The great Spirit Airlines debate!

[*~PrincessBelle~*]

I know that Spirit has a pretty bad rep among travelers on here and like many I vowed never to fly with them *however* I just checked and I can save well over $100 flying with them for my upcoming October trip....DTW-MCO for 129$ total, taxes in.

Now I realize they nickel and dime you for everything - checked bags, carry on bags, choosing a seat, etc but this trip will be just me traveling solo..not to worried about seat space (im 5'2"), seats not reclining (only a 2 hr flight) etc..

but im just really concerned booking with me...do I spend the extra $100 and fly with someone more reliable?? Advice, thoughts, suggestions?

TIA

 

[debster812]

I think when things go smoothly, there is no issue with Spirit. It's when things go wrong (weather, mechanical, MIA Flight Crews, etc) is when Spirit shows it's true colors. DS and I lost a full day of a 4 day long weekend trip due to our Spirit flight crew 'calling in sick'. We then had weather delays on the way back.

Now, both of these instances could absolutely fall into the 'stuff happens' category. What turned me off Spirit was the complete lack of communication from Spirit to update us, and their complete disdain when I wrote them after our trip. Had they even acknowledged that they could have handled things better, I would have given them another shot, but there was none of that.

I would think long and hard before I booked with them, and so far have avoided them since our first experience (4 years ago).

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I'd fly them to save $100 like that. Especially under the circumstances you stated.

BobK/Orlando

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I would cancel my trip before I fly Spirit. To me the savings are not worth the risk

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm with OCC. Not so much because something will go wrong, but it's vacation, and vacation should be a little more pleasant than the typical Spirit experience.

 

[Dan Murphy]

For a 100 bucks, no, I would not fly them.

 

[excited4dis]

I am flying them on Thursday for the first time, and I already know I will never use them again.

At the time I was booking, they had the cheapest flights. I hadn't flown in over 8 years, so I was pretty naive what I was in for.

Spirits extra fees are ridiculous.

I had to spend $30 dollars each way to make sure my kids and I are sitting together.

I prepaid for my luggage online because it's cheaper, but even that was $56 dollars each way.

I had wanted to change my flight to the following day, but didn't because it would have cost me an arm and a leg.

Now I have to print my own tickets, or else they will charge me $5 each ticket.

I was probably better off flying another airline that had a more expensive ticket without all the dumb extra fees.

They really know how to take advantage.

 

[mickey2000]

If they paid ME maybe !!!
Well I had 3 seconds to think about it!
NO WAY

 

[Brian Noble]

Spirits extra fees are ridiculous.

Spirit is a little worse than most, but almost every airline has something like this.

My problem with them isn't the fees. It's that they clearly know that the only reason anyone flies with them is because they are cheap, and they treat their customers accordingly. Their idea of "customer service" is to practically dare you to pay more to fly someone else.

I am happy to take them up on it.

 

[Lewisc]

Spirit is a little worse than most, but almost every airline has something like this.

My problem with them isn't the fees. It's that they clearly know that the only reason anyone flies with them is because they are cheap, and they treat their customers accordingly. Their idea of "customer service" is to practically dare you to pay more to fly someone else.

I am happy to take them up on it.

More then a little worse. AFAIK Spirit is the only US carrier to charge passengers who want to print, or reprint, their BPs at the airport. The only carrier to charge for bin bags. The only carrier to have a 40 lb max for checked luggage.

 

[mieuxmew]

I have a flight booked on Spirit in October from Atlantic City to Orlando. My flight times keep changing! In fact, they have changed three times! Our flight is now leaving an hour earlier, now at 6:00 am and our return flight over and hour later now at 9:30 pm. Not a big deal, but we decided to stay over in a hotel the night before, as we are almost 2 hour drive from the airport( we are at least an hour from any airport). We got a decent fare. Saved us 500-700$ on four tickets compared to other airlines. Even with seat fees and luggage fees, I figured we are still way ahead. Have flown Spirit 3 times before with no problems. The Atlantic City, NJ airport is a breeze. Easy, inexpensive parking within walking distance, small airport, and minimal security lines. Much easier than Newark.

