Spirit strike??

[Seahunt]

Wow I hadn't thought about all the poor cruise passengers who had been on cruises this past week, who returned to port this weekend and went to the airport unaware that they had no flight home. Local news mentions:

Tim and Dana Wells spent the past week on a cruise ship and didn't hear about the strike until a taxi dropped them off at Fort Lauderdale airport Sunday morning.

Wells, 40, frantically searched his laptop for a flight home to St. Joseph, Mich. His wife's pink sunhat rested on the seat next to him as a distant reminder of the peaceful vacation that's turned into a nightmare.

"I think Spirit should be put out of business if they are going to do that to their customers," he said.

The couple eventually found flights home for nearly $1,300 _ almost $1,000 more than their original tickets. The new flight didn't leave until 6 pm, leaving them stranded all day at the airport.

Fellow travelers Jackie and Gary Brown had surprised their two sons with a cruise vacation. "They've never been on a plane, never been out of the Midwest," said the Bartlett, Ill., mother.

Now the family is planning to rent a car and drive home to save money. Spirit refunded their original tickets which they bought for $900 for the whole family. A flight home on Sunday cost about $900 for each person, they said.

"We just don't have a lot of options right now," said Jackie Brown, who said she and her husband are both worried about missing work on Monday. She sat on the airport floor, surrounded by luggage, typing furiously on her cell phone looking for ways home.

http://cfnews13.com/News/National/2010/6/13/spirit_airlines_cancels_flights_through_tuesday.html

For all the DISers involved here's hoping the strike settles and that you all get to your destinations with no hassles

 

[gurglingsuitcase87]

we just flew back from Disney on spirit last tuesday in Atlantic City. We saw all the pioliots striking, I guess we lucked out big time! Spirit has slowly been getting worse with all the fees they are placing. the only reason we keep flying them is because we like to fly out of a small airport like AC rather then newark. Guess we are going to have to suck it up and go back to using Newark again!

 

[JB2K]

ok, since I started this post a few days ago, I could duplicate my flight on usair for 6/22. It would cost a little more than when I booked spirit.

So now the gamble. If you book a new flight and spirit were to settle, than you stuck the $400 for the usair flight.

Is Southwest not offering great deals from PHL??

 

[buzzmom3]

Not really, it would cost me $1000 more than I have already paid.

 

[princessfionasmom]

If you go to jetblue prices have dropped a little for the dates we would need the fares. They have a travel alert on their website and if you click on it, it refers to spirit customers. It doesn't give any special discount but I was surprised to see their fares have dropped for the time we would need them. I also found very resonable fares on southwest just going out of providence, ri instead of boston, ma going to fll. I wonder if other airlines are dropping fares a little to try fill seats with spirits customers.

 

[princessfionasmom]

Let's hope they make some headway today!

 

[ibcnu]

we just flew back from Disney on spirit last tuesday in Atlantic City. We saw all the pioliots striking, I guess we lucked out big time! Spirit has slowly been getting worse with all the fees they are placing. the only reason we keep flying them is because we like to fly out of a small airport like AC rather then newark. Guess we are going to have to suck it up and go back to using Newark again!

We fly Spirit all the time to Florida (daughter is in college in Orlando). Loved flying them until them made the announcement that they are charging carry-on fees. We are now flying Airtran from Orlando in August (driving to the autotrain down to Florida and leaving D's car there). We had a beautiful flight on Airtran until last week when they stopped all non-stop service to AC and we now have a 2 hour layover in Atlanta. NOT happy, but I already paid for it.

On our next trip to Florida in December, I am going to be flying Southwest out of Philly. I'm done with AC airport until they put another airline in there with direct flights. I am NOT going to sit in Atlanta airport for 2 hours on top of the 2 hour flight between Florida and AC.

 

[5boyz]

Hmmmmm I leave July 23rd from Detroit! I cant find anywhere about refunds for that far out? Anyone seen anything?


Thanks

 

[Tess]

Let's hope they make some headway today!

I'll second that. . .what a pain having plans up in the air. . .no pun intended.

 

[chrisd596]

Week away from trip, wonder how long you hang in there before finding another flight??,,,, the night before???

 

[tazlikesrobots]

Ok experienced flyers... leaving on June 22 on Spirit Air.
Anyone have experience dealing with a potential airline strike???

What provisions are made for passengers?

Thanks
Chris

I am in the same boat! I have tickes for June 26th!

 

[mitrian]

Our flight leaves on June 25th. I am really considering cancelling and rebooking with another airlines before it is too late.

 

[Tess]

Our flight leaves on June 25th. I am really considering cancelling and rebooking with another airlines before it is too late.

Good luck with that. Our flight is scheduled for 6/19 and I have looked at other airlines. Sadly, the price is well over $300 p/p--not happening for us, we'll drive Thursday night and arrive on 6/18. The only problem we have is being able to get our refund NOT A CREDIT.

We have not flown Spirit for years but couldn't resist the $18 r/t fares. In fact, their rates weren't competitive with Northwest/Delta. It was just a lucky find on the $18 p/p fares. We now remember why we don't fly Spirit and we won't be doing so again. I want no part of a credit with them at this point.

