Anyone fly Spirit Airlines?

[Madeinhb]

We just flew Frontier a couple weeks ago and they are definitely going downhill. No free carryon luggage, it actually costs less to check a large suitcase than bring one with you. You get a free cup of water anything else is going to cost you. Plus they all apparently hate their job and all passengers as well...

Yup. My wife and I had to fly them due to using up files for a free trip. Instead of 2 cartons- we checked one large back for less.

Their new thing is you buy what you need. Instead of it all in the price and if you don't use - you still pay. Not many people are happy with it. We'll see how long t lasts. But I'm done with them.

[boomerhc9]

I booked tickets the first time by myself for a trip last july. rented my first rental car too. Great deal from allegiant. $52 dollars just for flying with my backpack. $171 for 2 day car w/nav and insurance.

I will never fly allegiant again. First, the plane was 2 hours late getting there to pick us up. Then they moved our departure gate 3 times (2 times I don't know why and the third because of a haboob followed by a rainstorm, which surrounded the entire air port) We waited an hour and a half when they Then said they had "electrical issues" and one of the guest heard 2 agents talking and shouted out, "what are you talking about safety issues" to the ticket agents. The pilot let us know it was an electrical short that could have been a safety issue. (while we were sitting on the plane for 45 minutes.) After30 minutes sitting on the tarmac, the lady and her 3 kids one therapy dog, and missing husband, tried to get off but finaly sat down and we were allowed to take off.


Didn't get back to the springs until 1:30 am or so.
Didn't care, the turbulence through the storm was horrible. Between all that and several screaming kids, I was just glad to be back on the ground.

[Madeinhb]

Frontier is owned by Spirit Airlines. That's why they are going downhill.

[NFATrustGuy]

Frontier is owned by Spirit Airlines. That's why they are going downhill.

Close, but not exactly.

A group of investors called Indigo Partners bought Spirit some time ago as a "fix-and-flip" project. They "transformed" the airline to what the industry is calling an Ultra Low Cost Carrier. The whole idea of unbundling--paying extra for everything beyond the actual seat--is a key component of the ULCC concept.

In any case, profits increased significantly under the ULCC model and Indigo sold a large percentage of Spirit by way of an Initial Public Offering. As of just a little over a year ago, Indigo sold all its remaining shares in Spirit and purchased Frontier in hopes of doing the same thing.

So no, Spirit doesn't own Frontier, but they're headed down the same fix-and-flip ULCC transformation with hopes of a very profitable IPO by the same corporate raiders that previously invested in Spirit.

Time will tell if this ULCC concept is really viable as a long term business plan, but in the short term, it seems to be wildly successful from a financial standpoint. 2014 was Frontier's most profitable year in its 20+ year history. Personally, I hate the concept, but it's hard to argue with the objective financial performance numbers.

RWW

[KestrelBike]

Close, but not exactly.

A group of investors called Indigo Partners bought Spirit some time ago as a "fix-and-flip" project. They "transformed" the airline to what the industry is calling an Ultra Low Cost Carrier. The whole idea of unbundling--paying extra for everything beyond the actual seat--is a key component of the ULCC concept.

In any case, profits increased significantly under the ULCC model and Indigo sold a large percentage of Spirit by way of an Initial Public Offering. As of just a little over a year ago, Indigo sold all its remaining shares in Spirit and purchased Frontier in hopes of doing the same thing.

So no, Spirit doesn't own Frontier, but they're headed down the same fix-and-flip ULCC transformation with hopes of a very profitable IPO by the same corporate raiders that previously invested in Spirit.

Time will tell if this ULCC concept is really viable as a long term business plan, but in the short term, it seems to be wildly successful from a financial standpoint. 2014 was Frontier's most profitable year in its 20+ year history. Personally, I hate the concept, but it's hard to argue with the objective financial performance numbers.

RWW

F*** Indigo. Brilliant for their shareholders/profit, shitty for the consumer who take time to adjust their demand dynamics (ie not fly on airlines that suddenly aren't what they want in a flying experience). Sounds similar to what EA and various other video game giants did to the industry.

[sniper7]

F*** Indigo. Brilliant for their shareholders/profit, shitty for the consumer who take time to adjust their demand dynamics (ie not fly on airlines that suddenly aren't what they want in a flying experience). Sounds similar to what EA and various other video game giants did to the industry.

yeah they make some serious money, but a lot of it they are taking from the workers. Laying off 1300 ground support people isn't acceptable in my mind. All to get lower wages and people who won't care.
but as long as they have people just looking for the cheapest ticket price and not reading the fees and disclaimers, the planes will be full and Indigo will make big money.

[Madeinhb]

Close, but not exactly.

A group of investors called Indigo Partners bought Spirit some time ago as a "fix-and-flip" project. They "transformed" the airline to what the industry is calling an Ultra Low Cost Carrier. The whole idea of unbundling--paying extra for everything beyond the actual seat--is a key component of the ULCC concept.

In any case, profits increased significantly under the ULCC model and Indigo sold a large percentage of Spirit by way of an Initial Public Offering. As of just a little over a year ago, Indigo sold all its remaining shares in Spirit and purchased Frontier in hopes of doing the same thing.

So no, Spirit doesn't own Frontier, but they're headed down the same fix-and-flip ULCC transformation with hopes of a very profitable IPO by the same corporate raiders that previously invested in Spirit.

Time will tell if this ULCC concept is really viable as a long term business plan, but in the short term, it seems to be wildly successful from a financial standpoint. 2014 was Frontier's most profitable year in its 20+ year history. Personally, I hate the concept, but it's hard to argue with the objective financial performance numbers.

RWW

Makes sense. I heard the people who owned Spirit were buying frontier. Didn't know they sold Spirit though.

[DEAGLER]

$10 for boarding pass? wtf...I'm on my first spirit flight this weekend but I'm well aware of the other dumb fees.

[def90]

$10 for boarding pass? wtf...I'm on my first spirit flight this weekend but I'm well aware of the other dumb fees.

What do you need a boarding pass for? The idea is that you print your own out at home before you even leave for the airport.

Many of the other airlines are switching to cheap base tickets and then charging you for all the add ons as well.. I can't think of any airlines that I fly on these days that stand out as being better than any of the others.

[Great-Kazoo]

We drive. Then again If we have to travel it's because someone died, again. WE also call the airline vs on-line reservations. Tried the cheap fares 1x. After the airline dicking us around "because we didn't use normal airline booking" and were regulated to basic seating. Unfortunately for them, their OOPS gave us 2 fly anywhere in the continental U.S. tickets after the fact.
Spirit has one of the worst CS ratings. If you're flying Spirit, plan on being late, delayed or cancelled. Both ways.