Lots of ? about Spirit Airlines

[grammagail]

I have lots of questions about Spirit Airlines. We are flying out of Detroit on Spirit 6/22-6/28/04. There are 5 of us - me, DH, DD 17, DD22 and DGS 4. I have had my reservations since Nov. Their website states that I can possibly pick my own seats 90 days prior (which will be 3/25) AND I can print out my boarding passes 45 days prior (5/9). At this point, all I have is an e-mail confirmation for all 5 of us....no tickets, nothing.

Now - here comes all my questions - I am looking for as much information as I can get.....

1. IF I had my choice of all the seats - where are best ones located? Front - middle - back? I know they have 2 aisles with 3 seats and 2 seats. Of course, I want to keep us all in the same aisle if possible (?)

2. SO, I've picked my seats - now I can print off my boarding passes. What is the advantage of this? Since I have my seats and boarding pass - does this then eliminate the need to stand in line to get tickets and check luggage? This would mean I wouldn't have to arrive at airport as early?

3. NOW - I've got our own seat assignments and I have our boarding passes - and if that eliminates standing in line - HOW do I get our luggage checked? Do I do curb side check? I've never done this before (as we've always just stood in line and took care of all of this at the counter).

4. IF we do curb-side check - can my husband pull up to the door, unload all the luggage, check it and then go park our car and meet us back in the airport?

5. IF we do all of this - get own seat assignment, print boarding passes and do curb-side checkin - am I to understand that at this point - all we would have to do is go thru the security check?

I'm looking at this as a time saver - maybe shaving 30 min. or more off of arriving at the airport.

Our flight leaves at 7:25 a.m. - so I figured we would/should arrive at the airport around 5:30 a.m. (2 hours ahead of time?) We live about 45 min. from the airport and looking at leaving around 4:30 a.m......................which I know is early - but I thought if we could shave at least 30 min. off of that would help?

Sorry this is so long - but I love planning things out - and figured why go thru the bother of getting our own seats, printing off passes - if we end up standing in the same line as everyone else?

I need to know the pros and cons of doing this. Anyone with any answers or comments would be very much appreciated - ESPECIALLY someone who has flown out of Detroit Metro on Spirit?

 

[chrisann]

I just wanted to say thank you for posting your questions. We are flying out of detroit on spirit as well, the same time of flight except, we're going on Oct.5th. I'll be looking for all the same information as we have 2 younger kids with us and want to shave off as much time as possible. Can you believe how much cheaper this airline is compared to everyone else? Have a great time!!

 

[grammagail]

That's why I picked them. We're only paying $170.50 pp (including taxes). I heard they are "no frills" - but it's only a 2.5 hr. trip - so how many frills do we need

 

[Pinnie]

As to the best seats...

Try this:

www.seatguru.com

I have yet to fly Spirit to MCO out of DTW. I usually fly NWA or SWA on my rr tickets. I will be flying Spirit to Denver this summer, so your questions are good ones and I'd like to know the answer to some of them as well!

pin

 

[lillykat]

If you PM me in the beginning of May I will be able to answer all your questions - I flying to WDW on Spirit out of DTW for our honeymoon - we would LOVE to shave off some of our time - because we are getting married in NY on sat night, flying back into DTW (because it was MUCH cheaper than LAN) on Sunday night - then we have to repack to fly out - we also have the 725 am flight (4/26) and we will also have to go park etc - We have already picked out our seats - we did it on the 90 mark. The price was so good we couldn't resist - we even booked our airfare to FLL in August since it cost BOTH of us less than $300 total for that trip as well.

I don't know about whether there are skycaps for spirit or not - that is an excellent question - when I fly NWA to NY I check in online and print my boarding pass it is MUCH easier - If I don't check when I arrive at the airport I then go straight to security it is VERY easy - if there are sky caps I just drop off my check bags and then head to security - it does save some time - but that all depends on the length of the lines at security - so don't cut it too close.

 

[grammagail]

Pinnie:

Thanks for the link. Except when I go there - to try and look up the seating - Spirit is not listed (?). I'm not real familiar with flying - only done it a couple of times, the last being probably about 8-9 years ago.

lillycat:

CONGRATS on your upcoming wedding. I'll definetly try to remember to PM you in May - or maybe if you remember you can PM me and let me know after you get back. I was seriously thinking about just calling Spirit and asking them - DUH !!

