Back from Aruba/Spirit Airlines

[427Dave]

I am back from a week of great diving in Aruba. Flew out of Tampa with Spirit Airlines (seats too close I am 6'3"), charge $25 per bag to check 1st bagage, charge $10.00 to get a boarding pass earlier than flight time, and charge $3.00 for a bottle of water. They are never to be used again. They lost my dive gear for 2 days. They told me that they did NOT lose my bagage, that "I" had lost my bagage! I said I gave it to them in Tampa and have a claim check, so therefore they lost it. They told me I still was the one that lost it and they would not do anything about renting equipment, said if it does not show up in a month I can apply for a $9.07 per pound claim. So it did not start out well and I missed 2 full days of diving, although I did rent equipment and dive 1 dive Sunday and Monday. Next time I will drive

When my gear arrived got into the 3 tanks a day diving and had a great time. WE left for the airport and my camera went bonkers. So it is now not working and back at the factory (again). I had taken the laptop and downloaded pictures each day so I did not lose any. Now alll I have to do is get the time to edit over 1000 pictures which I am sure 750 are bad

Great time anyway.

 

[Reef]

Wow, that does like sound like an adventure.

Thanks I now know what airline not to use.

(Patiently awaiting pics)

 

[Salmonboy97]

Welcome back, sorry to hear you had such a rough time.

DAN trip insurance will insure scuba gear from loss by carriers.

Please upload those pics as soon as possbile. I would love to see them!

 

[427Dave]

Welcome back, sorry to hear you had such a rough time.

DAN trip insurance will insure scuba gear from loss by carriers.

Please upload those pics as soon as possbile. I would love to see them!

I am a DAN member and have DAN dive insurance, I never thought about DAN travel insurance, thanks.

I will get to pictures as soon as I have time, will be busy with the holidays and a couple more non diving trips.

 

[deepstops]

Spirit has grown too fast and is now in last place for reported complaints:
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/2008/November/200811ATCR.pdf
Page 41 shows the facts you need to know....

They are a relatively small player yet their complaint stats compare in overall number to AA, Delta, United , and USAir. Very sad, they were a nice low-cost carrier and are my "hometown" airline.

 

[Missdirected]

Dave - who did you dive with there? Report please

 

[427Dave]

Dave - who did you dive with there? Report please

I dove with Unique Water Sports, who I have been diving with for 10 years. I was going to give Native Divers a try but their boat was out of the water with a broken rudder. Native Divers even recommend only Unique and Dive Aruba when they told me they could not go out.

I had read where some people had a problem with Unique. I have never had a problem. On a couple of dive they had quite a load on the boat, but it was organized with multi DM's in the water. I also noted they had brand new saugages. They bought out Pelican Divers a couple years ago and I think this has caused some problems they are getting ironed out.

I just got my camera back from the factory today and need to get my pictures edited and upload a few. I think I took over a 1000 pictures so that may take awhile.

Had a great time after my gear was found...

Dave