Spirit Airlines...*rant*

[ilandrazdsw]

So, we are finally moving!!! Yippee

My parents have generously offered to watch DD and DS while DH and I drive our stuff up to our new location...as 2 car seats wouldn't exactly fit in the front of a U-Haul type vehicle. Trying to find a flight was down right rediculous. We finally find the best rate on Spirit. But because the kids are only one way and one is under 5 yo we couldn't book my parents as round trips...ok whatever. But then it comes to the seat issue. I called the 800 number (do they outsource to India???) to find out if I didn't pay the extra $$ to buy a seat for each child would they make sure that each of the children were sitting with one one of my parents (either in a row of 3 or 2/2) and the man on the other end said they would not make sure that the child was sitting next to the adult responsible for them...the person on the other end was no help at all and would not put me throught to a supervisor or give me the counter number at the airport so I could speak to someone there. I asked the man, "You are saying that it is Spirit's policy to seat a 3 yo child next to strangers if they do not have a bought seat next to the adult accompanying them?" and the man said, "Yes!"

Ummm, Hellooo...am I the only one that sees that there is something worng with this policy???

Yes, we did buy the seats because I wouldn't take the chance of either of my kids being "alone" on a flight.

OK, Rant over.

 

[CarolA]

Sorry, but that's the way it is on budget airlines and for you to expect others who DID pay for seats to move because you didn't want to is just not going to work. If you wanted some assurances then you should NOT have gone with "low bid", but when you chose to go only on price you give up things like seat assignments!


Glad you did the right thing!

I fail to understand why folks are "shocked" at anything Spirit does... their pricing is the ONLY draw IMHO!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

I am in no way shocked that we had to pay for seats...I am shocked that the customer "service" agent said that they are ok with putting a 3yo between 2 complete strangers and wouldn't even TRY to put the child with the adult.
Would you be ok with this if it was your child?
How would you feel if you had a virtually unaccompanied 3 yo sitting next to you for 3 hours???

 

[kaytieeldr]

The CSR did not say Spirit it "okay with" putting a three year old between two strangers. He affirmed the answer you already knew - that it is (apparently) Spirit's policy that passengers who do not pay extra to purchase seat assignments will not be accommodated by Spirit rearranging passengers who did pay. The age of each passenger is not the issue whatsoever.

Respectfully, please explain why an airline that charges extra for seat assignment should accommodate those parties who opt not to pay extra and are traveling with young children, but not accommodate all other parties who opt not to pay the extra fee?

If you are flying on Spirit and want to ensure that members of your party will be seated together, you must pay the seat-selection fee.

It's not ridiculous at all. It's just plain common sense.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's the thing...we all know the old adage....you get what you pay for. If you want specific seating, you are going to have to pay for it. Otherwise, you need to think of these 'budget' airlines as flying buses. You don't pay for a specific seat on a bus or a train..you sit where you can sit.
If you want to be sure your kids are seated with responsible adults, then you have to pay for it. And even then, there have been many instances where familes have been split up due to changes in equipment or of flights.

The rules for flying each airline are clearly stated on that particular airline's official site....if those rules aren't going to provide the services you need, you are free to book with an airline that does. You just have to decide how much it is worth to you.

 

[CarolA]

I am in no way shocked that we had to pay for seats...I am shocked that the customer "service" agent said that they are ok with putting a 3yo between 2 complete strangers and wouldn't even TRY to put the child with the adult.
Would you be ok with this if it was your child?
How would you feel if you had a virtually unaccompanied 3 yo sitting next to you for 3 hours???

If it were MY child I would have bought the seat without even thinking about it just to be sure this would not happen. I would not think that anyone else should care about the safety of my child nor would I assume it's the AIRLINE'S responsiblity to make sure I do. What you want is "special exemption" because my child is three! Sorry, but YOU are the parent not Spirt and it's YOUR job to ensure the child is taken care of.

I am sorry but the decisons were ALL yours. Quit trying to blame the airline because they don't want to be responsible for your child!

Why are you entitled to something FREE that others pay for?

 

[ilandrazdsw]

I don't want to be responsible for my child??? Did you not read that we DID buy the seat??? If I wasn't a responsible parent I would have just let my child sit anywhere on the plane.

The Spirit agent said, "Yes" and repeated the phrase I said about being ok with a 3 yo sitting between 2 strangers. In this day of everyone being liable for everyone else's behavior It surprises me that Spirit is so nonchalant about children traveling virtually unaccompanied. In fact, we couldn't book seperate one way tickets for the children from the round ways with my parents because they considered the 3 yo not old enough...which sparked the call in the first place.