In my opinion, the 40# weight limit on checked bags is most annoying, as every other airline has a 50# limit. When traveling with a family of four, I cannot get by with only two bags and must check a 3rd bag. I don't mind paying Spirit's fee to check the bag (36$ round trip with $9 fare club), but I get annoyed having to pay a premium to rent a minivan or full sized car to fit the extra suitcase (usually a couple of hundred dollars or more). My answer to this is to ship the 3rd suitcase Fedex. Problem solved! Spirit loses the bag fee, but the 40# limit is very restrictive in my opinion.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Spirits extra fees are ridiculous.
I had to spend $30 dollars each way to make sure my kids and I are sitting together.
I prepaid for my luggage online because it's cheaper, but even that was $56 dollars each way.
I had wanted to change my flight to the following day, but didn't because it would have cost me an arm and a leg.
Now I have to print my own tickets, or else they will charge me $5 each ticket.
I was probably better off flying another airline that had a more expensive ticket without all the dumb extra fees.

To be fair:
Many airlines charge for advance seat assignments.
Most airlines charge for baggage so this is not unique.
Nearly every airline charges fees to make a reservation change after you confirm and pay for your booking.

Agree that the boarding pass print fee is ridiculous as is the carry-on bag fee.

BobK/Orlando

 

[M5ward]

I have a flight booked on Spirit in October from Atlantic City to Orlando. My flight times keep changing! In fact, they have changed three times! Our flight is now leaving an hour earlier, now at 6:00 am and our return flight over and hour later now at 9:30 pm. Not a big deal, but we decided to stay over in a hotel the night before, as we are almost 2 hour drive from the airport( we are at least an hour from any airport). We got a decent fare. Saved us 500-700$ on four tickets compared to other airlines. Even with seat fees and luggage fees, I figured we are still way ahead. Have flown Spirit 3 times before with no problems. The Atlantic City, NJ airport is a breeze. Easy, inexpensive parking within walking distance, small airport, and minimal security lines. Much easier than Newark.

In my opinion, the 40# weight limit on checked bags is most annoying, as every other airline has a 50# limit. When traveling with a family of four, I cannot get by with only two bags and must check a 3rd bag. I don't mind paying Spirit's fee to check the bag (36$ round trip with $9 fare club), but I get annoyed having to pay a premium to rent a minivan or full sized car to fit the extra suitcase (usually a couple of hundred dollars or more). My answer to this is to ship the 3rd suitcase Fedex. Problem solved! Spirit loses the bag fee, but the 40# limit is very restrictive in my opinion.

We have also had our flights changed for October..exact same times as yours. I only found out by checking my reservation..didn't get any notification. I always ship a box of stuff to the resort (mostly for the grandkids) to keep luggage weight down..40 lbs. isn't much (actually bought lighter luggage because of this change.) ACY is too convenient for us to look at other airlines (yes, AirTran does fly out of ACY but no nonstops to MCO); we only live about 15 minutes away.

 

[Lewisc]

To be fair:
Many airlines charge for advance seat assignments.
Most airlines charge for baggage so this is not unique.
Nearly every airline charges fees to make a reservation change after you confirm and pay for your booking.

Agree that the boarding pass print fee is ridiculous as is the carry-on bag fee.

BobK/Orlando

To be fair Southwest allows 2 checked bags for free and Jet Blue one.

To be fair many passengers on other airlines find a "bin bag" is sufficient. To be fair other passengers find two people can make do with bin bags and sharing one checked bag.

Spirit found too many passengers were "cheating" them out of checked bag fees. Spirit now charges for bin bags and the 40lb weight limit makes it less likely two passengers can share a checked bag. Many of the bags we use weight 15-20 lbs empty.

 

[merlinspride]

Try not to let other peoples experiences freak you out with Spirit. If you look long enough, everyone will have issues with every carrier.

I have flown them over 50 times (ACY - different locations in FLorida) and have never had a problem. I fly them multiple times a year, as does my extended family. For me, they have never lost my luggage, I do pre purchase my seats so I am guaranteed sitting w my daughter and I pay for a checked bag. I dont mind the fees..I look at is a al a carte options. Even when I add up all the fees and taxes, Spirit normally saves us at least $50 a flight over other carriers. Does it seem like they are nickel and diming you..sure when it is all broken down ..but these other carriers are charging you for the same stuff..the cost just isnt broken down to the lowest denominator. To me the cost arguement is all relative...I mean why would I fly Southwest for free bags, if the overall cost of the flight more money.

I always choose ACY over PHL airport for it ease. Enjoy your trip and go with Spirit.