BootsnAll Travel Community

Has anyone travelled with Spirit Air? They are offering $99 from Detroit to Managua one way and that seems, well pretty fantastic.

I took Spirit to Lima.

If you can handle their habits (they will add on fees if you're not paying attention) and their policies ($20 per checked-in bag) and their oddities (charging for everything but water), they are fine. I would definitely use them again.

I've never heard of Spirit Air, until you posted your question. I was pretty excited to see that they fly to some of the places that we are dying to go, and rather inexpensively, too. Then I ran across this:

http://www.alexrudloff.com/2007/08/20/ben-baldanza-from...ul-customer-service/

Everyone who's traveled enough will have a bad experience from time to time, but this email frames the cavalier attitude that the top of their company has toward his customers.

I don't know about this airline first-hand, but I'm not interested in putting money into the pockets of people who show their concern like this.

On that note, if you do fly with them and have a different experience, PLEASE, I'd love to hear about it!

I've heard mixed reviews;

From people traveling on business, I've heard it's not too convenient (you can only use credit cards for drinks while on the flight, etc..).

From the other end, I've heard from so well-rounded travelers that you get what you pay for; a 100$ flight to Managua.

I'm flying with them to Cancun from San Antonio at the end of the Month. My ticket was 190, one way. I'll let you know if it was worth it when I get there.

Cheers,

Brendan

We have traveled Spirit Airlines between the U.S. and Guatemala several times over the past 2 or so years. One ticket we got was 1 cent each way (plus tax). We have never had any experiences that were any worse than traveling with any of the full cost airlines.

OK, they charge extra for everything, but so do most of the others. Several airlines have it in their plans to begin charging extra for aisle seats, emergency exit seats, and any other seats with enough leg room for anyone over 6 ft. tall to have enough room for their legs.

To me, traveling by air, any way other than first class, is a dehumanizing experience. All of the airlines are going to treat us like cattle, so why pay extra to be miserable? Economically, Spirit Airlines makes sense. Get on their e-mail list and you will get information on some great specials, once or twice a week.

There was a thread last July on the Thorntree Forum about delays caused by a cancelled flight; instead of adding a flight or getting passengers home on other airlines, they stuck a few each on their twice-a-day flights out, causing some passengers to wait 4 or 5 days. I realize the days of easy standby are gone as all airlines fight to maximize occupancy rates to keep prices down, but that seemed a bit extreme. Hasn't stopped me from looking at their site for deals, though! Unfortunately, they don't fly from PDX.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?messageID=12651912�

quote:

Originally posted by juan3:
To me, traveling by air, any way other than first class, is a dehumanizing experience.

Seriously? This sounds dumb because the only thing I care about on a flight, is getting off alive. First class doesnt save your ass.

Yes the prices seem great. I am leaving on saturday with spirit air from san antonio...but already I am having problems.

They never sent me a confirmation email for my flight itinerary, and confirmation number and all that. I luckily stored it in my computer when I payed for the flight, but now my computer has stopped working.

I spent thirty minutes waiting on hold yesterday to talk to somebody to get my web ID or confirmation number, and am currently on hold and have been for exactly 57 minutes.

Cheap rates, yeah. good customer service? I don't know anymore.

There was another post on a different board about their deal price to Central America. Look very carefully at all the add on taxes and fees. In the post the difference between them and others wasn't all that great.

I've used Spirit from Tampa to Atlantic City several times. You DO get what you pay for. I've recently booked them for Tampa to Lima but it's not until August. It was $570 RT; the closest fare was over $1000 so I booked...willing to try anything once (internationally-speaking).

I have flown Spirit Airlines twice, both between Fort Lauderdale and San Juan.

Like everyone else said, you get what you pay for. But if it means saving 100's of dollars - I don't really mind! All 4 flights I have taken with them have been late so I don't know if that is a pattern or just happened to be a coincidence.

Also, when booking flights on Spirit try this promo code: SAVE33 for $33 off your round trip ticket. It works on most fares but not all.

I have flown Spirt quite often. Join the $9. club. Thats where you get all the deals. Yes they do charge 20 bucks a bag, ( 10 if you pre-check in online)
I once got to Costa Rica from Ft Lauderdale on a $9. fare. After taxes it came to $68.
$68 DOLLARS... for that price I can deal with a little delay, or chickens running up and down the ailse!
;-)