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Spirit Airlines

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by M&M Man, Jul 29, 2013.

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  1. M&M Man

    M&M Man Tourist

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    How is Spirit Airlines to fly? I have been looking to go to vegas and they are fairly cheap fare wise. Is the service the same way cheap or are they reasonable airline to fly?
     
  2. Fafa2e

    Fafa2e High-Roller

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    I personally go out of my way not to fly Spirit Airlines. I will py $100 more to take SW or another airline.

    They do tend to have really good fares sometimes, but you need to consider all of the add on costs like baggage fees, etc. I just feel that they cram you into their planes like sardines and it makes the whole trip so unpleasant that you are just frustrated and fatigued when you get to Vegas that it starts the trip on a bad note.

    I know that others will disagree and say that as long as you know that you are getting a no frills experience and you prepare for it, Spirit is fine, but I will only fly Spirit as a last resort.
     
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  3. gguerra

    gguerra High-Roller

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    Spirit and Allegiant are the "budget" airlines that frequently offer "low" fares to Vegas. I can only speak for Allegiant since that is what I have flown and I can say they will nickle and dime you to death. It is costs extra $ to pre-select your seat, check in online, baggage fees are like $50 per check in and $35 for carry on and the list goes on and on.. The planes frequently have mechanical problems which delays flights. The only good thing about the flights I take (from Mcallen, TX) is that they are direct.
     
  4. woodsie

    woodsie VIP Whale

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    I pay an extra $100 to fly on Delta over Spirit on purpose every time.
     
  5. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    I have never flown them, but I've researched them quite a bit.
    As posted above, they absolutely will nickel & dime you to death.
    Select your seat? Pay a fee. Any luggage at all - carry-on or checked? Pay a fee.
    Weight-limit on bags before higher fee applies? Lower limit than any other airline.
    You'd like some water during the flight? Pay a fee.
    You'd like to at least guarantee that you won't be assigned a middle seat? Pay a fee.

    Now, all of that said, at least you can know all of that going in.
    What you won't know is whether or not your flight will be sold out.
    From what I've read, if it's not, you may very well end up scheduled on a flight that has sudden 'mechanical difficulties' requiring your taking the next 'not-sold-out' flight....oh, and no compensation when that happens, by the way.
    Connecting? Again, from what I've read, if the connecting flight is sold out, you'll be waiting for the next one...you guessed it - no compensation when that happens either.
    Suffice it to say that I've read enough horror stories about them that I'm not even remotely tempted by their 'low' airfares.

    One more thing - when you add in the costs for luggage, beverage service, seat-selection & boarding order, the low fare they charge ends up being remarkably close to the more traditional airlines.
    I should also add that these are issues I've only read about on the internet - so take that for what it's worth. YMMV. Do your own research before making your decision.
     
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  6. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    they are absolutely, positively awful. in fact they are 10x more awful than you can imagine. but if the money you save is worth more to you than dealing with that for an hour or 2, go for it.
     
  7. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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  8. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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  9. M&M Man

    M&M Man Tourist

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    Thanks everyone for your replys
     
  10. joshcox19

    joshcox19 Tourist

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    As others have said, it is a budget airline.. You get exactly what you pay for and no more. I've flown Allegiant many times, Spirit once, and have no complaints. If you go in expecting things to operate exactly like a mainline carrier then you're going to be disappointed. If you go into it expecting to get what you paid for, and only what you paid for, it is a great way to save some money.
     
  11. chess

    chess VIP Whale

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    I am with shifter on this..... big thumbs down from me
     
  12. RiddickBull

    RiddickBull VIP Whale

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    I try to avoid Spirit when I can. My brother used Spirit a few months ago. His flight home was scheduled for the red eye flight. Guess what happened, flight was cancelled. In addition, they did not refund him his money. After complaining for hours, they give him his money back.

    If you are saving a bunch of money, I would fly them and take the suffering. If you need to be home at a specific time/date, most likely your flight will be delayed or cancelled. If another flight is a little extra, I would take the other airlines. If you miss your flight, you loose your ticket and they won't put you on a later flight. You have to pay out of your pocket.

    I personally prefer Delta. Can't go wrong with them.
     
  13. win4me

    win4me VIP Whale

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  14. lotso-bear

    lotso-bear VIP Whale

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    +1. I'd only consider flying them or any other LCC if the airfares between them and the legacy airlines is substantially cheaper ($200+)
     
  15. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    I'm a loyal Southwest customer. I can fly any airline I like and I fly once or twice a month. I agree with the above statement. I have NEVER, repeat NEVER heard a positive story from anyone I trust about Spirt... yet I do know people fly this airline all the time. I think they're the same type of traveler who takes the bus from the airport to their hotel or hostel. More power to 'em... that's not me.
     
