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From the Miami Herald Monday August 6.

"AIR TRAVEL
Storms ground Spirit flights at Fort Lauderdale
Spirit airlines left travelers stranded or delayed over the weekend at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Posted on Mon, Aug. 06, 2007
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BY DIANA MOSKOVITZ
dmoskovitz@MiamiHerald.com

Spirit Airlines faced another horde of angry customers over the weekend after the fast-growing airline canceled more than 40 flights systemwide, affecting hundreds of travelers at Broward County's largest airport.

The Miramar-based airline expected to be back on schedule today, Spirit spokeswoman Alison Russell said.

More than half of the airline's flights fly out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and the cancellations hit South Florida travelers hard.

About 42 flights were canceled Friday night, Saturday and Sunday, Russell said.

Last month, Spirit faced another setback when many customers encountered hours-long lines for flights out of Fort Lauderdale. A combination of too many travelers, too little lobby space and new fees for checked baggage had lines snaking out of the terminal and into the hot sun.

A mix of bad weather and crew shortages were to blame for the weekend cancellations, Russell said. In addition, one flight was canceled for maintenance reasons, she said.

Affected passengers were given three options: fly on another airline, which Spirit would pay for; take an available seat on another Spirit flight; or accept a refund.

''We're working through it. It's definitely been a very difficult weekend, and we appreciate what that means to our passengers,'' Russell said.

The apologies brought little comfort to the Hage family. Maysoon and Edwin Hage and their four Ch*ldren were stranded in Florida after learning Sunday that their 8:50 p.m. flight home to Michigan was canceled.

''This is a major problem,'' Maysoon Hage said as she comforted her crying 15-month-old. The family is moving Tuesday from Michigan to Dubai. They have last-minute banking issues to clear up and other errands, Hage said.

Spirit put the family in a hotel Sunday and gave them $7 per person for food.

''That will pay for two slices of pizza per person,'' Edwin Hage said dryly.

Spirit said the troubles started Friday night when thunderstorms hit LaGuardia International Airport in New York City. The Federal Aviation Administration said the storms caused delays at that airport.

The weather forced two Spirit flights to land in Atlantic City, N.J. Weather also delayed Spirit planes on the ground at LaGuardia, Russell said.

Spirit has 36 planes, Russell said. Flights connected to those planes had to be canceled. The crews were then out of position for their Saturday morning flights.

''If you pull one plane, it affects several different flights,'' Russell said.

Meanwhile, the airline faced the problem of crews that had been on duty the maximum number of hours they could legally work. Reserve crews were called to get the planes where they needed to be.

Several pilots also called in sick, including seven on Sunday, and other pilots were called to help.

The problems were most notable in Fort Lauderdale, although a few people found a bright side in the delays.

For West Palm Beach resident Angel Bonilla, the fact that his two Ch*ldren and in-laws came in a day late from Puerto Rico on Sunday was a blessing in disguise.

''Spirit is reimbursing us $960 for the flights, and I got one more day of vacation,'' he said.

People who are flying on Spirit today should check beforehand. Call Spirit at 800-772-7117 or visit spiritair.com.

Miami Herald staff writer Natalie P. McNeal contributed to this report."

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I can understand saving a few bucks on a flight, but I will never use Spirit. What a sour way to start a vacation....



Cujo

_________________
"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

How does a small storm at LaGuardia halt the WHOLE airline?

No comment !!!

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

From the article:



Ther have been reports that many of Spirits problems are being caused by poor labor relations between the pilots and management.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

If you want to debate, the article implies that the crew shortages were a result of the bad weather which caused flights to not get to certain cities, so the crews were "out of position". WTF?

A REAL airline has enough crews on standby to account for things like this. People were giving JetBlue a lot of shit during the winter for the problems they were having with the snow. That was nothing, Spirit is a joke.

Debate? What debate? Don't get so defensive Orange.

I pointed out there have been articles circulating around that say Spirit and their pilots are having labor troubles which has caused some disruptions in their schedules. Some "REAL" airlines have had the same results when they and their flight crews were at odds.