A 5 yo can fly as an unaccompanied minor, so I understand why Spirit would say he could sit by himself, but if the 3 yo has to be accompanied it makes no sense that to put her anywhere on the plane. I could even see if they said you have to buy the adult ticket on the end or window and we will guarantee the 3 yo sits next to adult in the middle (figure those are the last seats to sell out).

I'm not trying to get something for free...I paid for it anyway...it is the policy of young children sitting unaccompanied between/next to strangers that I don't understand. That is why I wanted to actually talk to someone at the counter at the airport I would be traveling from, but no number could be found even by the 800 #.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I flew with Spirit for the first time last Sunday and Tuesday. The fare was CHEAP and the flight was quick. (NYC to Myrtle Beach)

There were 2 women freaking out on the first flight because they were not seated near their children. The FA asked passengers to shuffle seats. One agreed one didn't. One family was happy, the other had to deal with it.

I couldn't understand why the families did not book with another carrier if seating arrangements were an issue for them.

OP, based on what I saw last week, you're at the mercy of the other passengers

 

[AKL_Megs]

Yep, they outsource to India.

I had a "pleasant" experience with "Linda" when they couldn't find my luggage last summer.

They are cheap, and they get you there, but dealing with their customer service...

 

[Lewisc]

The OP has a point, passengers with a child under 5 should be required to pay for assigned seats so the child sits next to a parent. I would not give up a seat I paid for to accomodate a passenger that decided to take their chances.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

The OP has a point, passengers with a child under 5 should be required to pay for assigned seats so the child sits next to a parent. I would not give up a seat I paid for to accomodate a passenger that decided to take their chances.

ITA, but it is not stated anywhere in the Term & Conditions (which I do read when dealing with a company for the first time). I wouldn't expect for a passenger to move from a seat that they had bought, but the agent *could* have booked the child next to the paying adult if a seat was open. Spirit needs to make its policies clear in simple writing...either put that a 3 or 4 yo must buy a seat next to the accompanying aduly OR sell a ticket for them to fly unaccompanied...not a little of both.

There was one female agent that was helpful and plesant, but the 2 male agents were less than helpful and seemed to take offence when I asked to speak to a supervisor. One told me anything a supervisor could do he could do, so I asked was he a supervisor he said no...UGH! Probably no supervisor around!!!

This is why I make the travel plans and not DH! HE was the one that booked the return one ways for my parents and then we were more or less stuck with Spirit for them and the kids one way up. This airline is off our flught plan in the future...just not woth the price for the hassel and lousy customer service (and I am not one that gets on the phone and yells at the agent cause I realize they only follow company policy)...Lesson learned.

 

[CarolA]

There policy is very clear. You just want it to be different. The policy is seat assignments are NOT guranteed unless you pay.

How much CLEARER can it be? There are on exceptions, no "rule bending" etc

I Just read thier seat assignment page
https://www.spiritair.com/Policiesitinchanges.aspx

Pretty clear. Random seat assignment if you don't pay.

Once again they don't care that the passenger is three, that's not thier problem it's yours!

Lewis's statement on the policy is HIS view not the airlines. And if they did it then there would be the "Sprit is MAKING me pay more RANT" on here next week LOL!

 

[kaytieeldr]

ITA, but it is not stated anywhere in the Term & Conditions (which I do read when dealing with a company for the first time). I wouldn't expect for a passenger to move from a seat that they had bought, but the agent *could* have booked the child next to the paying adult if a seat was open. Spirit needs to make its policies clear in simple writing...either put that a 3 or 4 yo must buy a seat next to the accompanying aduly OR sell a ticket for them to fly unaccompanied...not a little of both.

No. Passengers - parents or not - KNOWING an airline's seat assignment policies and the related costs - NEED to proactively PAY for seat assignment.

The airline's Contract of Carriage does not need "to make its policies clear in simple writing...either put that a 3 or 4 yo must buy a seat next to the accompanying aduly OR sell a ticket for them to fly unaccompanied...not a little of both."

The airline does not ask, and therefore does not know, the age of ANY passenger when tickets are purchased under most scenarios. If the passenger is a child, the PARENT knows.

Armed with this information - the passenger's age and the airline's seat assignment policy - it is thus the PARENT'S responsibility to ensure that the young child is seated adjacent to the parent or other caretaker. In the case of Spirit, this obviously requires paying for seat assignments.

If the parent chooses NOT to pay for seat selection, then, as the CSR told you bluntly, it's (apparently) okay with Spirit that the three year old travel between strangers because it's apparently okay with the parent that the three year old travel between strangers.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

Sorry, I have to agree. I don't see what the big deal is. I have a 2 year old and I pay for the seat assignment to ensure that I am seated next to my child.

If I pay extra for a specific seat, say an aisle seat, I'm not switching for someone if it means I need to sit anywhere other than an aisle.

