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

[lugnut33]

• Don't bring anything and ship your stuff ahead instead if the distance isn't too big and the bag isn't too heavy. A mail drop with the U.S. Postal Service can be an attractive alternative to lugging your bag around, said Genevieve Shaw Brown, senior editor at Travelocity. For example, it would cost about $26 to send a 25-pound bag with the dimensions of a typical carry-on from Atlanta, Georgia, to Miami, Florida, via Priority Mail, which arrives in two days. The price drops to $17 if you can wait a few days longer.

I'm telling you, if everybody did this Spirit would have to come up with another fee.

 

[Tara]

I'm telling you, if everybody did this Spirit would have to come up with another fee.

I'd bet the average traveler is doing well to pack her or his suitcase the night before a trip, let alone pack up a box...wait, find a box, pack it up, tape it up...wait, go buy more tape ("you used all the tape ON PURPOSE!"), label it, take it to the post office, lather-rinse-repeat to get it home again.

Seriously, I don't think the number of people willing to ship their belongings back and forth would make a dent in what Spirit did or didn't make with their new policy.

 

[Lewisc]

IF a significant number of passenger ship luggage then an increasing number of hotels will charge "package acceptance" fees.

The Venetian hotel (Las Vegas) charges $15.50 for accepting a 31-50 lb package.

Airlines that fail to generate enough revenue from their fees will wind up raising fares.

 

[darrengs]

I read that. His remarks are not about loss of tax revenue, however. They are about what should or shouldn't be included and what consumers need. That's why I stand by my original statement.

Of course that is the stance he is going to take but he also mentions closing the tax loophole.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm sure there are places where SW can be higher due to lack of a real competitor. Maybe their service is so good that can charge a bit of a premium?

Look at Boston, where Southwest has PLENTY of competition. Sorry to repeat myself, but:

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)

Comparable, but not identical, flight times. Same dates. Same airports. See the disparity? And that's Southwest's cheapest fare on those (my anticipated travel) dates. Speaking of competitive - the fare is "only" $319.40 from Manchester NH and $299.40 from Providence.

Then you've got threads like this one http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2439756&page=3 (SW Prices don't seem to be dropping) and similar ones on the Budget and possibly Community boards.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I did a quick search of flights out of Milwaukee and Chicago (Ohare and Midway) for a one week trip to Orlando in August, and Southwest was the cheapest of everybody, even before the add-ons are added on (how many people here posted that SW fares just add in the cost of luggage, which if true then the price should have been more right?).

That's great. That $88 from/to Milwaukee is the first under-$100 fare I've seen on anything other than a short haul flight on any airline in ages. Even more strange - I checked Los Angeles. It's cheaper to fly LAX-MCO than either BOS-MCO or MHT-MCO - 250% further for less money!

 

[kaytieeldr]

• Don't bring anything and ship your stuff ahead instead if

It would be greatly appreciated if the source of any direct quotes were cited.

I'm telling you, if everybody did this Spirit would have to come up with another fee.

Oh. You don't think they'd follow suit with what the other airlines -and most likely they themselves - have been doing and increase cargo to increase revenue?

 

[Inkmahm]

That's great. That $88 from/to Milwaukee is the first under-$100 fare I've seen on anything other than a short haul flight on any airline in ages. Even more strange - I checked Los Angeles. It's cheaper to fly LAX-MCO than either BOS-MCO or MHT-MCO - 250% further for less money!

I don't know who you were quoting so I can't check the rest of the original post. BUT, I fly out of Milwaukee. The times that SW flies to MCO are not at all convenient for me and in every case I've flown since SW got to Milwaukee, Airtran had the better flight times AND cost. I generally pay $74 (sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less) on Airtran for MKE to MCO.

 

[lugnut33]

Look at Boston, where Southwest has PLENTY of competition. Sorry to repeat myself, but:

Comparable, but not identical, flight times. Same dates. Same airports. See the disparity? And that's Southwest's cheapest fare on those (my anticipated travel) dates. Speaking of competitive - the fare is "only" $319.40 from Manchester NH and $299.40 from Providence.

