Spirit

LadyEph87 · #1 05-04-2008, 10:00 AM

Hello,

I'm just wondering how many people have used Spirit Airlines (frequently) and if you've flown them without a problem. I had a HORRIBLE experience with them am vowed to never fly them again. [They made us miss our connecting flight, left us stranded in Ft. Lauderdale without a hotel room. We had to pay for a hotel stay, and for a new plane ticket on another airline to get us to our final destination (kingston, jamaica) because they didn't have any other connecting flights heading there until the NEXT WEEK. (yes, we arrived a day later and a lot more broke than we had expected) On the way back, we ran into a similar problem where they didn't leave enough time between connecting flights and our whole plane was rushing to make it through security and customs quickly enough to catch the flight..some people didn't make it. God knows what happened to them. To add insult to injury, they LOST 9 pieces of our group's luggage and broke 4 suitcases...a total nightmare]. It seems, however, that many people recommend them. Was my one experience an anomaly? Should I brave flying them again?

drloca · #2 05-04-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyEph87

Hello,

I'm just wondering how many people have used Spirit Airlines (frequently) and if you've flown them without a problem. I had a HORRIBLE experience with them am vowed to never fly them again. [They made us miss our connecting flight, left us stranded in Ft. Lauderdale without a hotel room. We had to pay for a hotel stay, and for a new plane ticket on another airline to get us to our final destination (kingston, jamaica) because they didn't have any other connecting flights heading there until the NEXT WEEK. (yes, we arrived a day later and a lot more broke than we had expected) On the way back, we ran into a similar problem where they didn't leave enough time between connecting flights and our whole plane was rushing to make it through security and customs quickly enough to catch the flight..some people didn't make it. God knows what happened to them. To add insult to injury, they LOST 9 pieces of our group's luggage and broke 4 suitcases...a total nightmare]. It seems, however, that many people recommend them. Was my one experience an anomaly? Should I brave flying them again?

I think based on your personal experience, you would be the best judge of that.
I know for me, that would be a no-brainer with any airline.

corsair74 · #3 05-04-2008, 10:19 AM

The very same thing happened to me and a buddy in 06'. Our flight was delayed and we missed our connecting flight in Ft. Lauderdale as well. Spirit's excuse was that that could not be held accountable for delays caused by the weather.

Fine. But you would think that they'd at least pay for a hotel room since we couldn't get a flight out until the next morning. I mean, that's just good business right? Well, apparently the folks at Spirit don't think so. We ended up paying for our own rooms that night.

IMO Spirit is the absolute worst airline out there. They have absolutely no idea what good customer service entails, and they often refuse to take responsibility for the bad customer service that seems to be their MO. I thought about writing a letter to their corporate office to express my dissatisfaction, but realized that it would probably do little good. In all likelihood, Spirit already knows that their customer service sucks. But as an LCC (Low Cost Carrier), they will always offer flights at a much cheaper rate than the legacy airlines. Therefore, they will always have those who will risk the horrendous customer service in order save a buck.

I've made up my mind to never fly Spirit again. But then, I am fortunate enough to be able to pay the higher fares of the Legacy airlines.

Vince.

Hillbilly · #4 05-04-2008, 11:18 AM

If my wife were to read this she would say, "Oh my!"

We have flown them several times, and marveled at the good service...
And, believe me, we flew cheapest possible...
On one flight we went all the way to Punta Cana to catch the flight and the other time we went to Santo Domingo.

Of course, we were not a large group, so I really cannot say...

I'd say you sorta have to take the good with the bad... those prices can't be beat...

Give them a chance...

HB

SKY · #5 05-04-2008, 12:05 PM

My friend uses them a lot from FLL to SDQ with no problems and great fares. Maybe if you are flying direct you have less chance of problems.

SKY · #6 05-04-2008, 01:49 PM

Speaking of the devil. My friend just called me from SD. He booked a ticket last night on Spirit FLL SD coming today on a 6AM flight, leaving Thur. $247 RT. This is not a typo, includes all taxes. The plane was on time, with no problems.

toneloc24 · #7 05-04-2008, 03:14 PM

Sorry to hear about your experience. However, low prices don't always mean reliable. When you buy cheap, what do you expect? The red carpet treatment??? It's no-frills all the way.

When you fly Spirit and Jet Blue, you always open yourself up to additional risks that larger airlines try to cover, esp. for connections. Low cost carrier means EXACTLY that. They're not inclined to accomodate you for delays and weather and missed flights, whereas AA, Delta etc would. They don't have back-up plans, for instance, other Skyteam or One World airline partners. That's the risk that you MUST think about, when booking LCCs. It's doesn't happen all the time, but when you experience it, in hindsight, you wonder whether the $50 or $100 difference was really worth it.

corsair74 · #8 05-04-2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toneloc24

Sorry to hear about your experience. However, low prices don't always mean reliable. When you buy cheap, what do you expect? The red carpet treatment??? It's no-frills all the way.

When you fly Spirit and Jet Blue, you always open yourself up to additional risks that larger airlines try to cover, esp. for connections. Low cost carrier means EXACTLY that. They're not inclined to accomodate you for delays and weather and missed flights, whereas AA, Delta etc would. They don't have back-up plans, for instance, other Skyteam or One World airline partners. That's the risk that you MUST think about, when booking LCCs. It's doesn't happen all the time, but when you experience it, in hindsight, you wonder whether the $50 or $100 difference was really worth it.

You are absolutely right. You get what you pay for. I paid around $300 for a round trip ticket from Washington D.C. to Santo Domingo. Thought it was a great deal until Spirit screwed me royally!

The $100 to $150 saved was definitely not worth it. Unless it's an emergency, I'll be staying away from the LCCs. I just hope that the proposed airline mergers don't result in ridiculous fares across the board.

Vince.

Latino2002 · #9 05-05-2008, 02:10 AM

AFter 911..if you misconx your flight due to Weather or ATC (air trafic controler) Delays...you are on you own....As that's go for al Major airlines in the US...so dont feel bad about it.

toneloc24 · #10 05-05-2008, 10:14 AM

Well, speaking from my experience with Delta, in approx. 2004, on a return flight from Montego Bay, JA to ATL on miles, we had to make an emergency landing in Orlando. We arrived later than the US Customs normal hours, so we had to wait on the plane for a couple of hours for them to staff up since we couldn't enter the USA without clearing customs.

Once we all did that, Air Jamaica found some Delta reps to coordinate getting the Delta passengers to their final destinations. The Air Jamaica folks also were straightened out. A few were able to catch the last flights out that night to their to destinations. The rest of us were fully comp'ed with Orlando airport hotel and food vouchers, as well as connections on the next available flights out the following day.

This was post 9-11, and it was with Delta. I'm pretty sure that this situation wouldn't have played out the same if I had booked on a LCC.