I am not now or have I in the past defended Spirit and their operations. If you want to try and make a "debate" out of that I suggest you stand in front of a mirror and take both sides of the issue

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Hmmm....maybe I'll be able to go to Anniversary party 9/2....if the pilots and attendants for Spirit want to work that weekend....four months till AA straight from FLL to SJO......Wingman has Spirit flight down to SJO tonight.....

And i thought AA was a troubled airline.I have not heard too many good reviews of these guys to date.

AA seems to have totally turned their operations around. They have settled their labor problems, have improved their customer service, etc. Lo and behold they are actually making a profit.

Other airlines could certainly learn a lot emulating their corporate philosophy.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Irish Drifter wrote:

They may be turning a small profit now but the way they have done it is turning their base of regular fliers away. They have cut approximately 20% of their flights out to fill existing planes, you miss a connection with them due to a late flight your screwed. I have been an AA regular for years. My last six flights this year with AA have been disasters due to late flights and the lack of available seats and flights. Last trip they wanted to strand me in LAX for 36 hours… ended up taking a Southwest flight to another local airport and swearing off AA until they clean up their act. I know I an not alone in this thought due to the fact that I see many of the old AA regulars on Express Jet and Southwest.

They may have settled their labor contract problems, but they still have the same OLD & GUMPY staff… who are not happy with cut backs.

As far as customer service… my experiences have gone downhill fast. I think they are so overwhelmed with complaints that an attitude of “who cares” now prevails.

As far as other airlines emulating them… I sure hope not. A much better example would be Southwest who has figured out how to run a successful airline.

Mendo

_________________
"It takes a lot of good beer to make a great wine"

IMHO..while Spirit has a legitimate problem right now (which may be due to its age or recent expansion or any of a host of other reasons) I think the current state of air travel is simply lacking with regards to customer service. I flew Delta to Las Vegas a couple times this year (no problems but for the drunk and unruly couple on the way back last trip who engaged in a profanity laced tirade with each other and some equally drunk passengers), Jet Blue to LGA (no problems), Delta back through ATL from LAX (stranded overnight and told to sleep at airport, which I declined and took subway to an old college buddy's place), Delta to Seattle via ATL (luggage cart on jetway overturned in full view of my seat and did some damage to my favorite shoes on way back in ATL; sat on runway in Seattle 40 minutes before arriving at gate and deplaning on way there then waited 45 minutes for luggage at baggage claim); AA through DFW to Seattle (no problems). I really just think it's the state of air travel at present.
But after seeing some of the private aircraft disasters (a la Payne Stewart) my main objective is simply to arrive safely (and preferably on time). And I have put a premium on non-stop flights! Even if that means driving 80 miles to MIA.

Hell, I drive 175 miles to Miami Airport, just so I can fly direct. I could leave from Orlando, and it would be much easier, and only 45 minutes from my house, but I put a very high value on a non-stop flight.
MG

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

I guess it is a classic case of YMMV.

I use to avoid AA like the plague but then they had the best schedule and prices to places I needed to go so I booked a few flights with them and was very satisfied.

The one delay I had, a mechanical in Miami after we left the gate, the Captain kept us well informed, brought the plane back to the gate, allowed us who wanted to to deplane and get some food and drink in the terminal while the plane was repaired, and then got us to our destination. I have read the horror stories of other airlines who keep you prisoners on board while the flight is delayed.

They are now my first choice airline when there is a choice available to the destination I am traveling.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I have to agree that YMMV is good way of looking at the whole airline issue …

Different crews, schedules, airports and Mother Nature are obvious factors in this equation... but it is interesting that in the past few years how international, non USA based carriers have brought their standards up while domestic carriers have dropped in the eye of the consumer.

The news the past few days has had several different stories about last months fiasco in the skies… planes flew at nearly 90% capacity and a record number and percentage were late or cancelled. Airlines made cuts to be profitable…but did not plan for anything like weather or disgruntled employees calling in sick.
But hindsight is 20/20…and I have no solutions for the airlines with problems. I just adjust my schedule to take flights on my preferred airlines …

Mendo

_________________
"It takes a lot of good beer to make a great wine"