Then you've got threads like this one http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2439756&page=3 (SW Prices don't seem to be dropping) and similar ones on the Budget and possibly Community boards.

Are their flights going empty? If not, then I guess people are willing to pay a bit extra.

 

[lugnut33]

I don't know who you were quoting so I can't check the rest of the original post. BUT, I fly out of Milwaukee. The times that SW flies to MCO are not at all convenient for me and in every case I've flown since SW got to Milwaukee, Airtran had the better flight times AND cost. I generally pay $74 (sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less) on Airtran for MKE to MCO.

I had actually taken the time earlier to today to look up the fares for Airtran and Southwest out of Milwaukee and I picked the cheapest flights available on both regardless of time. I then did the same thing with Airtran and Southwest out of Midway. I then checked American, United, Delta, and US Air. Nobody was cheaper than Southwest.

 

[lugnut33]

IF a significant number of passenger ship luggage then an increasing number of hotels will charge "package acceptance" fees.

The Venetian hotel (Las Vegas) charges $15.50 for accepting a 31-50 lb package.

Airlines that fail to generate enough revenue from their fees will wind up raising fares.

See, we are going to be fee'd to death if we dont get them to stop.

 

[Inkmahm]

I had actually taken the time earlier to today to look up the fares for Airtran and Southwest out of Milwaukee and I picked the cheapest flights available on both regardless of time. I then did the same thing with Airtran and Southwest out of Midway. I then checked American, United, Delta, and US Air. Nobody was cheaper than Southwest.

Unless you happen to hit Airtran at the time they have their fares at their more lower rates, your comparison isn't realistic. I buy my plane tickets months in advance. Right now, I'm holding flights from MKE to MCO on Airtran for $74 each way in October. Our flights at the end of April are $79 down and $98 back on Airtran. All of those are nonstop at good times for us. SW has never had flights at good times, much less nonstop, much less at the lower prices.

Believe what you want but I'm telling you I have ALWAYS been able to get better flights at cheaper prices on Airtran for our flights compared to SW. Those are for real flights for real trips between Milwaukee and Orlando.

I'd actually been given a $500 SW gift certificate by my company which I determined I would never be using based on SW's schedule and high rates. I sold it online for $420 since I knew I'd get flights on Airtran at better times for cheaper than I'd have been able to get with that $500 on SW.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Are their flights going empty? If not, then I guess people are willing to pay a bit extra.

Empty? No - because Southwest flies nonstop to only three airports from Boston: Philadelphia, Baltimore, Midway. But I would wager that few passengers use it to get to Orlando from here because of the price.

eta: 32% to 44% higher fare is more than "a bit extra"

 

[kaytieeldr]

See, we are going to be fee'd to death if we dont get them to stop.

Fees for accepting packages - starting with simple envelopes - are TYPICAL in Las Vegas, and have been for years. The informed traveler knows this - and it's not NEARLY as publicized as airline a la carte fees.

 

[seashoreCM]

Totally unrelated reason to "don't fly with me". Did anyone mention horror stories of arriving at the airport for a Spirit and the flight was cancelled and there was no other flight available for weeks?

On to Southwest. Did it really make sense to add Logan (downtown Boston) to the airports served when fares have to be much higher there?

The three kinds of airlines:

Legacy airlines -- Airlines that would put you on each other's flights if yours was cancelled (maybe they don't do this as much as they used to.)

Major independents -- Airlines that, although they never (hardly ever?) put you on another airline's flights, can usually reschedule you by the next day.

Rinkydink airlines -- Airlines that quickly leave you high and dry in the event of a flight cancellation, sometimes it is just because they aren't big enough.

 

[lugnut33]

Totally unrelated reason to "don't fly with me". Did anyone mention horror stories of arriving at the airport for a Spirit and the flight was cancelled and there was no other flight available for weeks?

On to Southwest. Did it really make sense to add Logan (downtown Boston) to the airports served when fares have to be much higher there?

