Spirit Airlines Says: "Don't Fly With Us"

[Tara]

Interesting, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood agrees with me and is doing something about it:

I'm not a fan of Spirit really, but Secretary LaHood's comments are, frankly, inappropriate and disingenuous at best and unnecessarily inflammatory at worst. I do believe there's a link for "our new baggage policy" right under the "deals" tab on the front page. And as kaytieeldr points out, the policy isn't deceptively small.

Moreover, when and where as Spirit even intimated that they'd charge to use a bathroom. AFAIK, only Ryanair has made noises about that (and it's all noise, I'd wager). What on EARTH does a European regional carrier have to do with Spirit or with US domestic travel regulations???

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just for fun, I decided to comparison-shop.
Boston / Orlando, 9/25 - 10/2, late afternoon departure, early morning return.
Spirit $230 + $20 checked suitcase each way, total $270
Southwest $359
JetBlue $249 (and, unlike the others, nonstop in both directions)

 

[lugnut33]

So you'd fly JetBlue then?

Like I said in a previous post, I'm sure there are examples of Spirit being the cheapest, it's just that with these super awesome fees they are charging shouldn't they be the cheapest... and by a lot? I mean, if they are the airline with the most "unbundling" then they should blow the others out of the water.

As somebody pointed out, the bathroom fee is in Europe. However if we as consumers just rollover, then it's coming here also. There will be no stopping it.

Sure, Spirit Air is putting the fees on their website, but what i think LaHood has a problem with is that the price is not accurately reflected when you are searching for prices. Just like those payday loan stores. They tell you what the interest rates are going to be, but that still doesn't make it right.

 

[Lewisc]

Spirit's fees aren't "super awesome" The fee to check a bag is $20 ($15 if you join their club). I doubt they'll get much revenue from passengers using the bins. The price is higher then the price to check one bag. Obviously they expect passengers will check bags.

I don't expect SW to be always have the highest fare nor do I expect Spirit to always have the lowest fares.

Spirit offers their lowest fares as "gimmick" fares offered to the $9 members.

Would it make everyone happy if Spirit removed the bins? A month later they put the bins back (by popular request) but charged for use.

PP is confused. I don't like paying more for gas, electricity, fuel oil, cable service etc. I don't like paying more for flights in the form of higher fares and/or fees.

I wouldn't expect any poll would show customers in favor of higher fees (or higher fares).

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm not a fan of Spirit really, but Secretary LaHood's comments are, frankly, inappropriate and disingenuous at best and unnecessarily inflammatory at worst. I do believe there's a link for "our new baggage policy" right under the "deals" tab on the front page. And as kaytieeldr points out, the policy isn't deceptively small.

Moreover, when and where as Spirit even intimated that they'd charge to use a bathroom. AFAIK, only Ryanair has made noises about that (and it's all noise, I'd wager). What on EARTH does a European regional carrier have to do with Spirit or with US domestic travel regulations???

Have to agree with you.
Everything you need to know is there...you just have to take the time to look for it. But..most people just see that fare and buy it. And that is why companies do it that way...they figure if we are too stupid (or lazy, or trusting) to just look at a fare, without checking out the other areas to see if there are any addtl fees, then fine, we deserve to pay more.
Do I think it's fine and dandy for the airlines to keep tacking on more fees? Of course not. But..it is their right to charge whatever the heck they want. It's their business. But it is my right to choose another airline...and I do.
There is a reason those legacy airlines have been around for so long. They try to charge reasonable fares, that will pay for the flights. But, we continue to go with the cheapest fare we can find. Of course airlines are going to realize that and then tack on those fees, hoping no one realizes it until it's too late.

I much prefer flying with an airline when I know about everything I'm paying for. But.....I also know where to find all that nasty info about baggage fees too. Really..is it so hard to click on a particular tab on a site and check it out???

