Spirit Airlines - Atlantic City to MCO

[cindy17]

Has any one had experience with Spirit Airlines out of Atlantic City (or any airport for that matter)? I know they "nickle & dime" you with fees, and don't have TV screens (I heard from a friend!) but from what I see my son would only need the $20 carryon bag fee. With a special coupon code I was able to get RT nonstop for $245 + $20 carry on fee. He is super restricted on his flying times in and out of MCO and these times are perfect. Before I "pull the trigger" thought I'd run it past the DISsers! Thanks!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Do a Google search for Spirit Airlines reviews. You'll find plenty of opinions.

The $20 carry-on charge is if you pay at booking. It's $25 if you wait to pay until online check-in. Make sure you read their website carefully, so you understand what extra fees you will be paying (booking fee, advanced seat assignment, etc.)

http://www.spirit.com/OptionalFees.aspx#seat-fees

Personally, I'd try to find a comparable price on another airline.

 

[aubriee]

I haven't flown them yet. They just started flying Dallas to Orlando March 22nd. Before booking I asked about them here on the DIS and most people did not seem to like them, but because their prices were so good and the times were perfect, I went ahead and booked two trips (May 5th-11th and Sept 1st-8th) with them anyway. I haven't even flown them yet and am already sorry. I booked both trips on January 14th when they were offering a $50.00 off code. Less than a month after I booked (Feb 6th), I got an email saying they had changed my itinerary for my May trip both going and coming. I am used to arriving at MCO midmorning, but am now not arriving until about 6:30pm, plus my flight home is now leaving earlier, so all told, I am losing about 8 hours of my vacation and almost all of my first day. I checked and they have no other flights those days. Being used to Air Tran who will refund your money or change your flights for a change of even a few minutes, I called to tell them the new times did not work for me, but was basically told tough boogers. They said there was nothing they could do. I could cancel, but they were keeping my money. By the way, the $20.00 carry on fee is only if you are a member of their $9.00 Club, otherwise a carry on is $30.00 each way.

Their prices were great though ($148.00 +baggage and seat fees compared to over $400.00 all the other other airlines were charging at that time). It wasn't worth losing basically a day of my vacation though, which is what is now happening. I'm hoping they don't also change the times for my Sept trip. I still need airfare for my Oct/Nov trip, but will not be booking Spirit again. I'll just pay a little more and fly with an airline that will work with you if they make significant changes to your flight times.

 

[Lewisc]

Has any one had experience with Spirit Airlines out of Atlantic City (or any airport for that matter)? I know they "nickle & dime" you with fees, and don't have TV screens (I heard from a friend!) but from what I see my son would only need the $20 carryon bag fee. With a special coupon code I was able to get RT nonstop for $245 + $20 carry on fee. He is super restricted on his flying times in and out of MCO and these times are perfect. Before I "pull the trigger" thought I'd run it past the DISsers! Thanks!

You need to know how to "read the fine" print if you want to fly an airline like Spirit. The $20 fee for a carryon bag only applies if you join the $9 FARE Club. The fee for baggage is ONE WAY. Most people need to double that fee.

 

[Ed J]

A good compairson of Spirit out of ACY is going to your local mall. The airport itself is very small and the ease of parking or drop off when there is only 1 terminal is well, easy.

Read the fine print so you're sure your total costs are included, but my exsperience with many Spirit flights on that exact route are positive.

 

[cindy17]

You need to know how to "read the fine" print if you want to fly an airline like Spirit. The $20 fee for a carryon bag only applies if you join the $9 FARE Club. The fee for baggage is ONE WAY. Most people need to double that fee.

Thank you everyone for your comments! I didn't realize that $20 fee was part of the $9 fare club and doubled for RT! It does start to add up! The convenience of those times and the ease around that airport are enticing. But i will definitely wait this out and do more research.

 

[trasor]

Here's one positive review for Spirit.

I love flying Spirit out of AC. Yes, you do have to watch the extras but Spirit has except for once always been cheaper for me than any airline out of Newark. Continental gives you a TV which I won't pay for and free soda but I didn't find much difference in the seats.

Yes, the times sometimes do change but with multiple flights per day I've never had a problem getting a time I want. I've had flight times change with other airlines so I don't really count that as a negative just as a fact of flying these days. I've actually had it work in my favor where the cheaper flight I booked was later in the day and when they changed the time I was able to get the earlier flight I wanted but didn't want to pay the extra $ for.

Once you fly out of AC you will never again want to fly out of Newark if at all possible. My local mall is bigger than the airport. There are never any lines for security and you literally can see from one end of the terminal to the next. Flights leave on time if not early. AC is not a connecting hub so you will never wait for other late flights with passengers connecting with you onto Florida.

Our first flight into AC on the trip back when we got off the plane I stopped to take my daughter to the bathroom and change my sons diaper and get them something to drink. My husband went to wait for the luggage. He had gotten the luggage, put it in the car and was back in the terminal waiting for me when I came down. You will be off the plane and on your way within 20 minutes. Cost savings aside, those last two factors sell me on Spirit out of AC every trip.

If the $ and times work...go for it. Its a two hour flight.

 

[debster812]

I think the important thing to know about Spirit is that for what they are, a low-cost, a la carte airline, they are fine. However, should you encounter ANY irregular ops (weather, mechanical, crew issues, ground delays, etc) that's when things go south, and go south quickly.

They are not customer service friendly, and do not have interline agreements, so if your flight is cancelled, your options are going to be to wait for the next Spirit flight that has room.

We've flown with them once, and because of issues in both directions, and significant delays on our flights, it will be a long long long time (if ever) until we fly Spirit again.