If you need to sit next to someone, be prepared to buy the seat in advance, or fly an airline that doesn't charge for their seats.

 

[artesian]

If it were MY child I would have bought the seat without even thinking about it just to be sure this would not happen. I would not think that anyone else should care about the safety of my child nor would I assume it's the AIRLINE'S responsiblity to make sure I do. What you want is "special exemption" because my child is three! Sorry, but YOU are the parent not Spirt and it's YOUR job to ensure the child is taken care of.

I am sorry but the decisons were ALL yours. Quit trying to blame the airline because they don't want to be responsible for your child!

Why are you entitled to something FREE that others pay for?

Kinda harsh here and I didn't interpret the OP as implying this.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

I realize because it didn't happen to any of you and you were not the ones who spoke to the 800- agents you do not have the same perspective as I. Thanks you your input. We live and learn...and my lesson was that Spirit is not a carrier I wish to use not only because of it's (IMO) warped policies when it comes to children, but also because I do not like the outsourcing (and yes I realize that is probably why they offer flights so cheap).

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay. Take a step back. Look at this from the airline's point of view. Replace "child/children" with "person/s"

"I called the 800 number (do they outsource to India???) to find out if I didn't pay the extra $$ to buy a seat for each person would they make sure that each of the persons were sitting with one one of my parents (either in a row of 3 or 2/2) and the man on the other end said they would not make sure that the person was sitting next to the adult responsible for them...the person on the other end was no help at all and would not put me throught to a supervisor or give me the counter number at the airport so I could speak to someone there. I asked the man, "You are saying that it is Spirit's policy to seat a person next to strangers if they do not have a bought seat next to the adult accompanying them?" and the man said, "Yes!"

Ummm, Hellooo...am I the only one that sees that there is something worng with this policy???"

Again, before you even called the airline, you knew the policy - passengers who paid to select seats could preselect seats, passengers who did not pay could not preselect seats.

The airline does not know and does not care how old each passenger is. There is nowhere during the transaction process to enter ages, right?

So, as you confirmed with the CSR, it is Spirit's policy to seat a person next to strangers if they do not have a bought seat next to the adult accompanying them.

That you choose not to use Spirit is your right - but that you choose not to comply with their policies, and then attempt to thrust negative attention on the airline? Please.

 

[Lewisc]

I realize because it didn't happen to any of you and you were not the ones who spoke to the 800- agents you do not have the same perspective as I. Thanks you your input. We live and learn...and my lesson was that Spirit is not a carrier I wish to use not only because of it's (IMO) warped policies when it comes to children, but also because I do not like the outsourcing (and yes I realize that is probably why they offer flights so cheap).

Spirit wants to show a cheap fare so they charge extra for seat assignments. They tell you if you don't pay for an assigned seat you'll be assigned a random seat. Clearly a passengers that wants/needs to sit next to another member of their group has to pay for an assigned seat.
I'm not sure what your real complaint is. Are you annoyed Spirit doesn't make an exception for parents with kids? I'll speculate Spirit is looking to generate revenue from passengers who pay for assinged seats and has no reason to make exceptions. People considering Spirit should add the cost of assigned seats to the fare in evaluating the cost of the flight. Are you upset the outsourced CSR couldn't do more then read a canned script? Sky Bus went to the next step, they didn't have a published phone number. All support was via email and FAQ on the web.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

kaytieeldr, there is a BIG difference between children and adults & the did ask the age of the children and would NOT let us book tickets for just them!

Following a script is one thing but when the customer asks to talk to a supervisor then the agent should get an offended attitude and patch through to a supervisor.

 

[Lewisc]

kaytieeldr, there is a BIG difference between children and adults & the did ask the age of the children and would NOT let us book tickets for just them!

Following a script is one thing but when the customer asks to talk to a supervisor then the agent should get an offended attitude and patch through to a supervisor.

The policy is passengers who want to sit next to other members of their group pay for assigned seats. The website gives you the option of paying for seats or being assigned a random seat. The CSR gave you the same information. There really wasn't any reason for the CSR to transfer you to a supervisor. You don't like Spirit's policy. You should call or write corporate. Book another airline or "suck it up" and add the cost for assigned seats to the displayed price when you decide if Spirit is offering a good price.

Oursourced CSR, even supervisors, aren't in a postion to debate policy with you.

You're 100% correct, customers that want service and more inclusive pricing shouldn't be booking airlines like Spirit. Those customer have to be prepared higher fares.

It's a shame some customers, not the OP specifically, want the low prices airlines like Spirit offer but don't think they should have to pay for the "extras" that allow for low pricing. I'm thinking of the threads where posters complain about being charged for oversized bags, yes wheels count.