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

[DebbieB]

It would be one thing is ALL the carriers do this, but they don't. The one who doesn't is still doing OK:

For the third straight year, Southwest Airlines Co. carried more passengers than any other U.S. carrier the government said Monday.

I hope the other ones fee themselves out of existence.

There are somethings that one should expect to come with the fee you pay to fly. Just like a car, you can buy a standard car but it still comes with brakes, seats, and wheels. By willing accepting these fees you travelers are telling the airlines they can add charges for everything and you're happy with it. Part of flying includes bringing some luggage, or do you fly with nothing?

Somebody brought up the one day trip, that's ridiculous.

I've noticed Southwest's fares steadily increasing. They wanted almost $400 for the PIT-MCO flights I wanted last summer. So they are really "including" the increased costs in their fares. You're kidding yourself if you think it's really "free".

The big question is if the other airlines pick up on this. If they don't, Spirit might back off (like USAir did with the coffee/soft drink charge).

 

[wezee]

Since I belong to the Spirit $9 Club, always check a bag and if I use a carry on it's a small back pack type.......the new policy works for me. We fly out of Detroit,and even with the add on fees, Spirit almost always comes out on top.
I have never seen the allure of SW but..........
If you can take advantage of SW, more power to you. Out of Detroit...SW is way more expensive and has no non-stop flights to MCO. I would rather pay less to Spirit (even with the baggage & seat fees) for a non-stop(2 1/2hr) flight, than alot more to SW for a 6 1/2hr, 1-2 stop flight. So it's not just about money....it's also about having 4 extra hours of play time at WDW.

 

[lugnut33]

so pretty much people are just going to start stuffing as much as humanly possible in the underseat area.

Yes, eventually though they'll charge an under the seat fee and people here will be joyous for it.

So, all you people who are happy because you're tired of people carrying on huge bags, well what did you expect in the first place when they started implementing these checked bags fees? People tried to avoid it by bringing on the huge carry-on.

I'm sure you all thought it was a great idea at the time so you didn't have to pay for luggage you didn't want to check. Just like you think this is a wonderous idea to get rid of the large bags. Ha ha, it's only going to come back an bite you in the behinder.

You tell me, did the cost of flights go down when they implemented the checked bag fees? Nope, it just allowed them to increase revenue easily. How bout when they implemented the blanket fee? Nope, just another hidden cost, but the flight itself didn't go down in cost. What about getting an aisle seat, why didn't that cause the cost of middle seats to go down? Instead, they stayed the same and the aisle seats went up.

 

[Lewisc]

Boarding pass is going to indicate if the passenger paid for bin space. Passengers who paid will board first.

We don't know if FA will close the bins after those passengers board or if passengers will be able to put smaller bags in the overhead bins without paying.

So here's my question:

Let's say you have a carryon that fits under the seat, but you'd really rather have the room for your feet.

Does this mean that you can't put that small carryon in the overhead bin without paying? If so, how will they enforce that?

Or will enforcement only be at the gate counter?

Just wondering...Spirit isn't even at my airport but I'm curious how they plan to operate this.

 

[lugnut33]

Yeah but that space is pretty limited and it has to be fully under AND they won't be hitting me in the head when the can't lift the suitcase and kinda throw it up there and then laugh when there is no way for them to lift it over their head, like it is cute. She ended up having to gate check it cause no one would lift it for her. And if it falls out and hits me on the head in turbulence it means the planes is upside down and that would probably be the least of my problems

remember though, if you get on the plane and the flight attendant determines you under the seat is too large, you'll have to present them with a credit card so you can be chaged $45!!! Have fun with that.

 

[lugnut33]

I've noticed Southwest's fares steadily increasing. They wanted almost $400 for the PIT-MCO flights I wanted last summer. So they are really "including" the increased costs in their fares. You're kidding yourself if you think it's really "free".

The big question is if the other airlines pick up on this. If they don't, Spirit might back off (like USAir did with the coffee/soft drink charge).

That's what I want, I want to see the real cost of flying. Not some artifically low number that balloons by double or triple when I get to the airport (I came up with a funny ala carte list earlier to make fun of that). I'm pretty smart, but sometimes I miss all the fine print. Yes, I know, shame on me for being in a hurry sometimes and not catching every single little detail.

I should mention, that I'm flying from Milwaukee to LA for under $200 at the end of April.... With Southwest.

