Spirit changed my flights 11 hour difference

[disneychic2]

What a nightmare! Good luck to you!

 

[M5ward]

We were on a 9:35 pm Spirit flight out of MCO on Monday, Dec. 3. That flight is now cancelled, and we are scheduled to fly out at 10:40 am on Dec. 3. So, in effect, we lose the entire last day at WDW. We are also flying into Atlantic City. I called and they told me I could fly out on a late flight on Dec. 4, but Disney could not accommodate us without having to change resorts for one night. Sorry but that's too much hassle. When checking Spirit's scheduling, it appears that they have made changes to their schedule for a two week period in early December then the schedule reverts back. We fly to MCO on Spirit three times a year, usually Monday to Monday and have never had an issue. Needless to say, I am ticked off...that last day is just for us as our kids usually leave early on the last day...now we'll be out of there before them.
We also lost our seat assignments for which I had paid extra..had to request the refund for that, they didn't offer even when I pointed it out to the heavily accented customer service rep.
If this happens again, I'll just suck it up and fly out of Philly or Baltimore on another airline. I love ACY because it's small and only fifteen minutes from home...I just wish there were options to Spirit.

 

[nilseks]

I had a similar situation with Spirit and it did not end well. They weren't willing to work with me AT ALL. I'm sure it has a lot to do with who you get on the phone and whether they're feeling nice that day. In my case, it was so frustrating b/c their customer service is clearly outsourced and I could barely have a conversation with the rep...couldn't understand what he was saying. I asked to be transferred to a supervisor and the guy was a TOTAL jerk. I hung up and called again--same runaround. I hope you have better luck. As for me, I will not fly with them again. Now that Southwest has lots of flights out of Milwaukee, I'm sticking with them.

Also, that's a great rate you got with Thrifty! We're going 12/1-12/4 and I have yet to find a good rate, other than Advantage. I got a midsize for the week for $133 including taxes/fees from Advantage but I'm afraid to use them due to the really awful reviews.

 

[Melissabo]

We were on a 9:35 pm Spirit flight out of MCO on Monday, Dec. 3. That flight is now cancelled, and we are scheduled to fly out at 10:40 am on Dec. 3. So, in effect, we lose the entire last day at WDW. We are also flying into Atlantic City. I called and they told me I could fly out on a late flight on Dec. 4, but Disney could not accommodate us without having to change resorts for one night. Sorry but that's too much hassle. When checking Spirit's scheduling, it appears that they have made changes to their schedule for a two week period in early December then the schedule reverts back. We fly to MCO on Spirit three times a year, usually Monday to Monday and have never had an issue. Needless to say, I am ticked off...that last day is just for us as our kids usually leave early on the last day...now we'll be out of there before them.
We also lost our seat assignments for which I had paid extra..had to request the refund for that, they didn't offer even when I pointed it out to the heavily accented customer service rep.
If this happens again, I'll just suck it up and fly out of Philly or Baltimore on another airline. I love ACY because it's small and only fifteen minutes from home...I just wish there were options to Spirit.

So did you decide to just keep your changed flight? Did you try to cancel and of so did they offer a refund? I also paid for seats and the row was changed but we have the same seats. That is fine with me as long as we are all together. I'm just concerned about that late flight having an issue. Do you normally take the late flight and have you had any issues?

 

[M5ward]

We always take the late flight and have never had an issue. We were only delayed once and that was because of the plane coming in from Ft. lauderdale. I would have changed to the flight you will be on but there were no DVC rooms available at Boardwalk and I just didn't feel like dealing with more aggravation. I even thought about staying at one of the airport hotels, but that would have meant sitting around all day on Tuesday. They offered to change us to the Tuesday night flight or refund that segment of the trip...but frankly I don't trust their customer service. Besides, I would have had to fly into another airport and arrange transportation home.
Our experience with that late flight (aside from the one delay) is that it is usually boarded and out of MCO on time and into ACY on time or a little early. Luggage is offloaded pretty quickly...no traffic to deal with...so in that regard it's pretty good. No, your husband won't get a ton of sleep ( especially if you have to travel any distance to get home from the airport.) We have done this flight with small grandchildren who slept most of the way home on the plane. Good luck..it's a terrible way to end a wonderful vacation.

 

[MAH4546]

I can't really blame them, though, as I flew last week with them and had a half empty plane from Ft. Launderdale ..... Not a good way to stay in business.

Spirit is the nation's most profitable airline. It has found an excellent way to stay in business.

