www.CostaRicaTicas.com :: View topic - Spirit Air Tight Connection

Everything I've read about Spirit online talks about a huge logjam at FLL, hope it works out for you. The consensus of reviews I've seen seems to be that Spirit is pretty disorganized because they use fewer employees in order to deliver cheaper fares.

I am flying Spirit Air from Chicago to San Jose with a layover in Fort Lauderdale in a few weeks. It looks like my airplane lands in Fort Lauderdale at 10:00 AM and then I have to change planes and depart for San Jose on a 10:40AM flight. This seems like a very tight connection but Spirit Air claims that it will be fine.

Has anyone had any experience on Spirit Air with tight connecting flights? I don't want to miss my flight and be stuck in Fort Lauderdale.

Thanks for the heads up about the requirement to be there at 3:00AM even though they don't open until 4:00AM. Spirit Air told me to be there two hours before the flight.

also just so you know spirit does not open their boarding area in ord till 4 am so no need to get there 3 hours in advance as you will just wait for them to open

Udo wrote:

Connecting is not usually a big deal, as long as your first flight is on time. When you check in for your first segment, you are checked in for the entire flight, so the airline is not waiting to see if you check in.

FLL is a smaller airport, so I can't imagine that it would take more than 10 minutes or so to go from your arrival gate to your departure gate, especially if it's the same airline (airlines tend to have adjacent gates).

There are only a few airports in the USA that are bad for connections. Generally, once you are in the secure area at your initial airport, you stay in it for the duration, so you don't have to go through the time-consuming security line more than once. Notable exceptions are Miami and Newark.

SR

Question, I'm flying through Miami for the first time on Aug. 14, I hope you're not saying I have to go through security in Detroit and also in Miami before I get on my connection.

Author:	Udo [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:51 pm ]
Post subject:	Spirit Air Tight Connection
I am flying Spirit Air from Chicago to San Jose with a layover in Fort Lauderdale in a few weeks. It looks like my airplane lands in Fort Lauderdale at 10:00 AM and then I have to change planes and depart for San Jose on a 10:40AM flight. This seems like a very tight connection but Spirit Air claims that it will be fine. Has anyone had any experience on Spirit Air with tight connecting flights? I don't want to miss my flight and be stuck in Fort Lauderdale.

Author:	Irish Drifter [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:32 pm ]
Post subject:
Same airline domestic to international should be no problem at a smaller airport like FLL. If it was international to domestic it would not be possible or a larger airport like MIA it would be difficult. Naturally everything is predicated on a on time arrival in FLL or Spirit being willing to hold the SJO flight to enable passengers to make the connection.

Author:	El Ornitorrinco [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:10 pm ]
Post subject:
Everything I've read about Spirit online talks about a huge logjam at FLL, hope it works out for you. The consensus of reviews I've seen seems to be that Spirit is pretty disorganized because they use fewer employees in order to deliver cheaper fares.

Author:	Diablo [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:11 pm ]
Post subject:
Udo- If it is any consolation, I have flown Spirit a half dozen times to SJO and CTG without any hassles--luck maybe, but way better than my experiences with American Airlines(which I have been boycotting for almost 3 years)

Author:	Puro Party [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:30 pm ]
Post subject:
Dude. All the negative posts about Spirit plus anythign else beyond their control (weather, air traffic etc.) I say it is too short of time. Even if you made it your bag may not and there;s plenty of posts on missing bags as well. The plus would be if you missed your flight and they comped you a night's hotel in FLL willing to bet you could get decent "delivery" to your room for dos cien!!!!!

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Spirit Air Tight Connection https://forum.costaricaticas.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=24430	Page 1 of 2

Author:	Irish Drifter [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:42 pm ]
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Bobzilla wrote: Everything I've read about Spirit online talks about a huge logjam at FLL, hope it works out for you. The consensus of reviews I've seen seems to be that Spirit is pretty disorganized because they use fewer employees in order to deliver cheaper fares. Good point. Something I forgot about Spirit. When you check in at ORD make sure they tag your baggage all the way to SJO. Have heard from many that they have a nasty tendency to only tag your bag to the first stop and then make you claim your baggage and recheck it. That would make a :40 minute connection impossible for you and your bags to arrive together.