The three kinds of airlines:

Legacy airlines -- Airlines that would put you on each other's flights if yours was cancelled (maybe they don't do this as much as they used to.)

Major independents -- Airlines that, although they never (hardly ever?) put you on another airline's flights, can usually reschedule you by the next day.

Rinkydink airlines -- Airlines that quickly leave you high and dry in the event of a flight cancellation, sometimes it is just because they aren't big enough.

Occasionally an airline will get a sweetheart deal from the airport to begin service. Many times that includes subsidies.

 

[Lewisc]

Southwest added limited flights out of Logan and LGA to try to attract business travelers who aren't interested in secondary airports. They fly to cities like BWI and MDW which offer connecting flights. SW isn't pricing their limited flights to attract bargain hunting famlies looking to fly to Orlando.

 

[lugnut33]

Unless you happen to hit Airtran at the time they have their fares at their more lower rates, your comparison isn't realistic. I buy my plane tickets months in advance. Right now, I'm holding flights from MKE to MCO on Airtran for $74 each way in October. Our flights at the end of April are $79 down and $98 back on Airtran. All of those are nonstop at good times for us. SW has never had flights at good times, much less nonstop, much less at the lower prices.

Believe what you want but I'm telling you I have ALWAYS been able to get better flights at cheaper prices on Airtran for our flights compared to SW. Those are for real flights for real trips between Milwaukee and Orlando.

I'd actually been given a $500 SW gift certificate by my company which I determined I would never be using based on SW's schedule and high rates. I sold it online for $420 since I knew I'd get flights on Airtran at better times for cheaper than I'd have been able to get with that $500 on SW.

I'm not lying about it. I looked at fares for the week of August 9 through Aug. 16, which is months out. I don't know, I guess nobody should be flying Southwest because their fares are high and they don't charge add-on fees. I guess all those flyers (busiest airline in the US) are idiots. BTW, there's nothing wrong with Airtran.

As for Airtran you have to include the cost of a check-in. Yes, we like to check a bag so we don't have to carry it on to the airplane (OK, who's going to be the first one to criticize that while out of the other side of their mouth they'll complain about people taking too long to board because of carry-ons). Also, I don't think the times for Southwests non-stop flights are inconvenient @ 10:55 am and 7:25 pm with a return time of 4:40 pm. Airtran has a 6:45 am flight (which is nice if you like getting up at 3am to make the flight), a 1:56 pm, and return flights at 7:10 am and 6:21. Really there't not a lot of difference between the two. Also, if you lived nearer Chicago then the options on when to fly with Southwest really increase.

BTW, I'm flying to Disneyland (John Wayne Airport) at the end of April with Southwest and my tickets were under $200 on Southwest. Cheaper than Airtran, and I would have had to fly into LAsuX.

 

[lugnut33]

Southwest added limited flights out of Logan and LGA to try to attract business travelers who aren't interested in secondary airports. They fly to cities like BWI and MDW which offer connecting flights. SW isn't pricing their limited flights to attract bargain hunting famlies looking to fly to Orlando.

United tried the same thing out of the Rockford IL airport years ago. The airport made them a sweetheart deal so they really had nothing to lose by doing it. I think it lasted less than a year.

 

[eliza61]

See, we are going to be fee'd to death if we dont get them to stop.

But it's not actually them it's us. Like I said, if you tell John q Public that the true cost of a flight is $99 bucks we balk. but if you tell them it's 49 bucks plus a 45 dollar baggage fee, we'll bite. People figure they can figure out a way to "get around" the fee.

So for a while it will work. Disney resorts are claiming they will hold shipped packages for guest, I'm willing to bet in 1 year (2011) after they start getting a truck load of shipped packages, they will institute a "holding"fee.

No one is addressing the problem that the airlines are trying to do the impossible. Airport fees, fuel charges and employee contracts are all rising eventually they will have to deal with that. Until then yes we are going to be "Fee'ed" to death and they will use fee's because it gives us crazy americans the false perception that we are getting a "Bargain"