Spirit Airlines will start charging $10 for the 2nd checked bag starting 2/11/07

[safetymom]

I used to be that way until I had to travel all the time. I have learned to keep just the essentials in my one suitcase. I think I have all the bases covered and have enough clothes to last a week.

I figure if something happens and I need something else there are always stores that I can pick it up.

It's so much easier when you just have the one suitcase.

 

[C.Ann]

I used to be that way until I had to travel all the time. I have learned to keep just the essentials in my one suitcase. I think I have all the bases covered and have enough clothes to last a week.

I figure if something happens and I need something else there are always stores that I can pick it up.

It's so much easier when you just have the one suitcase.

---------------------

I wanna be a ONE suitcase girl!!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I flew spirit just last week from MCO to DTW. All things being equal (times of flights and $) I normally go with spirit because I am pretty happy with their service (I think I have flown with them around 15 times round trip or so.) I find them for the most part a pretty flexible and reliable airline. They are less picky with the weight of your luggage in NW.

We are flying SW for the 1st time in a long time in March because I got great roundtrip non stop airfare.

We are flying to MCO again in May and I don't know what airline yet. This will be something to consider. Right now NW and Spirit are the same price. If we need more luggage then I will go with NW instead of Spirit. While this isn't a real big thing, it could very well result in me using another airline. I guess is Spirit notices a lot of that they might change back. I think I will send an email saying I am not pleased with the change.

When we flew last week we had 4 tickets and 6 bags. 2 of them were smaller, so I guess we could get a bigger piece of luggage and combine them if needed. I am cheap so I think that is what I would do. After all I fly Spirit so price does matter to me. Over all the entire flight experience was a fine one. In those 15 or so flights only one was really bad. One or 2 inconvenient ones, but not bad. We gate check the stroller every time. We could gate check the car seats if we needed to, I guess this is what we will do next time if we rent a car.

C.Ann, I want to be a once suitcase girl too. Oh to dream. When DH and I go just the 2 of us in March I think we will at least only have one then, but then again it is only for 3 nights. I think I can handel it then.

 

[CarolA]

Oh, it certainly is a news story. Halving the allowable bag allowance affects many passengers, who would certainly like to know about it before they show up to check in.

Remember how all the media covered the fact when they lowered the weight you could have in a bag? Many media outlets covered that, and there were several threads on it.

I have REALLY bad news for you.....

You seem to be the only person on this thread who is really disturbed about this. Most everyone else seems to understand that the REASON they fly Sprit vs. one of the majors is that it's cheap. So this is just a price you pay for wanting cheap.

Yes, if Delta, AA etc changed the bag limits the media would probably report it. (Probably NOT on page one, but someplace.) Sprit is a non-entity to the media and most of the world. Revenues, passengers etc are just not a factor and this is not unexpected. Allegant did the same thing a while back. No breaking news there either. So if you want news coverage wait until a "real airline" adopts this. Adoptions by "marginal" airlines MIGHT be news in the local market but the NYTimes isn't running an expose on it!

You are getting what you are paying for and they are charging you for ANY extras. (Considering that Sprit sent me an email for penny fares not too long ago you have to assume that SOMEPLACE they have to make those fares up!)

 

[jodifla]

I flew spirit just last week from MCO to DTW. All things being equal (times of flights and $) I normally go with spirit because I am pretty happy with their service (I think I have flown with them around 15 times round trip or so.) I find them for the most part a pretty flexible and reliable airline. They are less picky with the weight of your luggage in NW.

We are flying SW for the 1st time in a long time in March because I got great roundtrip non stop airfare.

We are flying to MCO again in May and I don't know what airline yet. This will be something to consider. Right now NW and Spirit are the same price. If we need more luggage then I will go with NW instead of Spirit. While this isn't a real big thing, it could very well result in me using another airline. I guess is Spirit notices a lot of that they might change back. I think I will send an email saying I am not pleased with the change.

When we flew last week we had 4 tickets and 6 bags. 2 of them were smaller, so I guess we could get a bigger piece of luggage and combine them if needed. I am cheap so I think that is what I would do. After all I fly Spirit so price does matter to me. Over all the entire flight experience was a fine one. In those 15 or so flights only one was really bad. One or 2 inconvenient ones, but not bad. We gate check the stroller every time. We could gate check the car seats if we needed to, I guess this is what we will do next time if we rent a car.

C.Ann, I want to be a once suitcase girl too. Oh to dream. When DH and I go just the 2 of us in March I think we will at least only have one then, but then again it is only for 3 nights. I think I can handel it then.

I fly the DWT to FLL route back and forth about every other month. Most times just one suitcase, but sometimes two.

And like you, this could drive me to NWA on some trips. I've already emailed Spirit to let them know.

 

[jodifla]

I have REALLY bad news for you.....