I definetly do not want to cut it too close at all - but we are so used to just doing it the "long way" - waiting in line, getting seats, checking luggage, etc. - that I'm afraid that I'll go to the trouble of getting my seats, printing my passes and then DH will still want to stand in line anyways.

While I don't really mind getting to airport 2 hours ahead of time - even tho that means being at Metro at 5:30 AM - I'll be so excited about going to Disney, probably won't sleep anyways. However, there will be 5 of us - one of which is my 4 yo grandson. Don't know how that will go.

 

[scottygirl]

grammagail,

I'll try to answer your questions in order by number.

1. I like sitting as close to the front as possible, last one on first one off.

2. Definately print off your boarding passes!! Otherwise you will have to stand in line at the airport to get your passes from the counter.

3. Check the luggage at the curb with the skycaps, they will just ask you for your DL # and where your going.

4. I think he can drop you at the door. We just park in the Big Blue Deck and roll are luggage to the terminal. You can usually get a pretty close spot, plus last time we parked there it was only $5.00 per day!

5.YES!!!

If you do all of the above you shouldn't have to get there any sooner than an 1 1/2 before. Just make sure to check your flight times the evening before to make sure that haven't changed.

 

[grammagail]

THANX

I usually over-think, over-plan everything (to my family's dismay) - however, ever since I found these boards about 3 weeks ago - now I'm totally obsessed with my overplanning

I read somewhere about the Big Blue Deck and thought we'd try and use that one too. I just want to make sure I'm thinking everything thru.

So - I'll try and get my seats assigned online. Then wait until 45 days before and print out my boarding passes. Park in the Big Blue Deck, roll my luggage over and then check them at the curb with Skycab (right?)

Then just walk up - with boarding passes in hand - to security and then we're thru? Right?

Now - another question (sorry)......but since you've answered my original questions so well....................

I think I can get my return seat assignment at the same time as I get my outgoing seat. My question now is - I can't remember how soon I can print out a boarding pass for my return? We'll be in Disney for 7 days/6nights without a computer.

Would it stand to reason that I would simply reverse this action on my way back?

In the past - I've only flown 2-3 times and have always had tickets-in-hand from a travel agent........................

 

[grammagail]

#3 - you say give them my DL#. What is that? Will I get this once I print my boarding pass? All I have right now is an e-mail confirmation with a PNR#

By the way - where are you from in Michigan? We're from Macomb (near Mt. Clemens)

 

[Pinnie]

An alternative to The Big Blue is Qwik Park on Merriman. If you watch the ads that come in the mail, you will sometimes get a coupon for a FREE day parking. (They also offer AAA and AARP discounts) The shuttle drivers load your luggage at your car and off load it at the terminal and do the reverse on the way back. We find them very courteous and you don't have to deal with pulling luggage in the Big Blue lot.

pin

 

[grammagail]

I've been looking thru several sites about parking at Metro - and just found the Big Blue. We've never had to park before - usually have someone drop off and pick us up.

Looking for all my options - since I've still got 3 months to plan. Nice to hear from people who've actually USED a service.

 

[Pinnie]

www.qwikpark.com

There are coupons that you can print for a free day on their website. We fly every few weeks and have been very satisfied with their service for years now!


pin

 

[Boo Mc]

You may already know this but if you do curbside check in, make sure your husband doesn't drive off without showing his photo i.d. If you want to check your bags I think everyone with tickets has to show them to check the bags. So have him show it and then go park the car. We flew Spirit for the first time in December and they were great. We bought the $4 dollar snack box and it was enough to get us through the flight. I even preferred it over some of the hot meals some airlines serve. We printed everything out in advance and the trip went very smoothly. Have fun!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

I would recommend either Airlines Parking on Merriman Rd or US Park on Middlebelt over the Big Blue Deck. Both are cheaper, and even moreso if you're a AAA member. Plus, with the Big Blue Deck, you park, then haul all your luggage through the parking structure to the terminal. With the parking services, you park, haul your luggage about 10 feet to the waiting van, and then they'll drop you off right at the airport. They both have coupons on their website

http://www.airlinesparking.com/
http://www.us-park.com/

4. IF we do curb-side check - can my husband pull up to the door, unload all the luggage, check it and then go park our car and meet us back in the airport?

The traffic officers at DTW are pretty strict about not leaving your car. You'll be allowed to unload the luggage, but they probably won't let you wait while it's checked. You could check the luggage, while your DH parks the car, but he'll need to show his Drivers License to the person checking the bags before he leaves.

5. IF we do all of this - get own seat assignment, print boarding passes and do curb-side checkin - am I to understand that at this point - all we would have to do is go thru the security check?

