was absolutely no one at our gate area to even ask questions of, and we could not get through to a live person by calling Spirit.

When the plane finally arrived, the gate agent announced, "Everyone can relax now, see, we'll get you to Boston eventually....."

I know never is a long time, but I did vow at that time that we would never fly Spirit again, and so far, we have kept to it.

 

[tasha99]

DD22 flew them a couple of years ago to Cabo San Lucas. They cancelled the last leg of her return flight and couldn't reschedule her for 5 days. It wasn't a weather issue, but they were completelt unable to put her on another carrier. She ended up renting a car and driving back (from San Diego to Portland--thank god one of her travel companions was over 25!) If you have any connecting flights, think carefully before using them, because you could end up stranded halfway. If it's a single leg and in a pinch you could drive, then it might be worth it. She said it was horrible, btw. Very little leg room-- just bad all around.

 

[daisyx3]

My 20 year old daughter has used them twice from Cleveland to Orlando to visit her CP buddies for long weekends. She doesn't mind it and has found a bag that does not cost extra for her carry on. I would never use them myself after all of the horror stories I have heard.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

DD22 flew them a couple of years ago to Cabo San Lucas. They cancelled the last leg of her return flight and couldn't reschedule her for 5 days. It wasn't a weather issue, but they were completelt unable to put her on another carrier. ......

That is because Spirit has no interline agreements with other airlines. Something to consider when making a decision to fly them.

 

[DisneyinPA]

I'd rather walk from LAX to MCO then fly Spirit. Management is disgraceful after their recent $69 fare promotion.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I'd rather walk from LAX to MCO then fly Spirit. Management is disgraceful after their recent $69 fare promotion.

I just spit out my drink! Thanks for the laugh!

 

[Princess T]

I agree with all of the previous posts. I have flown with them once and I have no desire to ever fly their carrier again. The flight was very late boarding and looked as if it had not been cleaned. Legroom was nonexistent, and forget about getting any type of free beverage or snack. The final straw for me was the fact that they somehow managed to damage my luggage and I had to jump through all types of hoops to get reimbursed. I don't ever plan on flying with them again.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

Flew with them once because the price was right BUT I won't ever do it again. No leg room, seats didn't recline, our flights were delayed going and coming back. The seats were uncomfortable and it was just overall - bad.

 

[MillauFr]

What I don't get is why there are so many complaints about Spirit. The CEO even brags about how lousy their service is. If you go in expecting a terrible trip I don't see why anyone would complain.

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

Unfortunately the guy that started Spirit has also spent the last several years ruining Frontier Airlines as well.