www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Flying at least 50 plus segments per year for business & or pleasure, I am fairly well versed at the various policies of airlines handling the N.E. Corridor mostly Continental, American of course but any airline that gets me from A to B with the least concerns but also allows me to make normal changes as well as take care of passengers needs.

Recently this was my situation with Spirt Air. Normally I take if going non stop from Newark to SJO if traveling to Panama where I do some business, I'll take American or Continental. then connect back through SJO etc... where I live in NE NJ I can make laguardia as easy as Newark so depending on pricing ETC, I choose the best option for myself.

recently I thought I'd give Spirit a try with their low fares etc. I found decent price out of LGA via FLL to SJO for $309 including taxes... even though I tried to book in their 8$ fares, it was still $150.00 less than all airlines. I receive an email that my flight times are now changed by about 45 minutes on one leg and to call to confirm. In the Interim I check the exact flights again and guess what now they are offered for $203.00 including all taxes

First I wait on Hold for NO LIE 48 minutes. I speak to the CSR and they tell me the flight has changed I need to reconfirm I tell her first I want either a voucher or a refund for the difference in the fare.. something AA does with NO PROBLEM, continental gives you a voucher. She tells me sorry no refunds to lower fares. I say well since you changed my flight times just cancel my ticket no fee to cancel AGAIN AA & Cont say OK.. I was simply going to re-book under the lower fare. She says SORRY only 1 hour change or more... WTF.. No lower fare compensation, change my flight and I can't cancel.. WTF kinda airline you running here. two supervisors later NADA, BUBKUS, I'm screwed... I even said fine, just bump me to your "Big Front Seat" since that was even lower priced than what I paid for coach.. NOPE NO CAN DO

Bottom line, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, they just lost a customer that could have given them a lot of business over the years for policies of stupidity. Yes its still cheaper than other airlines, but I can only imagine what would be their policy if I am stuck in SJO, miss a connection, miss my flight or one of 100 other things that can go wrong. I am always comfortable using Big airlines for those reasons, so with that said they get a one shot deal from me, than no mas, I'd rather pay more & know I will be taken care of.

BE CAREFUL WITH THEIR POLICIES... they do not necessarily follow form to major airlines.

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The Boss of All Bosses!!! Hey I'm a drunk alcoholics go to meetings!

Yep. Catch the SPIRIT! They have always been a schlock operation, but WTF American isn't much better. I wish Continental would have followed through with their plans to make FLL their Caribbean - South/Central American hub but whaddaya gonna do?

PHX

Although AA does tend to be late far more often than not on any flight but the 1st one out of SJO in the morning, I have always felt secure that AA will do the right thing.

They always credit your card back for lower fares if flying Internationally or they provide a voucher if flying domestic.

If they change the flight 5 mins, you can change, cancel your ticket no penalties.

Bumped, missed flight circumstances of all kinds come up, I've been taken care of...

Are they perfect PHUCK NO, but they are head & shoulders more professional than "CATCH THE PHUCKING SPIRIT"

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The Boss of All Bosses!!! Hey I'm a drunk alcoholics go to meetings!

Capo,
Thanks for the honest, informative post on Spirit Air. I've been waiting to see this type of comment, ever since Spirit started offering their 8 cent flights from Ft. Lauderdale to SJO, a couple months ago. I guess it was just a matter of time.

There are many different carriers flying to SJO now, from hubs all over the country. I've heard stories (good and bad) about every major carrier that flies into SJO. I usually fly around 30 segments per year. I don't necessarily agree with "you get what you pay for", as some of the majors have had their share of problems. But one of the most important things I consider, is consistency. I certainly look for consistency, when it comes to customer service, schedules, delays, refunds, etc. Having the ability to accrue unlimited frequent flyer miles also helps tremendously!

Regardless of minor problems in the past, I will continue to use AA for the majority of my air travel. Naturally YMMV.

Respectfully,
Mucho Gusto

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

AA has gotten just as bad. I had to go through a 3 hour phone conversation to get bumped down to a lower fare which they used to do at no problem. Actually the super had to research the fare releases for 4 hours before finding that he could refund me the difference. With their old policy I'd always just book my flight no matter the price knowing if I watched it everyday I could call once the flight price was on sale and get the refund.
Almost every AA flight I have ever taken into and out of SJO is late. I flew them recently and they had over 300 people in MIA waiting at ticketing and only 3 desk clerks who spent most of the time talking to each other. I waited 5 hours for baggage one time. They also have the rudest employees with no management to be found. I often debated taking a vid cam into MIA and send some tape to corporate of how their customers get treated. AOL has a list of number of complaitants for AA last year at around 1100 or something I must be 50 of those. At least I have recieved a few travel vouchers.
As far as SJO airlines AA has become one of the worst airlines period. Taca is my second least favorite. Martinair rates on my #1 list but probably isn't available to most of you. I'll be taking spirit this weekend so I can get an assessement of their operation.
I guess if you fly enough your going to eventually have a bad flight which is probably my problem. But every time I get off an AA flight I kick myself in the ass and repeat the same thing "last time I take AA".