You seem to be the only person on this thread who is really disturbed about this. Most everyone else seems to understand that the REASON they fly Sprit vs. one of the majors is that it's cheap. So this is just a price you pay for wanting cheap.

Yes, if Delta, AA etc changed the bag limits the media would probably report it. (Probably NOT on page one, but someplace.) Sprit is a non-entity to the media and most of the world. Revenues, passengers etc are just not a factor and this is not unexpected. Allegant did the same thing a while back. No breaking news there either. So if you want news coverage wait until a "real airline" adopts this. Adoptions by "marginal" airlines MIGHT be news in the local market but the NYTimes isn't running an expose on it!

You are getting what you are paying for and they are charging you for ANY extras. (Considering that Sprit sent me an email for penny fares not too long ago you have to assume that SOMEPLACE they have to make those fares up!)

Yeah, I wouldn't expect Spirit to be front page news, but it should be covered in places like Detroit and Fort Lauderdale, where it has a strong presence.

Heck, they reported earlier last week that American was raising its rates $3. I thought that was odd news to take up newspaper ink.

 

[hydster]

Well geez if stuff geared to flying is supposed to be "news worthy" I wish they would have told us that as of Sept 2006 all curb check luggage costs $2.00 per bag no questions asked and no options except going inside. You curb check you pay $2.00 a bag CASH! Doesn't matter where we were...SLC, DFW, MIA, EYW, ORD, DEN and LAS. They all now charged us $2.00 per bag to Curb check with a "tip" being optional.
Welcome to flying in the 21st century. If you don't like the fees.....drive! Otherwise you pay and you fly!

It's 10 bucks! If you are short on 10 dollars...maybe you should stay home or use a carryon with less weight!!

 

[ducklite]

Yeah, I wouldn't expect Spirit to be front page news, but it should be covered in places like Detroit and Fort Lauderdale, where it has a strong presence.

Have you called the news desk for the major papers in these areas to let them know?

Anne

 

[DisneyPhD]

Well geez if stuff geared to flying is supposed to be "news worthy" I wish they would have told us that as of Sept 2006 all curb check luggage costs $2.00 per bag no questions asked and no options except going inside. You curb check you pay $2.00 a bag CASH! Doesn't matter where we were...SLC, DFW, MIA, EYW, ORD, DEN and LAS. They all now charged us $2.00 per bag to Curb check with a "tip" being optional.
Welcome to flying in the 21st century. If you don't like the fees.....drive! Otherwise you pay and you fly!

It's 10 bucks! If you are short on 10 dollars...maybe you should stay home or use a carryon with less weight!!

It is good info to know ahead of time and be preapred for. Like you said if you didn't have the $ you are in trouble and $2 can add up fast.

I am glad I read this thread because knowing ahead of time prepares me and also lets me weigh my options.

 

[bavaria]

I think that it is good advice to consider how you pack. There was a similar thread awhile back about packing lighter.

I can travel for a month or more with my 25 inch X'ion which weights 10lbs empty.

Heavy items include shoes, jeans, sweatshirts, large bottles of toiletries. Try and minimize these items by smart packing. Ship items ahead, or buy items at your destination.

Anyone who can't manage a week vacation with only one suitcase really needs to reevaluate their packing strategy.

 

[CarolA]

Well geez if stuff geared to flying is supposed to be "news worthy" I wish they would have told us that as of Sept 2006 all curb check luggage costs $2.00 per bag no questions asked and no options except going inside. You curb check you pay $2.00 a bag CASH! Doesn't matter where we were...SLC, DFW, MIA, EYW, ORD, DEN and LAS. They all now charged us $2.00 per bag to Curb check with a "tip" being optional.
Welcome to flying in the 21st century. If you don't like the fees.....drive! Otherwise you pay and you fly!

It's 10 bucks! If you are short on 10 dollars...maybe you should stay home or use a carryon with less weight!!

If you would like to have a BETTER chance of seeing your luggage, that tip is not really optional. Skycaps are considered a tipped position. They were even LESS happy about this then you were as a lot of folks quit tipping assuming the $2 was going to the skycap, it's not. The $2 goes to the airline....

Also, this curbside fee only applies to certain airlines. It's not industry wide or even airport wide. (I think AA and UA charge, I know DL doesn't) don't have a clue on a lot of others.

As other's have pointed out remember you are NOT moving to Orlando or your vacation destination, only making a short visit. Also, unless your vacation is the jungle or other unihabited place you can find things there. I have managed to do 3 weeks in Europe in a 22" roll aboard. If I ran out of something it was an excuse to go shopping! LOL!

 

[hydster]

Delta charged us the last time we used curb side service in SLC flying to Cancun so apparently it's state wide not airline wide! We didn't get hit with the fee with AA on our last trip with them except in ORD. It seems to be hit and miss.

