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Spirit Airline: You get what you pay for / Never fly Spirit

SOJA

By SOJA,
in Huddle Lounge

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SOJA Veteran

SOJA

Posted
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I'm here today to tell you all why you should never book a flight on Spirit Airline.

 

Spirit is known for having cheap, affordable flights- similar to Ryan Air for those of you across the pond. They also have cheap and terrible customer service.

 

After spending an hour on the phone with them today to simply change a low cost flight ($35) to a few days later, I was told it would cost be $120. Any flight change made outside of 24 hours of booking costs this. Now, if I booked a completely new flight it would still only cost me $35. Thus, I was advised by a supervisor to book a new flight or cancel my old. So now I have one completely useless ticket that is completely non-refundable

 

On top of this, you are allowed one personal item, but a carry on will cost you another $100.

 

This is how they nab you, they basically expect you to show up with minimal items and make absolutely no changes in your work/social life and then, only then, in this utopian vision they have- will you be guaranteed your low cost flight.

 

Thus we see what you get when you buy cheap things. With all the feel good customer service stories I see on the internet, this is exactly the opposite. I realize this is only $35 dollars, but the money is not the real issue here. It's the inflexibility and overall unresponsiveness I received. In my years of traveling I've had poor experiences with other Airlines, but they have always been willing to refund or give future flights in exchange. Spirit not only didn't offer anything, they patronized me saying they had already explained their policies to me.

 

I have never felt more alienated by a company over what would seemingly be a very easy change.

 

In your future, if you have the option of flying either Spirit Airline or any other airline, choose the other airline. God forbid life would happen and you would need to make a change.

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SOJA Veteran

SOJA

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If it makes you feel any better I had to eat a round trip $180 ticket to New York because of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

 

 

Every airline I know of is that way about changes unless you pay extra for insurance.

 

 

true and I'm sorry about that. I want to reiterate that my issue isn't the money its the horrible customer service and the inflexible system they have in place. This is more of a warning to not use Spirit unless you absolutely have to

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SCP Enthusiast

SCP

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I flew Vanguard one time out of Myrtle Beach. They either purchased Hooters Air or Hooters Air purchased them. Anyway, it was an old ass B737 and I had the bulkhead seat up front (minus the bulkhead). When it was time to depart, the flight attendant asked me to get up and help her shut the door because it had to be slammed hard to engage. After doing that I never flew them again and I think they went bankrupt a year later.

But yes, Spirit sucks ass.

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Johnny Rockets Rookie

Johnny Rockets

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I use Spirit to fly from Myrtle Beach to Atlantic City once in awhile. I know you mention it's not about the money but that seems to be your gripe (won't change their policy to give your money back) and there are some things to point out.

 

You can check a bag for $30 or $35 not $100. The $100 is only if you check the bag at the gate. This is to deter people from getting around paying for a bag buy checking it only when they "accidently" realize that it is too big to fit under the seat.

The $120 to change a flight is cheaper than most other US airlines. Sure it's cheaper to just cancel it and re-book it as you said though.

 

Almost half of Spirits revenue is made up by fees and non ticket revenue and that is how they can be profitable and still sell round trip flights for $25. They are stingent on their rules to protect their profits. It's not like they try to hide any of the charges that you will pay if you need to make changes.

 

You get what you pay for but when I can easily fly to Atlantic City and back for well under $50 roundtrip, I am not going to expect world class service and I realize the risk I am taking if I need to make changes or cancel, but that risk is only the $50 ticket I bought.

 

Damn, I just realized I sound like a Spirit airline spokesman.

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SOJA Veteran

SOJA

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I use Spirit to fly from Myrtle Beach to Atlantic City once in awhile. I know you mention it's not about the money but that seems to be your gripe (won't change their policy to give your money back) and there are some things to point out.

 

You can check a bag for $30 or $35 not $100. The $100 is only if you check the bag at the gate. This is to deter people from getting around paying for a bag buy checking it only when they "accidently" realize that it is too big to fit under the seat.

The $120 to change a flight is cheaper than most other US airlines. Sure it's cheaper to just cancel it and re-book it as you said though.

 

Almost half of Spirits revenue is made up by fees and non ticket revenue and that is how they can be profitable and still sell round trip flights for $25. They are stingent on their rules to protect their profits. It's not like they try to hide any of the charges that you will pay if you need to make changes.

 

You get what you pay for but when I can easily fly to Atlantic City and back for well under $50 roundtrip, I am not going to expect world class service and I realize the risk I am taking if I need to make changes or cancel, but that risk is only the $50 ticket I bought.

 

Damn, I just realized I sound like a Spirit airline spokesman.

 

 

 

true and I understand your point completely, it's always good to have a devil's advocate 

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Cary Kollins Experienced

Cary Kollins

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I use Spirit to fly from Myrtle Beach to Atlantic City once in awhile. I know you mention it's not about the money but that seems to be your gripe (won't change their policy to give your money back) and there are some things to point out.

You can check a bag for $30 or $35 not $100. The $100 is only if you check the bag at the gate. This is to deter people from getting around paying for a bag buy checking it only when they "accidently" realize that it is too big to fit under the seat.

The $120 to change a flight is cheaper than most other US airlines. Sure it's cheaper to just cancel it and re-book it as you said though.

Almost half of Spirits revenue is made up by fees and non ticket revenue and that is how they can be profitable and still sell round trip flights for $25. They are stingent on their rules to protect their profits. It's not like they try to hide any of the charges that you will pay if you need to make changes.

You get what you pay for but when I can easily fly to Atlantic City and back for well under $50 roundtrip, I am not going to expect world class service and I realize the risk I am taking if I need to make changes or cancel, but that risk is only the $50 ticket I bought.

Damn, I just realized I sound like a Spirit airline spokesman.

Yeah I went to their website and it actually sounds kind of awesome.

If only they had flights out of Charlotte or Greensboro.

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