Spirit air

[huckster]

we always fly Airtran but they have to long of layovers so we are using Spirit anyone fly them are they pretty reliab we are driving all the way to detroit then fly to mco thanks

 

[N365PA]

Spirit is what it is. A Cheap airline. As far as reliability, as a pilot I would have no problem flying them. I dont care for their business model (they make money at ALL costs) but I would fly them if they flew non-stop from where I was, to where I was going. Their crews are some of the worst paid in the industry (if not the worst) and its basically a stepping stone to a better job as far as we are concerned. Be prepared for alot of fees (checked bags, credit card, carry on bags etc.).

I have alot of friends flying for airTran (soon to be Southwest) and I have heard no complaints (other than typical complaints everyone has on employers!). I have 1 buddy at Spirit and its nothing but complaints.

Safe, Yes. Reliable, no more than any other carrier.

Clint

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

They have a limited schedule and NO interline agreements. When your plane breaks....good luck. They will get you there when they get you there.



And check those fees!!!!

Carryon fee, checked luggage fee, seat assignment, boarding pass print fee, fee to book etc....adds up quick

I won't fly them if they paid me, but....

 

[huckster]

They have a limited schedule and NO interline agreements. When your plane breaks....good luck. They will get you there when they get you there.



And check those fees!!!!

Carryon fee, checked luggage fee, seat assignment, boarding pass print fee, fee to book etc....adds up quick

I won't fly them if they paid me, but....

so when i print my boarding pass from home and the hotel i will get charged?

 

[Greysword]

Found this while looking for quotes from the CEO, Ben Baldanza (bold is from me). Buyer beware.

Kate Hanni, executive director of Flyers Rights, which bills itself as the largest nonprofit consumer organization representing U.S. airline passengers, said Spirit doesn't seem to care what customers think.

“They’re the worst airline in the U.S.,” Hanni said. “They put no money back into customer service, which is a black hole at Spirit.”

Hanni estimated that her organization receives five times the amount of complaints pertaining to Spirit than any other domestic airline — budget or legacy carrier alike.

“Spirit Airlines has a history of cruelty toward their passengers, but they continue to treat them like meat in a seat because their fares are so low they are confident people will continue to fly with them,” she continued. “But the fact is people are damaged by Spirit every day and Spirit Airlines just has a culture of ‘I don’t care.’”

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/0...rs-regarding-passenger-complaints-statistics/

 

[huckster]

thanks for the reply ive bought my tickets and ins so stioo wondering is there a charge to print your boarding pass from you own pc? thanks

 

[Sandmanswife9]

we always fly Airtran but they have to long of layovers so we are using Spirit anyone fly them are they pretty reliab we are driving all the way to detroit then fly to mco thanks

My family and I have flown Spirit many times and never had a problem. I love Airtran and especially love being able to use FNT (Flint) as an option to DTW.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

thanks for the reply ive bought my tickets and ins so stioo wondering is there a charge to print your boarding pass from you own pc? thanks

Nope, but when you forget it or Disney can't print it etc.. $$$$$ when you get to the airport

However, they are VERY VERY strict on your luggage sizes so be sure you check them and are sure your luggage fits within the size/weight requirements which are lower then the standard.

 

[huckster]

62 linear inches and 40 lbs i beleive it said

 

[Lewisc]

Nope, but when you forget it or Disney can't print it etc.. $$$$$ when you get to the airport

However, they are VERY VERY strict on your luggage sizes so be sure you check them and are sure your luggage fits within the size/weight requirements which are lower then the standard.

Not $$$$$ Only $2 if you use a kiosk. Why should everyone subsidize those passengers who are too cheap to pay for paper and ink..

Spirit wants to display the lowest possible fare. Their customers shop based on displayed fare. The average Spirit customer pays more then $100 R/T for optional fees. Spirit believes their passenger, now matter how uncomfortable the experience, will book them again if the price is right.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

62 linear inches and 40 lbs i beleive it said

Measure wheels and handles. Luggage manufactures don't so the measurement on the bag when you buy it does NOT agree to the airline measure

 

[huckster]

guess i will call spirit and find out if thei silness is what should exect or my iece she works for an airline

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If she works for Spirit she will be a good source. If she works for any other US airline remember that Spirit plays from a different play book

And if by silliness you mean "does Spirit really enforce those rules" yes they do. Do some Internet searches. Lots of outraged people who got charged for 42 pounds or "just a little too large". That is how they make their profit.

 

[Lewisc]

If she works for Spirit she will be a good source. If she works for any other US airline remember that Spirit plays from a different play book

And if by silliness you mean "does Spirit really enforce those rules" yes they do. Do some Internet searches. Lots of outraged people who got charged for 42 pounds or "just a little too large". That is how they make their profit.

