True or False Qs For Spirit Airlines Experts

[keishashadow]

Spirit has come to 'da burg (actually Latrobe = shorter/easier drive for us) with lots of "luv". When i saw i could book 3 seats for less than $300 for a bonus trip to Myrtle Beach end of June, i jumped & am planning a bonus trip, especially since i didn't have to join the $9 fare club.

Now to sort out all the fees/hoop jumping. I did call their customer service dept (twice) but ran into ESL translation issues...although I clearly understood the credit card offer.

A recap of what i've grasped mostly reading on their website & here - experts please indicate if True or False:

*1 small carry-on pp free must fit under seat or another charge

*camera cases are free and allowed in addition to the above small carry-on ( is largeish size okay or do they have to be stuffed under the seat too along with carryon? I've read suggestions to have camera nestled on top of other stuff)

*checked bag now 40# & $28 per

*paid seat assignments/additional bags may be added online before flight time

*Friends tell me I'll be sorryas they're notorious for cancelling flights

Any other salient points i've missed/suggestions for a smooth flight?

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

*1 small carry-on pp free must fit under seat or another charge
True - we brought soft-sided bags to make it easier to fit them under the seat

*camera cases are free and allowed in addition to the above small carry-on ( is largeish size okay or do they have to be stuffed under the seat too along with carryon? I've read suggestions to have camera nestled on top of other stuff) Camera cases are free - but I'm sure they must also fit under the seat in front of you.
*checked bag now 40# & $28 per True, for flights booked on or after Dec 1, 2010

*paid seat assignments/additional bags may be added online before flight time True

*Friends tell me I'll be sorryas they're notorious for cancelling flights I've never had a problem with Spirit cancelling flights out of Atlantic City

Any other salient points i've missed/suggestions for a smooth flight?

The seats on Spirit are smaller and closer together than on the larger airlines. I've always been a staunch supporter of Spirit, but I have to admit that the decision to lower the bag weight to 40lbs might be the last straw for me. I have a flight booked for May, but I purchased those tickets prior to 12/1/10, so I am still under the old 50lb rule. This may very well be the last Spirit flight for me.

 

[keishashadow]

buzz's buddy - thank you! Have you experienced flights being cancelled?

would think i could stuff small carryon & camera bag in the underseat space

noticed when booking there was a chart as to available open seats for my flights. I'll just keep monitoring it & if plane starts to fill up will pay for assignments down. Probably will go ahead & book for way back as it's a saturday evening flight

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

buzz's buddy - thank you! Have you experienced flights being cancelled?

I personally have never had a flight cancelled by Spirit.

One thing about Spirit's seat assignments, which I recently found out the hard way. If you do not purchase your seat assignments at the time of purchase, you cannot purchase them until 90 days before your flight.

I'm not sure why they do it this way, but that's Spirit...

 

[keishashadow]

uh oh, guess i sit tight then

 

[buzzmom3]

I fly Spirit all the time and have never had a flight canceled.

 

[jenseib]

We flew them once. VERY small seats. Like uncomfortable for average sized people. I don't see how tall people fit.

I refuse to fly with them now because they charge for carry ons. I still price them out, and I can't find a cheaper flight with them anymore with all the added on fees. If it doesn't fit under the seat, they will charge you. Nothing can go in the overboard bin, unless you pay for it (from what I have been told)

 

[keishashadow]

I fly Spirit all the time and have never had a flight canceled.

good to hear! i did read re the seats being an issue for tall folk, long as they're not narrower in the seat we'll be okay.

Even if i spring for the most expensive seat assignments, check bags & order onboard sodas for my party of 3 it'd still be nearly $200 less than the other airlines' fare to MYR.

Just hope they'll start to offer flights to MCO, currently only to FLL from the local airport.