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

[Tomader]

I think paying for everything is great! I say pay, pay, pay! I want to pay for my seat, water, the air in the cabin, bathroom privileges, pillows, blankets. I just love the feeling of handing over every dollar I have. I say charge me for my purse why should that be free?? Make nothing free. If my seven year old wants to bring that doll of hers then she will be paying for a seat!

 

[lugnut33]

Hahahahhahahahahahah, see it won't stop people because you're letting them do this.

Ryanair revealed that it is continuing to pursue its pay-per-use toilet idea.
.....
Meanwhile, Ryanair appears to be moving ahead with plans to charge customers to use toilets on short-haul flights. According to its inflight magazine, it is working with Boeing to develop a coin-operated door-release mechanism and plans to charge passengers €1/£1 to use restrooms on flights of 1 hr. or less.

Can I just pee on the floor then? Better yet, I'll just use that apple juice bottle.

 

[MiaSRN62]

And yes, the airlines did create a problem by chasing additional fees to increase revenues. If people don't think some basic services should be provided in a flight (like the cost of bringing some luggage), then why don't the airlines charge for gate walkway use? Is that some sort of right you expect? If you want to get on this flight, you can find your own way on for free, or pay us $5 to use this nice walkway. Where is it going to end people?

What do I supposedly feel entitled to? I only feel entitled to a seat and being able to bring one piece of checkin luggage and one carry-on (nothing big, just enough to carry some fun things to kill time). Is that really too much to demand? Apparently it is too much to demand for Spirit (and some of you on this board)

AMEN lugnut33 ! It is as if airlines are simply sitting around the board room table trying to think up lots of new ways to charge fees. And as long as there are better choices out there......they lose my business. It's just my personal feeling on the subject to those who feel they need to dissect my reasons. I respect your reasons for being pro fee.....please respect my reasons (no matter how many I might have) for being against the fee.
Maria

 

[MiaSRN62]

I think paying for everything is great! I say pay, pay, pay! I want to pay for my seat, water, the air in the cabin, bathroom privileges, pillows, blankets. I just love the feeling of handing over every dollar I have. I say charge me for my purse why should that be free?? Make nothing free. If my seven year old wants to bring that doll of hers then she will be paying for a seat!

Uh oh ! Don't give 'em any more ideas Tomader !!!!

Maria

 

[kaytieeldr]

And for all you people saying Southwest fares are going up, well they might be because fuel prices are increasing. The difference is Southwest is going to put those increases into the fare, whereas airlines like Spirit are getting them from these tickytacky fees. That being said, I bet you can go on the Southwest system and find some cheap fares for all kinds of flights across the country, just maybe not on the individual flight you are looking for.

What would be the point? If I needed to go to Phoenix, why would it matter if the fare to Seattle was cheap?

then why don't the airlines charge for gate walkway use? Is that some sort of right you expect?

Jetway? It belongs to the airport - which, most frequently, belongs to the state. Don't give THEM any ideas for added revenues!

Oh, and non-cranky workers would also be nice (btw, I never talk to the workers, it's just an observation)

Why DON'T you talk to them? Try a brief conversation? Ask a non-confrontational question (e.g. from your home airport, ask if they've ever been to your destination)? Funny thing - they're people.

 

[lugnut33]

I think paying for everything is great! I say pay, pay, pay! I want to pay for my seat, water, the air in the cabin, bathroom privileges, pillows, blankets. I just love the feeling of handing over every dollar I have. I say charge me for my purse why should that be free?? Make nothing free. If my seven year old wants to bring that doll of hers then she will be paying for a seat!

Spirit Airlines will be contracting you to offer you the post of CEO.


Oh, and did you see my post above about charging for bathroom priviledges? It's happening.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Well, we haven't found an airfare under $300 in over two years. Pretty steep.. even BEFORE adding baggage fees. It seems, most who are enthusiastically embracing these fees, are in a market with many options (for carriers). We basically have two choices and their prices are " high and higher".

 

[kaytieeldr]

"It's" happening on a single, ultra-low-cost, charge-for-everything European airline on flights of an hour or less. Most people can go without using a restroom for an hour, hour and a half, two hours. Those that can't, ideally know it and will plan ahead. And didn't whoever raised you always advise you to have emergency funds onhand?

 

[lugnut33]

So they are calling this "unbundling". Nice corporate speak for "revenue enhancer".

 

[lugnut33]

"It's" happening on a single, ultra-low-cost, charge-for-everything European airline on flights of an hour or less. Most people can go without using a restroom for an hour, hour and a half, two hours. Those that can't, ideally know it and will plan ahead. And didn't whoever raised you always advise you to have emergency funds onhand?

You're a traveller right? So, you've never had an emergency?

And the bathroom thing is really a matter of principal. Now you're saying that a bathroom shouldn't be included in a flight eventhough you are a paying customer and there is a bathroom on the plane already??

 

[uva185]

then why don't the airlines charge for gate walkway use? Is that some sort of right you expect? If you want to get on this flight, you can find your own way on for free, or pay us $5 to use this nice walkway.

I know your joking, but at CAE US Airways has jetways (or gate walkways) however they do not use them properly. The park the plane (regional jet) close to the jetway, you walk down stairs, across 20' of tarmac, then up another flight of stairs onto the jetway. I would gladly pay $5 if they would use the d@amn jetway properly!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

You're a traveller right? So, you've never had an emergency?

And the bathroom thing is really a matter of principal. Now you're saying that a bathroom shouldn't be included in a flight eventhough you are a paying customer and there is a bathroom on the plane already??