 

[Melissabo]

We always take the late flight and have never had an issue. We were only delayed once and that was because of the plane coming in from Ft. lauderdale. I would have changed to the flight you will be on but there were no DVC rooms available at Boardwalk and I just didn't feel like dealing with more aggravation. I even thought about staying at one of the airport hotels, but that would have meant sitting around all day on Tuesday. They offered to change us to the Tuesday night flight or refund that segment of the trip...but frankly I don't trust their customer service. Besides, I would have had to fly into another airport and arrange transportation home.
Our experience with that late flight (aside from the one delay) is that it is usually boarded and out of MCO on time and into ACY on time or a little early. Luggage is offloaded pretty quickly...no traffic to deal with...so in that regard it's pretty good. No, your husband won't get a ton of sleep ( especially if you have to travel any distance to get home from the airport.) We have done this flight with small grandchildren who slept most of the way home on the plane. Good luck..it's a terrible way to end a wonderful vacation.

Thanks, I'm debating whether we should just keep it the way it is and stick with the 9:35 p.m. flight. I can deal with leaving at 9:35 pm even though it isn't ideal. I'm more concerned about getting bumped or them canceling at that flight. Also, you mentioned you were not confident that they would refund you if you cancelled. I really don't want to risk canceling then booking with another airline at another airport paying more for that flight and for transportation to the airport and then not getting the refund either. This is frustrating.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I had a similar situation with Spirit and it did not end well. They weren't willing to work with me AT ALL. I'm sure it has a lot to do with who you get on the phone and whether they're feeling nice that day. In my case, it was so frustrating b/c their customer service is clearly outsourced and I could barely have a conversation with the rep...couldn't understand what he was saying. I asked to be transferred to a supervisor and the guy was a TOTAL jerk. I hung up and called again--same runaround. I hope you have better luck. As for me, I will not fly with them again. Now that Southwest has lots of flights out of Milwaukee, I'm sticking with them.

Also, that's a great rate you got with Thrifty! We're going 12/1-12/4 and I have yet to find a good rate, other than Advantage. I got a midsize for the week for $133 including taxes/fees from Advantage but I'm afraid to use them due to the really awful reviews.

No, it' has to do with the overall environment at Spirit. They are the airline where the CEO responded to an email from a customer saying "we don't do customer service you only fly us because we are cheap" (Yes, that's a paraphrase, but you get the idea!)

 

[Greysword]

I had a similar situation with Spirit and it did not end well. They weren't willing to work with me AT ALL... I hung up and called again--same runaround.

This is a great point, as the #1 rule for airline customer service is: "If you don't like the answer, hang up and call back until you do get the right answer."

Just keep in mind all airlines are subject to schedule changes. The reason I prefer legacy airlines is that they have partnership agreements with each other, where they will put you on a competitor's flight if absolutely required. The "low cost" airlines won't do this. Personally if I need to be somewhere, then I like having this backup.

 

[Melissabo]

I called Spirit, they did offer to move me a day earlier or the next day at my expense for any price difference. He also said they would cancel and give me a credit or a refund for that return flight only. I decided to just keep the late flight and hope we don't get delayed. I wouldn't say their customer service was bad, the person wanted to make me happy but his options just weren't great.

I learned a valuable lesson, I'll fly out of Philadelphia from now on. Even though Atlantic City is small and convenient if there is an issue there is no other airline to switch to:-(

 

[PatMcDuck]

I learned a valuable lesson, I'll fly out of Philadelphia from now on. Even though Atlantic City is small and convenient if there is an issue there is no other airline to switch to:-(

I gave up on Spirit years ago. I had no problem with AC airport, of course, or with their flight crews, or their planes. But Spirit's policies don't work for me. All the fees, luggage, seating, etc. And the inflexible fees for changing flights (but similar to most other airlines I agree).

Southwest out of PHL is a much better option for me with the free luggage, frequent flights per day (a few being nonstops). Stuff comes up in my life where I need to cancel trips or move a day up or back..... Easy peasy with Southwest.....

 

[njmom47]

I just resurrected this thread as we are flying into Ft Myers, and our 6 a.m. flight has been changed to 5:47 p.m. landing at 8:33 p.m. That would basically be ok, because then ds won't miss a full day of school, but I am driving when we get there and can't see that well at night, let alone when I don't know where I am! (Yes, I would be driving in the dark in the a.m. but I am comfortable enough driving to the airport so I will be ok).
I have never had a flight change when flying Spirit, and we have used them quite a few times.
I agree, I love AC airport: it's an easy drive, small airport, easy to navigate.
I will try calling them tonight, although I'm thinking this may not be too successful.
Sigh. We shall see what happens next.