Correct.

#3 - you say give them my DL#. What is that? Will I get this once I print my boarding pass? All I have right now is an e-mail confirmation with a PNR#

DL = Driver License (DL is also the airline code for Delta Airlines, but that's completely irrelevant to this discussion)

As far as Spirit Airlines goes, I just hope that you have a better experience than I did with them. I used them once, and never again. The check in line was hideously long (took me about an hour and a half just to get through the line), the plane was rather dirty, and on returning to Detroit, it took them 3 hours to get our luggage off the plane. (On the plus side though, they gave us a choice of Oreos or Nutter Butters for our snack ... and those are my 2 favorite kinds of prepackaged cookies). Maybe I just caught them on an off day, but it was a bad enough experience that I don't care to give them a second chance.

 

[bcvprincesses]

We have flown Spirit three times and are using them again in Dec. In Jan we picked our seats and printed our boarding passes. There was no curb side check in so we still had to stand in line. The line was very long but moved very fast. I am glad that we picked our seats because there were not many seats together at the airport. I guess that a lot of people picked their seats online. The line for security was really long and took almost 1 hour to get through. That was no fun with the kids

We have parked at US park and at the Blue deck and we find it much easier to park at US park. They have a bus waiting for you at your car and take you to the airport. On return we have always found a bus waiting and it drops you off right at your car. Any other questions just ask

 

[grammagail]

Thanks for all the wonderful feedback to my many questions.

bvcprincesses

Do you know if they never have curbside checkin - or is it "hit and miss"? I still think I should pick my seats and print my pass out - just in case.

What time was your flight in January? We're leaving at 7:25 a.m. If you say there is a line to check my luggage anyway - and security can take up to an hour - looks like we should still be there around 5:30 a.m.???? I do NOT want to be stressed out that morning cutting it too close. I don't relish the idea of being there so early - and with my 4 yo grandson......but I know me, and I'd be stressing if I was still in the security line at say 7:00 a.m.

Were you able to pick seats for return flight also? When/how did you print your boarding passes for your return flight?

 

[scottygirl]

grammagail,

Glad I could help. We are from Rochester, right around the corner from you! I still like the Big Blue Deck better than offsite parking but I guess everyone is different! DH just got back from a business trip and he said it is $6.00 per day to park at the Big Blue. Sorry, DL# referred to your Driver's License. You are correct about doing the reverse when you come home although you will need access to a computer. I prefer to fly Northwest but there prices are sometimes too much when there are 5 people!! We try to use FF Miles, but it's not always possible. Spirit is no frills, but when you are saving $100pp, it's worth it to me!

 

[bcvprincesses]

Our flight was at 4:20 pm but in previous trips we have had the 7:30 flight and have always waited for security. They do come through the line and move people to the front of the line if their plane is leaving soon. This just makes the line move slower. It can be very stressing, and the kids get very bored.

Not sure if they ever have curbside check-in for Spirit. The other airlines had the check-in at curbside. It would have made things much easier.

We did pick our seats for the return flight. I think we printed our boarding passes for our frturn trip too.

 

[amyb9]

Hi All- Just wanted to chime into say that we are leaving in ONE WEEK for DW and taking Spirit out of OHare.

You are welcome to send me an email and ask questions regarding Spirit after 4/1- amybrinkmeier@aol.com

Yipee!! I am looking for things to do my first evening- after we arrive at the hotel at 6. wondering if I should make PS at somewhere "Disney Special"? To get in the magic mode?? We are only going to be there four full days - and actually spending a lot of time at US/IOA- because that is what DS always has wanted to do.

 

[grammagail]

Yes - you are right around the corner. My sister lives there too.

Am I correct in thinking getting to the airport around 5:30 a.m. will be OK - for a 7:25 am flight? While I don't mind going early and having to sit (even if it's boring) - I'd much rather wait then be stressed out about not making the plane!

I think my flight is sold out - or near sold out - so I'm sure there will be lots of people heading off to Disney with us that morning.

Think I'll leave the parking up to DH - looks like it's a toss-up with all the suggestions I've gotten - all pretty much the same $$$.

Have you actually done curb-side checkin with Spirit? I think I'll give them a call to see - just so I know what I'm getting in for before my trip.

I don't know why I stress out about all these details - but like I said before - this is the first time I've known about these options vs. doing it the old way by standing and waiting for them to do it. I most definetly want my family of 5 together - if I can possibly do it.