 

[Hannathy]

remember though, if you get on the plane and the flight attendant determines you under the seat is too large, you'll have to present them with a credit card so you can be chaged $45!!! Have fun with that.

I think you are confused. I'm poling fun at the folks who bring everything they own and try to stuff it in.

 

[lugnut33]

I think you are confused. I'm poling fun at the folks who bring everything they own and try to stuff it in.

I know you were poking fun.

I was being serious though. How much fun would that be to get an unexpected $45 fee because your bag "is just a bit too large to be safe". Now fork over that credit card.... chaching!!

 

[lugnut33]

Keeping with the spirit of Spirit Airlines, the Dis Team has decided to implement a posting fee for your convenience. That way you won't have to wade through the thousands of posts that are put up here everyday.

 

[wezee]

I should mention, that I'm flying from Milwaukee to LA for under $200 at the end of April.... With Southwest.

Good deal.....is that a non-stop flight?
DH and I will be flying from Detroit to WDW (MCO) in Sept. on non-stop flights with Spirit (going) and Airtran (coming home)for less than $200 RT........including fees! As I said before...SW has no non-stop flights out of Detroit. I compare airfares all the time, but refuse to book a connecting flight, especially for more money.

 

[lugnut33]

Not direct because I wanted to fly into John Wayne rather than LAX.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

Again, easily said by someone who doesn't have kids. Trust me, throw a few kids in the mix and you will NOT be traveling so lightly. Don't be so quick to judge. These charges add up fast for families and are ridiculous!

We have three kids and we travel/pack lightly. We learned very quickly that the kids would survive the flight and trip without every blasted entertainment/comfort device they own in their carry-on. When they were young they took a few books for reading, a puzzle or coloring book and one toy. Now that they're a little older, it's a book and some sort of portable viewing/listening device--DVD or iPod.

 

[JennMouse32]

its horrible plain and simple

i pack light my carry on, jsut things (since i stay at a disney resort, they take care of my luggage), that i would need immedately, like bathing suit, towel, sunscreen, extra set of clothes, prescriptions.. so my bag isnt that bag.. but no matter its still wrong to charge for carry ons, you know all the other airlines will pick this up. I hope they, excuse my language, screw themselves into the ground.​

 

[wezee]

Believe me, I wish we had more economical options out of Detroit. BUt, I guess I am just happy that, for now, my Spirit fares are low enough to off set the baggage fees. Who knows what the future may hold, or what other airlines may jump on the" carry-on fee bandwagon". I seem to remember that when they first started to charge for checked bags, many airlines were quick to follow.
Public opinion seems to like the idea of low fares and ala carte fees.
I do feel sorry for large families and all the imposed fees. Heck, I feel sorry for my hubby, when I over pack for just the 2 of us. For some reason he thinks it's not necessary to take 7 pairs of sandals to WDW. Go figure.

 

[Hoopfamily]

I think it's the right way to go. People have started carrying on bags that are to big, to avoid paying baggage fees. Stop over packing and you won't have such problems. And before I get flamed on this, I understand that families of 6,7,8 or more have to bring a lot of crap. But it's the groups of 2 or 3 that pack like they are 6 or 7 that kill it.

 

[TDC Nala]

Question. If the bad fits in the overhead compartment do you still get charged?

Looks as though one is charged for ANY bag that goes in the overhead, regardless of size.

Southwest is no longer an option between Orlando and Dulles, they now route all those flights through Chicago. JetBlue still has one checked bag, no extra charge.

 

[MAH4546]

Everyone is forgetting that airline tickets are insanely cheap these days. Cheaper than they have ever been. It is cheaper to fly today - both adjusted and unadjusted for inflation - than it was in 1995.

So what if there are fees? It's still cheaper.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Does Spirit check bags? If they do, how much do they charge for that?

Bobbi

 

[cm8]

It maybe cheaper, but it is only hurting the ones that really can't afford to fly and pay for every little "convenience" I think the next thing up for grabs maybe air.

 

[MAH4546]

It maybe cheaper, but it is only hurting the ones that really can't afford to fly and pay for every little "convenience"

No, it is not hurting them.

The average 45-day advanced purchase fare to fly between New York City and Los Angeles in 1995 was over $650. Today the average 45-day advance purchase fare is $350. Add in baggage fees and it's $400 for two bags.

Now, tell me, how are they hurt?