Author:	Diablo [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:01 am ]
Post subject:
I forgot to mention that I only fly with carry-on

Author:	Phoenix Rising [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:06 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Spirit Air Tight Connection
Udo wrote: I am flying Spirit Air from Chicago to San Jose with a layover in Fort Lauderdale in a few weeks. It looks like my airplane lands in Fort Lauderdale at 10:00 AM and then I have to change planes and depart for San Jose on a 10:40AM flight. This seems like a very tight connection but Spirit Air claims that it will be fine. Has anyone had any experience on Spirit Air with tight connecting flights? I don't want to miss my flight and be stuck in Fort Lauderdale. I had a late flight out of LGA to FLL with a connection to SJO in 30 minutes...when I checked in at LGA they basically laughed at me...no way Jose. Flights were lateand I wouldn't make it. Said it was "weather related" so they didn't have to compensate me. Took the flight to FLL anyway, indeed I missed the connection...and spent 10 hours esperando at FLL. That's what "catchin the Spirit" is all about! So IMHO... You are cutting it too close... PHX

Author:	Udo [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:40 am ]
Post subject:
It looks like a better not plan on needing anything from my checked bag the first day. Even if I can change planes within 40 minutes, it would be hard for my checked baggage to make the change of airplanes. I am sure that there will be more than a few fellow mongers coming down from Chicago that day. Why would Spirit want to piss off so many people with a ridiculous connection time? I know that American Airlines will warn you of a tight connection. I guess that I will feel like I am on an episode of "The Amazing Race" trying to make the connection. What a great show.

Author:	Joecmp [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:51 am ]
Post subject:
I'm a bit concerned flying Spirit. Last week my wingman missed his flight out of SJO when Spirit changed the flight time BACK 2 hours the night before the flight left and did not notify the passengers. Yes he should have double checked the flight departure the night before as Spirit suggests (read the fine print!), but he is used to Continental which while ocassionallly late never leaves early! Seems crazy to me. I've got 3 trips planned in the next 12 months... none with Spirit.

Author:	Cariden [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:31 pm ]
Post subject:	nothing to be concerned about
i fly from chicago to fll to san jose and no problems you walk into the airport at fll and your flight is 1-3 spots down to catch. i never had a problem with them checking my luggage all the way thru except from san jose to ord.. also just so you know spirit does not open their boarding area in ord till 4 am so no need to get there 3 hours in advance as you will just wait for them to open. this is if you are taking the 6am flight....

Author:	Udo [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:50 pm ]
Post subject:
Cariden, I am taking the Sunday morning 6:00AM flight out of O'hare Airport. Thanks for the heads up about the requirement to be there at 3:00AM even though they don't open until 4:00AM. Spirit Air told me to be there two hours before the flight. I don't want to be the last monger in line. It sounds like a simple connection in switching planes in FLL. I guess I will stay at my favorite bar Saturday night until 2:30 AM and take the short cab ride to O'hare airport.

Author:	Irish Drifter [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:
Udo wrote: Thanks for the heads up about the requirement to be there at 3:00AM even though they don't open until 4:00AM. Spirit Air told me to be there two hours before the flight. I think you misread his post. Cariden wrote: also just so you know spirit does not open their boarding area in ord till 4 am so no need to get there 3 hours in advance as you will just wait for them to open

Author:	El Ornitorrinco [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:30 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Spirit Air Tight Connection
Srilm wrote: Udo wrote: I am flying Spirit Air from Chicago to San Jose with a layover in Fort Lauderdale in a few weeks. It looks like my airplane lands in Fort Lauderdale at 10:00 AM and then I have to change planes and depart for San Jose on a 10:40AM flight. This seems like a very tight connection but Spirit Air claims that it will be fine. Has anyone had any experience on Spirit Air with tight connecting flights? I don't want to miss my flight and be stuck in Fort Lauderdale. Connecting is not usually a big deal, as long as your first flight is on time. When you check in for your first segment, you are checked in for the entire flight, so the airline is not waiting to see if you check in. FLL is a smaller airport, so I can't imagine that it would take more than 10 minutes or so to go from your arrival gate to your departure gate, especially if it's the same airline (airlines tend to have adjacent gates). There are only a few airports in the USA that are bad for connections. Generally, once you are in the secure area at your initial airport, you stay in it for the duration, so you don't have to go through the time-consuming security line more than once. Notable exceptions are Miami and Newark. SR Question, if you don't mind, srilm: I'm flying through Miami for the first time on Aug. 14, I hope you're not saying I have to go through security in Detroit and also in Miami before I get on my connection.

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Author:	Irish Drifter [ Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Spirit Air Tight Connection
Bobzilla wrote: Question, I'm flying through Miami for the first time on Aug. 14, I hope you're not saying I have to go through security in Detroit and also in Miami before I get on my connection. In most cases yes. There is a connector, that is behind the security check point, that connect some but not all concourses.