 

[Hoopfamily]

Sure, Spirit Air is putting the fees on their website, but what i think LaHood has a problem with is that the price is not accurately reflected when you are searching for prices. Just like those payday loan stores. They tell you what the interest rates are going to be, but that still doesn't make it right.[/QUOTE]

The prices are viewed no differently than any other airlines website. Airtran does not have a huge sign saying we charge for bags, Southwest has one that says bags fly free though. You seem to be pretty lit up about Spirits change on this. Are they your favorite Carrier Lugnutt?

 

[simzac]

My 2 thoughts on this thread. 1st, keep the government out of private business decisions. 2nd, charge for carryons and let checked bags be free. Think you'd see a big improvement in on time flights. JMO

 

[goofy4tink]

My 2 thoughts on this thread. 1st, keep the government out of private business decisions. 2nd, charge for carryons and let checked bags be free. Think you'd see a big improvement in on time flights. JMO

Absolutely. When we flew the now defunct PanAm, right after 9/11, we were allowed no carryon..nothing other than a bottle of water and some reading material. I have to tell you .....the turnaround time was incredible. If you had something of value that had to go in checked luggage, they put it into a separate 'container', then sealed it up, and gave you a claim receipt for it....that's how all our camera equipment had to go and it was expensive stuff!! NO problem at all when we got it back.

 

[Inkmahm]

My 2 thoughts on this thread. 1st, keep the government out of private business decisions. 2nd, charge for carryons and let checked bags be free. Think you'd see a big improvement in on time flights. JMO

I agree! Both of those are great ideas.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So you'd fly JetBlue then?

Apparently you don't obsessively read my other posts I would fly JetBlue ANYWAY. If they don't go somewhere, I don't go there, either.

As somebody pointed out, the bathroom fee is in Europe.

No. The bathroom fee is proposed in Europe by one ultra-low-cost, short-hop airline.

 

[auralia]

I dislike the idea because i usually bring a rolling carry on in lue of a diaper bag for my daughter because it's easier to wheel it... it has the necesities incase we get stuck somewhere extra diapers,food, etc... i have gotten stuck so i am always prepared for at least 2 days in the airport now if i fly spirit i'll have to carry a diaper bag instead of my rolling carryon... diaper bags are free the rollign kind isn't i never over stuffed the bag so i feel a bit jilted if my rolling was full of baby item (it's a small rolling) i feel like they should count it as my diaper bag.

 

[iheartjacksparrow]

I don't understand how people blame the passengers for this, when it is in fact Spirits fault!!

If Spirit would ENFORCE their rules, there wouldn't be a problem.

When I travel, I have one wheely bag that meets Spirits guidelines, plus my purse.
Yes, in my wheely bag I have pretty much everything. I have clothes for the week, at least one bathing suit, one pair of shoes; pretty much all of my essentials.
In my purse I have my camera, phone, some reading material, my glasses/contacts, etc.
Then we usually bring one checked bag for the entire family. This has snacks, more shoes, bathing suits, sweatshirts, etc. in it.

I have NEVER had a problem with my wheely carry on not fitting in the overhead bins. I get in/out quickly and easily, and it fits properly. I keep my purse with me under the seat so I don't have to get up/down during the flight.

If Spirit would just make sure everyone follows the rules by not bringing bags that are too large, or too many bags, there would never have been a problem.
It would be simple for them to measure the carryon before the fight, and enforce the one carry on and one personnal item rule. If they would have enforced these rules the entire time, we wouldn't see a problem.

And I do not see ANYTHING wrong with the amount of bags I bring with me on a plane. God forbid something happend, I would have everything with me. Checked items get lost all the time, or can arrive much later. And I personally don't feel like losing all my clothes, or having to buy a new wardrobe while I am on vacation.
One time we got bumped and had to spend an extra night in Florida. Our bags had already been checked, so we obviously had no access to them, they were already headed off to NJ. Thank GOODNESS we had on fully packed carryon bags. I don't know about anyone else, but I really didn't want to have to sleep and travel in the same clothes that I had worn all day the day before. I also didn't like the uneasy feeling of not knowing whether or not my bags would have gone missing when we got back into Jersey.

I'm just so angered by this new charge, and I think it's Spirits own FAULT!

 

[kaytieeldr]

If Spirit would ENFORCE their rules, there wouldn't be a problem.