Also I KNOW the tip is not really "optional" and we tip accordingly but really it's not something that is "duly noted when flying!" I would never not tip someone so don't go there please!

Also for the record I AGREE WITH YOU CAROLA! I didn't say anything except I think there is a person on this thread with their panties in a wad! I don't use much to travel. 5 of us traveled for 2 weeks *3 of them children* and we used 4 bags and 2 carryon's but you know whatever!

I travel with 1 bag per person or 1 bag per 2 people depending on the destination and as far as I know I didn't suggest otherwise! Please don't put words into my "post" as I'm not the one who is complaining about it.

 

[jodifla]

Well geez if stuff geared to flying is supposed to be "news worthy" I wish they would have told us that as of Sept 2006 all curb check luggage costs $2.00 per bag no questions asked and no options except going inside. You curb check you pay $2.00 a bag CASH! Doesn't matter where we were...SLC, DFW, MIA, EYW, ORD, DEN and LAS. They all now charged us $2.00 per bag to Curb check with a "tip" being optional.
Welcome to flying in the 21st century. If you don't like the fees.....drive! Otherwise you pay and you fly!

It's 10 bucks! If you are short on 10 dollars...maybe you should stay home or use a carryon with less weight!!

We checked luggage in September curbside out of Boston on NWA and weren't charged anything. And again in Detroit in November.

I think it's a business courtesy to let your customers know what the fees will be, and not yank them around. There are probably a lot of people who show up at the airport without a lot of cash.

My opinion...and I have a right to them.

Not sure why there are so many airline apologists around. Two checked bags per person is the industry standard, and if the trend is changing, people should be told.

 

[bavaria]

Two checked bags per person is the industry standard, and if the trend is changing, people should be told.

Well, two is not the standard when I fly.

United: 3 pieces up to 70 pounds each
Air Canada: 4 pieces up to 50 pounds each, plus 2 carryons plus 1 purse
Lufthansa: does not limit by piece, but rather by weight

I think that this is just a good reminder that each carrier varies depending on route, status, and individual carrier guidelines. Spirits now just happens to be one complimentary, one at $10

 

[safetymom]

It is also up to the consumer to be educated on policy and procedures when flying. The more you know as you try to travel from place to place the easier it is.

When traveling you should always visit the website of the airline you are going to fly. Ignorance in todays world of easy internet searches is no excuse.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Also, this curbside fee only applies to certain airlines. It's not industry wide or even airport wide. (I think AA and UA charge, I know DL doesn't) don't have a clue on a lot of others.

I agree it's by airline. I know JetBlue charges for curbside checkin UNLESS you've checked in on line in advance - at least in Boston.

Also I KNOW the tip is not really "optional" and we tip accordingly but really it's not something that is "duly noted when flying!" I would never not tip someone so don't go there please!

Well, no, it is optional - nobody has to use curbside checkin; passengers can always go into the terminal and check in at the counter.

I think it's a business courtesy to let your customers know what the fees will be, and not yank them around.

Well, Spirit IS telling new bookings about the charge; we don't yet know if they're contacting already-booked passengers to let them know. So unless they don't, how are they yanking customers around?

When traveling you should always visit the website of the airline you are going to fly. Ignorance in todays world of easy internet searches is no excuse.

And for those without internet access (who obviously won't see this thread anyway ) there's always the telephone...

 

[ducklite]

Two checked bags per person is the industry standard, and if the trend is changing, people should be told.

I wouldn't be surprised if all the no-frills carriers go with this--including Southwest and Jet Blue as things move forward. Fuel is the biggest line item for the airlines, and every pound uses that much more fuel.

For those who feel the need to empty thier closet into thier luggage, they should pay more.

If you do'nt like the policy, you can easily fly another carrier--although it would cost more to begin with. That's called cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Anne

 

[Pinnie]

I wouldn't be surprised if all the no-frills carriers go with this--including Southwest and Jet Blue as things move forward. Fuel is the biggest line item for the airlines, and every pound uses that much more fuel.

For those who feel the need to empty thier closet into thier luggage, they should pay more.

If you do'nt like the policy, you can easily fly another carrier--although it would cost more to begin with. That's called cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Anne

I totally agree! When you pay peanuts, you get elephants. SPIRIT is a NO FRILLS airline. This morning I got an email from them for .32 fares. Maybe one of these days the seats will be FREE but our carryons and luggage will be expensive to fly!

pinnie

 

[bearzabout]

I can't believe it. Only one checked bag will be free on Spirit Airlines. The second one will cost an additional $10. How silly.

I wonder how many airlines will follow them.

 

[debster812]

We had a 'Spirited' (sorry, really bad pun) discussion about this a few weeks ago.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1321810

Not a huge big deal IMHO. Their pricing is still reasonable enough, that the extra $10 still makes it a bargain.