DiverDean59
Contributor
Has anyone on the board ever used Spirit Air and is it worth it to join the $9 fare club?
Spirit Air
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dwatts
Contributor
I flew with Spirit once...last July to Grand Cayman. Spirit is well know for bad customer service and nickle & diming you. My experience confirms this reputation. With that said, they do offer very good prices. However, don't be fooled by the idea of $9 fares. With all of the fees you will still end up paying much more...not as much as most other airlines...but much more!
I would fly them again but only if I was not taking the entire family. For a quick guys diving weekend (maybe to Ft. Lauderdale), I will consider Spirit. As long as you don't have to interact with their customer service then it's worth it.
Oh, and they advertise their seats as large leather seats". Riiiiggghhhtt! They're just as close and unconmfortable as any other airline.
Give them a try before you join the club. See what you think. I chose to not join the club since I don't plan to be a frequent passenger on Spirit.
That's my 3 cents (inflation).
I would fly them again but only if I was not taking the entire family. For a quick guys diving weekend (maybe to Ft. Lauderdale), I will consider Spirit. As long as you don't have to interact with their customer service then it's worth it.
Oh, and they advertise their seats as large leather seats". Riiiiggghhhtt! They're just as close and unconmfortable as any other airline.
Give them a try before you join the club. See what you think. I chose to not join the club since I don't plan to be a frequent passenger on Spirit.
That's my 3 cents (inflation).
OP
DiverDean59
Contributor
Thanks, I didn't actually book with them but I did notice that when I went through the screens the cost was much higher than the advertised deal.
I have flown them to San Juan, Providenciales and Nassau. Definitely a cattle car operation but you can get some screaming deals from them. Yes, the tix always cost more than the advertised prices but much of that can be chalked up to customs and departure fees on the international flights.
My 2 cents is if you're not going a long distance buy the deal, longer flights, pony up for a better airline to not be miserable.
drl
Contributor
I haven't flown Spirit in some time now, but they were always known as "the bus". Cheap, crowded flights to Florida, lots of families with screaming kids, low fares but extra charges for everything.
Of course, these days they're no different than all the other airlines when it comes to crowding, nickel-and-diming and lousy customer service.
Of course, these days they're no different than all the other airlines when it comes to crowding, nickel-and-diming and lousy customer service.
I fly them regularly between Panama City, Panama and Ft. Lauderdale and I have never had lost luggage, my flights have never been late, and the customer service has been very good.
The quoted price does get higher when you tack on taxes, etc., but even with the fees it is still well worth it. I belong to the $9 Fare Club, pay $9 each way from PC to Lauderdale, and even with taxes and fees it is still only $91 roundtrip! No other airline comes close.
There are a lot od cranky kids, but I attribute this to the late hours the planes fly. Part of the reason they offer such cheap flights is they fly off-peak hours, pay lower gate fees, and pass this savings on to the consumer.
The quoted price does get higher when you tack on taxes, etc., but even with the fees it is still well worth it. I belong to the $9 Fare Club, pay $9 each way from PC to Lauderdale, and even with taxes and fees it is still only $91 roundtrip! No other airline comes close.
There are a lot od cranky kids, but I attribute this to the late hours the planes fly. Part of the reason they offer such cheap flights is they fly off-peak hours, pay lower gate fees, and pass this savings on to the consumer.
The flights I refer to were from FLL to SJO. There isn't anyone in SJO that you can call to get your luggage, and you can't exactly go to the baggage claim when the next flight gets in. The luggage in one instance belonged to a coworker. They got it back after returning to the US.
Utila Dive Ventures
Registered
If getting from point a to b is your biggest concern and money is the issue, then Spirit air is great. I took them from San Pedro Honduras to Fort Laud and it wasn't too bad. Go to the airport with plenty of time to spare though, I almost missed the flight because there was such a big line and they didn't have enough people working the desk.
If money isn't an issue then don't bother with them, regular airlines get the job done better.
If money isn't an issue then don't bother with them, regular airlines get the job done better.
F106A
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Fly on them frequently from ACY to various destinations in FL because they're 200 yards from where I work; PHL is 1+ hours away. They do nickle and dime you; seats, luggage, water. Print all your docs beforehand to preclude the possible confrontations/extra charges at check-in. In FLL their inside terminal folks sent me to Skycaps for check-in; the check-in there was jammed due to insufficent ticket/counter agents. (Reminiscent of the Saigon, May 1975 news reel footage) This has happened several times. Management by crisis personified. They recently reconfigured some/most of their aircraft. If you're <4' tall and/or have atrophied legs you'll be fine. Thank Airbus for not putting in more exits or the planes would probably have many more seats with even less leg room. Hopefully, when Indigo Group drops them, and Baldanza departs, they'll again become some sort of respectable organization. Until that time they'll be to airlines what Eisner was to Disney. ULCC = Ultra Low Cost Carrier. When all is said and done the more accurate phrase would be, ULSC = Ultra Low Service Carrier. Still, Like Baldanza said (paraphrased, maybe), "They'll be back when they save a penny."
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