It's not a matter of Spirit - or any airline - enforcing or not enforcing rules. Spirit feels by charging for carry-on luggage too large to fit completely under the seat in front of the passenger, more passengers will check luggage instead of using the overhead compartments. I know I can back for twenty-four hours in an underseat-compliant bag. This will speed up boarding, too.

 

[MAH4546]

The above quote is from Spirit Airlines CEO. Who is this guy kidding? I've already pointed out numerous flights where spirit is more expensive. He acts like if you join the $9 club then all your flights are going to be a penny. Well, they are NOT!! And often times they end up more expensive.

Wanna read the whole interview, here you go:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,590586,00.html

That's not correct.


You looking up random air fares does not give a sample of the reality of the situation. You can look up T100 data on the Department of Transportation website to confirm that what he says is actually true.

Let's look at the Miami-area to the New York City-area, which also happens to be the most traveled air corridor in the entire country.

JetBlue and American Airlines dominate the market in terms of local market share. JetBlue's average one-way fare is $156.79; American's average fare is $157.27.

Spirit's average fare? $122.93.

So let's add an advanced checked-bag fee, a seat selection and cost of a drink to each:

Spirit: $122.93+$15+$5+$1= $143.93
JetBlue: $156.79+$0+$0+$0=$156.79
American: $157.27+$25+$0+$0=$182.27

Now, let's look at a trans-continental market such as, say, Miami-area to Los Angeles. American, JetBlue and Spirit all compete in this market non-stop.

American: $274.73+$25+$0+$0=$299.73
JetBlue: $177.69+$0+$0+$0=$177.69
Spirit: $145.82+$15+$6+$1=$167.82

 

[kaytieeldr]

diaper bags are free the rollign kind isn't

A smart entrepenuer or smart/craft-y/handy parent would put together a rolling diaper bag.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You looking up random air fares

That wasn't lugnut33, that was me. Also, note that neither your Spirit price nor mine include the apparent requirement of joining their $9 Club - at $40

 

[MAH4546]

That wasn't lugnut33, that was me. Also, note that neither your Spirit price nor mine include the apparent requirement of joining their $9 Club - at $40

Even if I only count the "non-$9 fare club" price, Spirit is still cheaper than or equal to JetBlue

 

[eliza61]

My 2 thoughts on this thread. 1st, keep the government out of private business decisions. 2nd, charge for carryons and let checked bags be free. Think you'd see a big improvement in on time flights. JMO

Really. not trying to extole or bash the fed but I flew a lot during the 70's when airlines were regulated. I fully remember the tickets were more costly but I never, ever remember all these issue. I never had a plane leave me on the tarmac for hours or never had all these cancellations. I thought it was much more service oriented when regulated and you could count on the same service from airline to airline.

I may be looking through "rose colored" glasses though.

 

[goofy4tink]

I dislike the idea because i usually bring a rolling carry on in lue of a diaper bag for my daughter because it's easier to wheel it... it has the necesities incase we get stuck somewhere extra diapers,food, etc... i have gotten stuck so i am always prepared for at least 2 days in the airport now if i fly spirit i'll have to carry a diaper bag instead of my rolling carryon... diaper bags are free the rollign kind isn't i never over stuffed the bag so i feel a bit jilted if my rolling was full of baby item (it's a small rolling) i feel like they should count it as my diaper bag.

It is your choice to use something other than a diaper bag. What is to stop everyone else from putting a few diapers in their rollaboard and calling it a diaper bag??
Yes, a diaper bag is 'free'. But that is simply because you can't stuff a diaper bag with all the stuff you want to bring with you. If you can find a rolling bag, that will fit beneath the seat, then you're good to go.
It's everyone's choice which airline they choose to fly. No one is being forced to fly Spirit. There are other options.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Even if I only count the "non-$9 fare club" price, Spirit is still cheaper than or equal to JetBlue

Thanks. When I 'tested', all that came up was the $9 Club fares - as in, there was a red symbol next to every fare that, when you scrolled down, meant you had to be a member (at $40/year) to get that fare.