  16. WHITEJACKET73

    WHITEJACKET73 VIP Whale

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    Okay, I'll throw in my two cents about Spirit. I've flown them out of MSP 3 times in the past year...no problems encountered so far. The airfares to Vegas out MSP are significantly lower than the other airlines. I flew roundtrip (non-stop flight) in April for a total of $59.80...no BS...that included all taxes and fees. I didn't pay for a checked or carry-on bag when I booked my flight. Spirit sent me two e-mails reminding me that it would cost more if I waited until I checked in at the airport. If they let you know ahead of time and you still screw around until you get to the counter and you pay more...well it's your own damn fault.

    True they charge you for everything: carry-on bag or checked bag, pick your seat ahead of time, in-flight beverage (including water) you pay extra. I took a backpack on my April flight; change of trousers & a couple of shirts, change of underwear and some personal items. Backpack fit under the seat, no problem and no charge. All of my flights have been non-stop and left on time, except once....blizzard in MSP delayed flight for 2 hours...would have been the same with any other airline...including Delta ....D.E.L.T.A(Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive).

    I have to agree that the seating is terrible. If you are over 5' 10" your knees will be touching the seat in front of you; and the seats don't recline. They are the most uncomfortable airline seats I have encountered in 45 years of flying.

    I have yet to encounter a rude Spirit employee. Maybe it is because of where I am flying out of, Minneapolis...(Minnesota Nice, as we say here). They have added an extra daily non-stop flight starting this fall, which has much more convenient flight times. I booked a flight for the end of October for $165 RT, add in the $30 baggage fee each way = $225. The best non-stop flight I can get with the other airlines is $317, and I still would have to add on the fees for a checked bag on top of that. Spirit ran a special promo for a couple of days ... $24 off of your flight. My son booked his flight today...total cost: $133.78 RT. I told him that he could put some of his clothes in my bag & just take a backpack and avoid paying any baggage fees.

    They are a no frills outfit, like Allegiant (which I have flown with a number of times). All of their extra fees are explained up front on their web pages. I am fortunate that I can get a direct flight; it seems a lot of the problems that people have had with Spirit stem from problems with connecting flights.

    I am pretty low maintenance, so I can put up with an uncomfortable airplane seat for 3 hours. However, rude or imcompetent airline employees will not be tolerated by me. As long as I can reap the benefits of these low airfares, I'll continue to patronize Spirit....more money to spend at the Vegas tables(casino and restaurant). Just my personal observations; maybe I have been just lucky with these guys so far.
     
  17. LushLife

    LushLife Tourist

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    I nearly always fly SW as it's a hub for me at BWI (Baltimore Washington). Spirit now runs a non-stop to Vegas at 7:30pm on Friday night, which is the night we're all going. He's taking that and coming back on a red-eye-ish flight non-stop. I think he paid 299, but he probably will have a carry on and one checked luggage. Compared to what I paid he'll probably save 100 dollars or so. It's not a bad deal, but I'll report back on his experience.

    He is a pretty happy-go-lucky guy and probably wouldn't be bothered though honestly.
     
  18. mjamesp

    mjamesp High-Roller

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    Thanks for the info Whitejacket. I'm flying Spirit from MSP to LAS next Thursday (back on SW) and then again in October.

    I have to admit I'm a bit nervous concerning delayed/canceled flights. I'm glad to hear your flights out of MSP haven't had problems. I know what I'm getting into as far as the fees. I've pre-paid for a checked bag this trip and will live out of a duffle bag for a short trip in October.

    One-way Aug 8th is $90 and the round trip in October is $78. The October trip wouldn't be happening without the $78 round-trip. It's with a bunch of guys and worth the risk that comes with the discount airline.
     
  19. dhlamar

    dhlamar Low-Roller

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    I flew on Spirit out of Baltimore to Vegas in May, I booked hotel and flight on Orbitz then I did my research on Spirit Airlines and I got terrified about the seat sizes. I am 6ft 4in tall so all airline seats are cramped for me so I always try and get an exit row seat. The flight was a bargain @ around $140 so I had no problem paying the extra $100 for the big seat up front which I am in love with. I am heading back in Sept and got tickets for $277 with big front seats so I consider that a bargain again. If you are a small person who can fit in there seats and hopefully dont get stuck beside a person my size to cheap to get the big seats and your dates for flying are flexible then Spirit is great. I schedule all my flights around cheap flights since I can travel at anytime.
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2013
  20. dhlamar

    dhlamar Low-Roller

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    PS neither of my flights were delayed or canceled but I had a buddy who went to Vegas a couple of weeks ago and his flight back was canceled because of some 6 hour pilot flying time or something like that because the flight before was delayed. But all airlines have delays and cancellations my motto is if my flight is not delayed I was lucky so that way I wont be disappointed!!!
    :thumbsup:
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2013
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