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Spirit Airlines Taps A Nation Of Hate Fliers
Ben Baldanza, Spirit's CEO, explains the model of Spirit and the economics of running an airline. (www.npr.org) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
In 2010 and 2011 I had to fly regularly between Ft Lauderdale and Dallas. After a few months using Delta and AirTran I got tired of going through Atlanta and tried Spirit's non-stops.
Their FLL terminal was always crowded and had the atmosphere of a Greyhound Bus Terminal. Their planes were brand new. Their staff was as competent as other airlines.
There were separate fees for everything. But when I added all the fees and included upgrades to a first-class size seat, snack and a couple alcoholic drinks, it was always cheaper than the cheapest coach fares on the other airlines I'd used. Plus my overall trip time was cut by hours by avoiding hub cities.
I didn't find Spirit any more unpleasant to fly than any other airline on that route. When I fly domestically I always check if I can use Jet Blue or Virgin America first. But on other routes I put Spirit in the same category as Delta, United, American and Southwest.
Their FLL terminal was always crowded and had the atmosphere of a Greyhound Bus Terminal. Their planes were brand new. Their staff was as competent as other airlines.
There were separate fees for everything. But when I added all the fees and included upgrades to a first-class size seat, snack and a couple alcoholic drinks, it was always cheaper than the cheapest coach fares on the other airlines I'd used. Plus my overall trip time was cut by hours by avoiding hub cities.
I didn't find Spirit any more unpleasant to fly than any other airline on that route. When I fly domestically I always check if I can use Jet Blue or Virgin America first. But on other routes I put Spirit in the same category as Delta, United, American and Southwest.
I heard this one on All Things Considered yesterday. With that, I guess I did call it right, when I equated them to the Dollar Store. Dollar General definitely qualifies, as you get what you pay for. Good to see that NKS and RYR are in good company.
The concept that the ticket price pays for the TRANSPORTATION, is foreign to the traveling public in the U.S. and will take some getting used to. If it is known ahead of time is not a surprise, then one will have a decent experience. If they board thinking it is as any other airline, they will not have a pleasant ride.
We had a plane, a crew, and no delays with winds you could fly a Cessna in.
Ironically a delayed flight they had to DTW with more passengers booked left an hour later with our crew and plane.
I'm one of those pax that says I will never fly spirit again and I won't.