You can go to Spirit's website and read up on their fees. They do charge for bin bags. They do have a maximum weight of 40lbs, industry standard is 50. They will be charging passengers who want to print or reprint their BPs at the airport.

The only "silliness" were comments about Spirit charging passengers who use their own computer to print their BPs at home.

Spirit used to promote $9 fares. They still display fares which aren't profitable. Spirit makes all their profit on their "fees". Many of their fees aren't industry standard.

edited to add I quoted the wrong poster. I meant to quote the poster Orange... was responding to. Sorry.

and YES Spirit passengers should expect to pay each and every fee listed in Spirit's website. Don't think in terms of another airline waiving a fee or an overweight charge for a bag a pound over. doing something for customer service. Pick up a candy bar or USB drive at a rack near the cash register. Of course you'll be charged. Spirit's fees are no different.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

One of my coworkers was venting about Spirit last night

She printed her boarding passes at home, but drove off and left them. And yes they charged her to print them again. She was going to see her boyfriend for the weekend so thought she could get away with the "under the seat" bag. But of course she stuffed it FULL and Spirit told her (A) it wouldn't fit under the seat (and they were probably right) and (B) PAY UP! The carry on fee turned out to be more then her airfare.

Coming back she left stuff with him and he is mailing it her so her bag would fit and she remember her boarding pass so that went better.

She did say she probably would think twice next time since it was the most uncomfortable plane she had ever been on. (She usually flies SW but Spirit had a sale!)

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

You can go to Spirit's website and read up on their fees. They do charge for bin bags. They do have a maximum weight of 40lbs, industry standard is 50. They will be charging passengers who want to print or reprint their BPs at the airport.

The only "silliness" were comments about Spirit charging passengers who use their own computer to print their BPs at home.

Spirit used to promote $9 fares. They still display fares which aren't profitable. Spirit makes all their profit on their "fees". Many of their fees aren't industry standard.

edited to add I quoted the wrong poster. I meant to quote the poster Orange... was responding to. Sorry.

and YES Spirit passengers should expect to pay each and every fee listed in Spirit's website. Don't think in terms of another airline waiving a fee or an overweight charge for a bag a pound over. doing something for customer service. Pick up a candy bar or USB drive at a rack near the cash register. Of course you'll be charged. Spirit's fees are no different.

No they don't charge you to print your boarding pass at home. They charge you for the booking at home! Because that costs them more money then you using an agent at the airport. REALLY??

 

[goodferry]

We have flown Spirit once. We actually did not have a bad experience, but I did my research and was aware of baggage restriction and all the various charges.

For us, Spirit runs out of a local airport (seven miles from us) and you can park for free. That is a huge savings over driving more than an hour (if there is no traffic) to Pittsburgh and then paying to park for a week, so we can justify some of the fees that way. We didn't once witness Spirit measuring bags or putting them in the boxes to check them (the boxes were there), but our flights were nowhere near full.

The thing that makes me nervous about Spirit, as another poster mentioned, is that they have a history of being late/and or cancelling flights. If your flight is cancelled (happens frequently) you are out of luck. They will try to get you on the next flight, no promises and no compensation. The Spirit agent at MCO actually told us that the flight we were on was late something like 90% of the time

I realize you already booked your flight, I guess my point is to really research them and the route you are flying so you know what to expect. The allowed baggage sizes and weights are not the same as industry standards, so keep that in mind as well.

 

[huckster]

thanks everyone for all your help , i am stuck with what i have and i did get baggage and seats i wanted an no long layover at atl which i would of had at airtran which we love , now as for late flights hoping ours is on time and we fly out in oct , so no snow to wrry about :0 and its in on week days days so hopeful all will be good , as far as understanding :
"your outta luck" mean you loose yr money and they wont get you home ever? on a next open flight even???

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

I've flown Spirit out of Boston quite a few times. They nickel and dime to death. There is almost no leg room. They have been late more often than not. And as far as I'm concerned their prices can't be beaten.

I do have unique situation in that I travel to Fort Lauderdale and stay with a friend. I keep clothes there and end up paying no fees. I will be returning from a cruise using Spirit in October. The return ticket price was $19.80. So my friend will hold on to even more clothes until I return in December.

 

[huckster]

i dont mind late as we fly in a day early to relax and a day later to do the same as long as i know they will get me where i need to be at some point , and for our next trip we will go back to airtran i am sure they just had the shortest lay over was 5 1/2 hours the day we want to fly and and you do purchasses seat s on air tran all though carry on was free at the momnet anyway .. thanks again lve and learn
guess you can teach an ole dog new tricks lol (i am old)