Spirit Airlines

[cdndisney]

Have not flown them in about 5 years, but considering them for our upcoming trip based on the price difference between them and other airlines. I know they have become a deep discount airline and charge for everything, but are there any real issues flying with them? They seem to get a lot of bad reviews. Looking for feedback for some regular Spirit fliers.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

I've flown Spirit many times to Orlando from Atlantic City and have never had a bad experience. As long as you are aware that they charge extra for everything and the fact that their luggage limit is 40lbs, you can still save a lot of money.

I know they have been known to cancel flights leaving people stranded, but I have never had a problem.

Maybe I'll be burned one of these days, because I know their customer service is non-existent. But I've saved hundreds of dollars and have not had a bad experience.

That sound you hear is me furiously knocking on wood.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

The reveiws should be your clue IMHO.

 

[aubriee]

I've flown Spirit many times to Orlando from Atlantic City and have never had a bad experience. As long as you are aware that they charge extra for everything and the fact that their luggage limit is 40lbs, you can still save a lot of money.

I know they have been known to cancel flights leaving people stranded, but I have never had a problem.

Maybe I'll be burned one of these days, because I know their customer service is non-existent. But I've saved hundreds of dollars and have not had a bad experience.

That sound you hear is me furiously knocking on wood.

Another one here, who has never had a problem and would have no hesitation flying with them again. (that knocking you hear in the background is me knocking on wood too.)

 

[bianca]

We fly them all the time. They are the only non-stop in our area. Never had a problem, unless you count them pushing our flight forward by 6 hours a problem. We just treated it as part of air travel these days. Plan on many future trips with them, too.

 

[Ed J]

I fly them a lot out of atlantic city and believe I get a good value for my money. The non value carriers have gotten me to my destination 36 to 48 hours late on many occasions, same day every time with spirit. Most of the bad comments on this board are people regurgitating things they read elsewhere and aren't first hand accounts.

 

[njmom47]

I know people do bash them, but I have flown them quite a few times and will continue to do so.
They did change our flight time from 6 AM to 530ish PM. I called and changed the flight to land in another airport in the early AM without any problems whatsoever. We were renting a car anyway, so that didn't even cause a ripple in my plans.
As long as you are aware of their policies, and plan accordingly, you should be fine.
Ds is 6'4+ and DH is 6'2 and they were comfortable in the plane.
I'm fine with them.

 

[njmom47]

Yes, Ed, it IS the beach, not the shore for locals (Monmouth/Ocean county girl for life here!).
Thank you!

 

[Emteach]

We flew Spirit out of Detroit on our last trip to Orlando and are planning on doing the same again this summer.
It is absolutely a no frills airline (small seat space and our flight at least was not the neatest) but we didnt have any issues.
As long as you plan how you pack and realize that you have to pay for everything you will be fine. They do allow one free carryon - both of my siblings carried medium sized backpacks and they were fine, you can check the measurements online for acceptable sizes. Just watch the 40lb limit/ suitcase size (especially on your way home). My luggage weighed 39.4 lbs with souvenirs but we say a number of people re-arranging their luggage before they checked it!

 

[debster812]

I fly them a lot out of atlantic city and believe I get a good value for my money. The non value carriers have gotten me to my destination 36 to 48 hours late on many occasions, same day every time with spirit. Most of the bad comments on this board are people regurgitating things they read elsewhere and aren't first hand accounts.

I do have a firsthand account.....Flew Spirit once, and will try to not fly them again. We were flying from BOS to MYR for a long weekend. I checked the status of DS & my flight before we left our house, no problems, on time. By the time we got to Logan Airport (45 minutes later) our flight had been CANCELLED, we went from having an early morning non stop, which would have had us to Myrtle Beach by 11:30, to spending 7+ hours at the airport, and getting on a 1 stop flight, which did not get us into Mrytle Beach until 7:30 that night. OK, stuff happens, I did appreciate them getting us out the same day.

Coming home, again, checked flight status before we left our condo, all things as normal. Get to MYR, check in, and go to the gate. This day, there was heavy fog all up and down the East Coast, and our flight kept being delayed, delayed, delayed. However, there was NO ONE from Spirit at the gate to help us, answer questions, give updates, nothing. Turns out, our plane was coming from Boston, which was on a full ground stop due to fog, and the plane did not even take off from Boston until 2 hours after we were supposed to take off from MYR. Again, I completely understand that weather is outside of ANYONE'S control, it was the complete lack of availability of anyone from Spirit to answer any questions, and the utter disdain that we were shown by the phone reps, when we finally managed to get through to someone. I did write them an email after the fact, and did not even get the courtesy of a canned reply acknowledging that they received the note.

This was several years ago, and knowing people who have flown them in the interim, I know it has not improved.

2 winters ago, I booked a flight from Boston to Atlantic City for my boss for a trade show in February. I did so under duress and told him that I would not be held responsible if things went awry. Well, it did snow the day he was supposed to leave, and Spirit could not (would not?) get him out until the day after the show ended. Fortunately, it was an incredibly cheap fare, so he was not out a ton of cash, but it underscored why I don't like to use Spirit.