I'm just shaking my head here the way some people think......now people will be expected to "hold it" for 2 hours. Ever have an emergency ? Run late for a flight due to extenuating circumstances and not have time to use the airport bathroom before boarding ? Travel with kids ? Elderly ? Oh boy....better bow out of this conversation.........
I sure hope I'm missing the point of "holding it" for a few hours .......because I don't think anyone should have to do that.

Maria

 

[Hannathy]

Actually and I really don't understand how people DON'T understand this but you are paying for the gateway/walk way!!! Do you think the airport lets the airline use its facilities for free? Out of the goodness of it's heart? It is a business folks everybody gets paid, everything costs money. You are paying for everything they just don't itemize your bill for heavens sake!!

 

[lugnut33]

Actually and I really don't understand how people DON'T understand this but you are paying for the gateway/walk way!!! Do you think the airport lets the airline use its facilities for free? Out of the goodness of it's heart? It is a business folks everybody gets paid, everything costs money. You are paying for everything they just don't itemize your bill for heavens sake!!

So you're saying that's an expected cost of flying? Next you'll be saying that people normally bring luggage when they travel.

 

[Brian Noble]

Maria, to illustrate the point kaytieeldr and uva185 are making: I would be willing to pay *more* to carry my bag on rather than check it, because carrying on has more value to me---in the time saved.

Spirit has figured this out with this new pricing model. The real question will be whether or not Spirit's current customer base will play along, or if they will balk.

 

[Hannathy]

So you're saying that's an expected cost of flying? Next you'll be saying that people normally bring luggage when they travel.

Yes but bringing luggage is a want/desire/convenience it isn't a need. Big difference and one that can be decided by the customer. There are certain things that are required to run a flight and there are certain things that are only niceties. I have to pay my share of using the airport I don't have to pay my share of your luggage.

 

[discott71]

Well, not exactly. The airlines should - do, actually - determine and publicize maximum sizes and weights for luggage. The passengers should inform themselves of these restrictions and control their own packing accordingly.

Just because airlines publicize the max size and weight for luggage doesn't mean anything unless they enforce it - THAT is the problem. I am a responsible flyer and make sure I follow the rules. It is the airlines job to make sure checked luggage AND carry-ons follow their rules. There will always be people that will take advantage. If someone gets on a plan with a piece of luggage that clearly should have been checked are you saying they shouldn't do/say anything??? Really, the passenger will control it? Come on, this is why they are charging the stupid fee.

 

[bjakmom]

Moving my post over from the closed thread on the theme parks forum to remind everyone who booked before April 6th to make a copy of that fact to take with them when checking in:

We also booked our August trip last month - I have printed out the page from the Spirit site that specifically states that flights booked before April 6th are exempt from the charges. I will also bring the print out proving when I purchased my flight tickets - reps at the gate are notorious in my experience of not being informed and trying to enforce these fees at check in regardless. I suggest everyone have printed proof with them.
I fly Spirit out of ACY several times a year and have no problem with their flights - knowing full well that I am flying without ANY perks in exchange for low airfare. In fact, this morning I booked for Dec @ $98.00 r/t pp - at that rate I can afford to pay for my seating and luggage and still be flying for less than I paid in the '70s.
The situation with carry-ons on these small planes has become out of control since airlines started charging for checked bags. Hopefully, now that it will actually be cheaper to check a bag than carry one one, since this change also lowers the price for checked bags, we will no longer be delayed in boarding/deboarding waiting for everyone to try and find space to stuff in their oversized carry ons - and having the stewardesses taking luggage off that won't fit or when the bins (always!) fill to capacity and carry-ons then need to be taken off and gate-checked.
I also love SW, but they are not perfect either. On my last trip to MCO out of Philly they re-routed our direct flight to MCO through Pittsburgh to merge with a flight from there because there were so few passengers on board in PHL. They refused us any options to switch flights as later flights were booked. That was a huge delay and inconvenience - especially with a little one.

 

[lugnut33]

OK, let's see how those great new Spirit fares are fairing against Southwest. I mean, shoot, I'd expect Spirit to be atleast $25 cheaper after all the add-on fees than Southwest right, especially now that they are charging for carry-ons. That should automatically lead to cheaper fares correct?

Allright, let's get down to it. Say I'm flying Aug. 16 our of Chicago and flying to Orlando. I have a return day one week later. Let's look at the choices.

Southwest Has some really great choices on flights, so I'll pick NON-STOP flights.
flt. 2282 from Midway to Orlando, flt. time 2h35m. $119 with taxes and fees
flt. 1013 from Orlando to Midway, flt time 2h45m. $119 with taxes and fees.
Total cost of flight: $239.40

Looking at Spirit. There are no non-stop flights to Orlando, so I'll just pick the absolute dirt cheapest they have:
fly from Chi-Ft Lauderdale-Orlando, flt time almost 10 hours.
fly from Orlando-Miami-Chicago, flt time almost 8 hours
Total cost of flight: $225.78 (price does not include all the extra fees which if I have one checkin bag and one carryon will be an additional $110)

See, these extra add-ons are not designed to save you money. They are designed to be revenue enhancers that are hidden from the public. You feel great about paying them, but they really do nothing for you.

AA was $260 before any baggage fees.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Yes but bringing luggage is a want/desire/convenience it isn't a need. Big difference and one that can be decided by the customer. There are certain things that are required to run a flight and there are certain things that are only niceties. I have to pay my share of using the airport I don't have to pay my share of your luggage.

Having a couple changes of clothing and maybe a few personal hygiene items, on a week long trip, isn't a need? I travel light, but good heavens...I NEED more than the clothes on my back. Geesh...