As someone else previously posted, we feel as if we are between a rock and a hard place. What happens if we leave Thursday night and they resolve this mess Friday evening. Our flight could conceivably go on Saturday. On the other hand, if we don't leave Thursday night to drive it, we won't make it for our first day of vacation. Then there are the airport hotel reservations and car rental reservations that must be canceled. Add to that, we will need a room at Disney for 6/18 AND can't book that without paying in full.

Simply a mess.

 

[chrisd596]

Yep Tess, you sound just like me. My wife says "just relax" "don't panic see how it works out..."

...wish I had that type of way to approach this w/o constantly checking plan B's...

thanks

Chris

 

[magpie889]

Good Luck to all of you that are flying soon! I feel so bad for you and know this must be making you guys stressed! I hope its resolved soon! I am not flying till 8/21 but still! You would thing the pilots would reach an agreement b/c there losing money having these days off! Just sad

 

[gurglingsuitcase87]

We fly Spirit all the time to Florida (daughter is in college in Orlando). Loved flying them until them made the announcement that they are charging carry-on fees. We are now flying Airtran from Orlando in August (driving to the autotrain down to Florida and leaving D's car there). We had a beautiful flight on Airtran until last week when they stopped all non-stop service to AC and we now have a 2 hour layover in Atlanta. NOT happy, but I already paid for it.

On our next trip to Florida in December, I am going to be flying Southwest out of Philly. I'm done with AC airport until they put another airline in there with direct flights. I am NOT going to sit in Atlanta airport for 2 hours on top of the 2 hour flight between Florida and AC.

agreed! as much as I love AC because its so small, I don't do non-stop flights. I just want to get where I'm going and not wait around in some airport and hope to gosh my luggage is on the same plane I am. Luckily my boyfriend lives near the train station in Long Branch so we can take the train right to Newark Airport and not have to pay for parking/ worry about my car. Sigh, nothing good ever lasts! oh and those baggage fees for carry-on's in ridiculous. My brother was telling me he flew south west, everyone was allowed two bags you got drinks and snacks FREE and you pick where you sit..sounds good to me!

 

[Lewisc]

! You would thing the pilots would reach an agreement b/c there losing money having these days off!

or You would think Spirit would want to reach an agreement bc they're losing money and possibly losing passengers for life. We really don't know what's going on. We know a few weeks ago Spirit's public statements insisted pilots agree to a pay cut and work concessions. We know Spirit said they have other airlines ready to accomodate Spirit passengers. That doesn't seem to be happening. Spirit isn't even giving "real refunds" unless passengers call or file a credit card dispute. Spirit wants to give credits with a one year expiration date. Nice. I wouldn't attach any credibility to any statements made by Spirit.

Airtran until last week when they stopped all non-stop service to AC and we now have a 2 hour layover in Atlanta. NOT happy, but I already paid for it.

Airtran routinely offers refunds when passengers object to minor schedule changes. I'm sure you could get a refund. The problem may be finding replacement airfare at a price you can live with.

 

[PrincessDuck]

I would like to point out that it is the company that wasn't budging on the contract for the last few years! The pilots would like to get paid decently for the work that they do.....and before someone says that pilots get paid a lot, please do some research on that. It is the very senior pilots at the majors that get that kind of pay. And yes, been where contract negotiations affected me personally and it is very frustrating how the general public views pilots vs airlines.

ETA: I just want to make sure that you know this not a personal attack on you. There are many that seem to think that the pilots are at fault and your post makes it seem that is your opinion.

Good Luck to all of you that are flying soon! I feel so bad for you and know this must be making you guys stressed! I hope its resolved soon! I am not flying till 8/21 but still! You would thing the pilots would reach an agreement b/c there losing money having these days off! Just sad

 

[Lewisc]

I would like to point out that it is the company that wasn't budging on the contract for the last few years! The pilots would like to get paid decently for the work that they do.....and before someone says that pilots get paid a lot, please do some research on that. It is the very senior pilots at the majors that get that kind of pay. And yes, been where contract negotiations affected me personally and it is very frustrating how the general public views pilots vs airlines.

Not just how the public views pilots vs airlines. Many people, at least on DIS, have no idea what fare is profitable. Posters are still looking for R/T fares under $150. SW is solving the problem by reducing the number of flights to Orlando. Try to match the number of seats to the number of passengers willing to pay a profitable fare.

 

[SHOREDAD]

I fly out 8/16 from ACY, my plan is to wait it out and hope it settles by then. I have checked into Southwest out of PHL and the flight would be about double what I paid spirit when you add in all the fees. Air tran would be the same as Southwest out of ACY. However I would be careful to book Airtran. They have also voted to authorize a strike. They go to the table on JUne 25th and then have a 30 day cooling period after the negotiations break down. you may be okay until at least July 25th, after that who knows. Airtran has gone five years without a new contract! See the link..



http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...tep-toward-strike-on-union-vote-correct-.html

As for a refund or credit, my understanding is that you can get a credit if you call. I have a co-worker who had a similar bad experience, waited forever on the phone to get a refund.

FIngers are crossed!!!