Upset with Spirit; do I have any recourse?

[ajlsjl]

I had to fly home (MCO - ACY) a day early to beat Irene back to NJ. When I called Spirit to change my flight, I was informed that I'd have to pay $180+ in penalties. All other airlines were waiving their penalties because of the hurricane. Do I have any recourse to get Spirit to refund this money? I doubt it, and am hoping someone has some advise.

 

[Jestocost]

I had to fly home (MCO - ACY) a day early to beat Irene back to NJ. When I called Spirit to change my flight, I was informed that I'd have to pay $180+ in penalties. All other airlines were waiving their penalties because of the hurricane. Do I have any recourse to get Spirit to refund this money? I doubt it, and am hoping someone has some advise.

You can try, but you likely don't have any real basis to force them to make a change. The other airlines voluntarily waived their change fees for passengers impacted by the hurricanes; it's not a requirement as far as I know.

Spirit has a fundamentally different business model than the other airlines and part of the deal would appear to be that in exchange for really cheap fares (albeit with every extra costing more $) one of the things you have to live with is paying change fees no matter what.

 

[seashoreCM]

You jumped the gun and went ahead and modified your reservation, paying the change fee etc.

On the other hand, suppose you reported to the airport sufficiently punctually to take the earlier flight of your choice. If said earlier flight had room but they didn't let you on for want of more money and also your original flight were cancelled including for weather, then they would have failed to use reasonable efforts to get you to your destination.

 

[Brian Noble]

As far as I know Jestocost is correct: it's up to the airline to decide whether or not they wish to waive change fees.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

You jumped the gun and went ahead and modified your reservation, paying the change fee etc.

On the other hand, suppose you reported to the airport sufficiently punctually to take the earlier flight of your choice. If said earlier flight had room but they didn't let you on for want of more money and also your original flight were cancelled including for weather, then they would have failed to use reasonable efforts to get you to your destination.

What??? There is no requirement for them to have let the person on a flight the day earlier.

This post makes no sense and it won't really help the OP.


Spirit was not ever required to let you fly early. Had your original flight been cancelled due to weather Spirit probably would have let you standby on a later flight without a penalty. Of course they would continue to sell those seats so it might take a week to get home, but.... they would have done what they
"could"

If you wanted an airline that worried about customer relations and did things like allow free travel changes, you should not have flown Spirit. Sorry!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

On the other hand, suppose you reported to the airport sufficiently punctually to take the earlier flight of your choice. If said earlier flight had room but they didn't let you on for want of more money and also your original flight were cancelled including for weather, then they would have failed to use reasonable efforts to get you to your destination.

Could you repost, this time in English?

Seriously, this is a another good reason to avoid flying on Spirit Airlines.

 

[Lewisc]

You were told what it would cost to change your flight. You agreed to pay it. I don't see how you have any recourse. Spirit may have decided there were enough passengers willing to pay to fill whatever seats were available on the earlier flight.

People who fly Spirit should be expecting this kind of service. I hope the OP posts his experience when DIS ask about Spirit.

Your recourse would have been to argue when you were told about the charge. I don't see any recourse once you agreed to pay. The only recourse might be if the decision to close the airport at the time of your flight was announced prior to you making the change.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Quote:
Originally Posted by seashoreCM

On the other hand, suppose you reported to the airport sufficiently punctually to take the earlier flight of your choice. If said earlier flight had room but they didn't let you on for want of more money and also your original flight were cancelled including for weather, then they would have failed to use reasonable efforts to get you to your destination.

Could you repost, this time in English?

Seriously, this is a another good reason to avoid flying on Spirit Airlines.

I sure hope this doesn't lead to a round of bickering

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm watching you, watching, watching...always watching!!! Play nicely.

 

[bumbershoot]

Philosophy (that they owe you nothing) vs reality....

Spirit Airlines Initiates Hurricane Buster Policy



Miramar, Florida (August 28, 2011)....

In order to offer customers flexibility, Spirit Airlines has activated its Hurricane Buster Protection policy in response to potential flight changes resulting from Hurricane Irene.



For customers holding reservations for travel to, from or through affected locations on dates specified below, Spirit Airlines will waive the change fee and difference in fare, provided that customers rebook their travel plans before the date and time of their original reservation, and travel on or before September 30, 2011.



Customers who wish to move their travel beyond September 30, 2011, will not be charged a change fee, however any difference in fare will apply.



Customers must call the Spirit Reservations Center at 800-772-7117 (or en Español 800-756-7117) to make their flight changes.



Locations included in the Hurricane Buster Protection policy related to Hurricane Irene:



For travel to, from or through the following locations between Saturday, August 27, 2011 and Sunday, August 28, 2011:

· Myrtle Beach (MYR)

For travel to, from or through the following locations between Saturday, August 27, 2011 and Monday, August 29, 2011:

· Washington, DC (DCA)

· New York LaGuardia (LGA)

· Boston (BOS)

For travel to, from or through the following locations between Friday, August 26, 2011 and Monday, August 29, 2011:

· Atlantic City (ACY)

Hope that helps.

 

[aubriee]

I'm watching you, watching, watching...always watching!!! Play nicely.

Thank you, Roz!

 

[Brian Noble]

Hope that helps.

It sounds like the OP made the change before Spirit issued the waiver. If it were another airline, I could imagine getting a refund on the change fee. With Spirit, I'd be surprised.

 

[debster812]

It sounds like the OP made the change before Spirit issued the waiver. If it were another airline, I could imagine getting a refund on the change fee. With Spirit, I'd be surprised.

I'd be stunned if the OP could actually get someone at Spirit to have the conversation, let alone getting a refund......

 

[dudspizza]

Thank you, Roz!

I thought the same thing......

This image is in my mind now!

 

[dudspizza]

Op, I would take the info Bumbershoot posted and go from there. It may depend on when you rebooked your flight, in this case.

Good luck.

Duds

 

[crashbb]

Op, I would take the info Bumbershoot posted and go from there. It may depend on when you rebooked your flight, in this case.

Good luck.

Duds

Absolutley. What's the harm in trying?

Also, I note that the policy is dated 28-Aug, but refers to flights:

For travel to, from or through the following locations between Friday, August 26, 2011 and Monday, August 29, 2011:

· Atlantic City (ACY)

Obviously, anyone traveling on the 26th or 27th (and early on the 28th) would have had to make their changes before the policy was published, so, in theory, the fact that the OP made the change before the policy was posted shouldn't mean that she cannot get the fee waived.

 

[Brian Noble]

Yes, but this is Spirit.

I would write a letter rather than call, and see what happens. Calling them is very frustrating.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Send the letter certified, return receipt. See if you can get the name of someone high up in the company.

 

[crashbb]

Yes, but this is Spirit.

I would write a letter rather than call, and see what happens. Calling them is very frustrating.

I did say "IN THEORY"

 

[ajlsjl]

Just an update: I disputed the charge with my credit card. They gave me a temporary credit on my account in the amount of the change fees until the investigation is complete. This could take up to a month. It's not a major update, but an update nonetheless.