www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Recently I made the unfortunate decision to book a flight on Spirit Airlines. The times and the fare were reasonable. When I arrived at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, a little more than two hours early the line was a madhouse and it moved real real slow.

The flight arrived in SJO on time but unfortunately my luggage didn’t. It took Spirit well over an hour to send someone to the baggage claim area just to file a lost luggage claim. When they finally took the report the representative from Spirit gave me a phone number to call the next day for the status of the luggage. They promised our luggage by 2:00 pm the next day. Approximately 20 other passengers had the same problem.

The next day I dialed the number I was provided and it was busy all day. I had maintained contact with a couple of guys who were staying in a hotel across the street, the Balmoral, and they were having the same problem. Neither of us could get a human on the phone. Spirit also has on their website a place to check the status of lost baggage. Of course this was not functioning correctly.

After waiting until 4:00 pm the next day I gave up and went to the store to buy all of the stuff, I needed, which was lost with my luggage. (By the way the rule on this is that the airlines have 24 hours after they loose your luggage to get it to you or they have to reimburse you for all reasonable replacement expenses) About two hours later the luggage shows up at the Presidente.

Returning to FLL was equally brutal. Long slow line at SJO. When I got ticketed I asked if the flight was running on time and was told it was. Turned out to be wrong as the flight was 1 ½ hours late. I was lucky as I was getting of in FLL. Many other passengers got screwed because they missed connections.

The service on the plane stunk. They had no ice on board and the maggots were selling warm drinks for $3.00 each. A big bag of peanuts sells for $4.00.

The bottom line is you may save a few $$$ flying Spirit but they are unreliable and their customer service is a joke.

And it's only getting worse:

Spirit to charge for seat assignments
Posted June 20, 2008

Spirit Airlines now charges its passengers for online seat selection as part of a new policy that took effect May 30. Customers have to fork over $5 for a middle seat, $10 for an aisle, and $15 for a window. Now, you might not believe me if you look for this information on Spirit's site, because it doesn't appear to be there at press time (at least not in the Advance Seat Assignments section), but believe me, it's true. Online seat selection is not required, and you can wait until you get to the airport, where you'll be assigned a seat. Keep in mind that you won't have any choice at that point, and may be separated from your party or stuck next to the bathroom.

Spirit touted this move as a way to generate revenue without raising fares, and while that's true, it's also another example of an airline charging for something that used to be free. For many of us, the seat we sit in only marginally improves the flying experience, but some flyers have a strong preference for one over the other (OK—no one really likes the middle seat). To those who really care, $10 or $15 may not seem like a lot to get their seat of choice, but it does represent one more financial hurdle to leap. And to make matters worse, paying this extra charge doesn't protect you from losing your seat if the is plane overbooked. Apparently an extra $15 for a window seat doesn't truly guarantee you a view, because you can still get bumped.

As I said when Spirit raised its baggage fee earlier this week, the airline is running a strictly a la carte airline operation. Flying Spirit is very much like buying a car: You can purchase the bare-bones base model—basically four wheels and an engine—but you'll have to pay extra if you want leather seats or more air bags.

So, like the baggage fee, this new charge is in line with the a la carte business model, in which Spirit basically flies you from point A to point B and charges you for everything else. That doesn't mean you have to like it, though, and little things like not protecting fee-paying passengers from overbooking just make the whole operation seem cheap.

But like it or not, Spirit is what it is—air travel that's as inexpensive as you want it to be.

http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/toda ... id=2620948

I think I heard they were installing coin operated lavatory door locks and toilet paper dispensers too. Also there is an express check in line for $20 now at FLL. The cans of coke are $3 but if you decline the plastic cup with ice it's only $2.00. You can also now get an extra 4 inches of RECLINE on your seat for $5.00 more...

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

What if you don't pay for a particular seat, do you have to sit on the floor?

I have a couple ideas to raise revenue:
-$5 for the first time you open the overhead bin, $2 each time thereafter, or you can keep your carry-on on your lap for free
-shut off air conditioning to save fuel, and charge to turn on the fans at each seat, 5¢/minute
-blanket/pillow/headphone rental
-priority deplaning ($15 to get off in group 1, $10 group 2, and so on)

Yeah, I was curious about that one, too.


I sat on an AirTran plane a few years ago for about 90 minutes in the middle of the "tarmac" with no air. This was June in ATLANTA! They had to bring more ice to the plane for the passengers before they passed out.

Some airlines are discontinuing offering blankets and pillows to save money.
A few years ago I was flying back from Vegas on Delta. We were in the last section of a 767. The movie didn't work in OUR section but I asked for a headset to listen to the stereo. I was informed I would still have to pay to rent it.
Amazing.

That prompted me to buy a great pair of Sennheiser "noise-canceling" headphones. They work great on two AA batteries. No more crying Babi*s or listening to the jabbering from the clown sitting behind you. Even better is you can actually hear the movie and stereo music.

I paid about $90 for the "remanufactured" version. They are now about $105. They were just like new and come in their own carrying case and have 2 adapters. They also offer used for $56.

I usually don't spend money on such "luxuries" but everytime I flip that "ON" switch I'm glad I bought them.
http://www.amazon.com/Remanufactured-Se ... 11&sr=1-79

" Online seat selection is not required, and you can wait until you get to the airport, where you'll be assigned a seat. Keep in mind that you won't have any choice at that point, and may be separated from your party or stuck next to the bathroom. "

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

If you dont pay for a seat they just randomly assign you one when you check in. No extra charge for this.

A few trips back on my way home, the plane boarded normally but after we left the gate the take-off was delayed. We had to sit for about a half an hour somewhere on the side with the engines runnng. Finally the pilot announced that although traffic control cleared us for take-off, the plane didn't have enough fuel to get to FLL, and we would have to refuel, which would add about another hour to our delay. Apparently they tried to save money by flying only with the fuel they needed, and they cut it too close.

He did say he was sorry for any inconvenience

Missed one of my K*ds little league games because of that.

_________________
Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

He did apologize, didn't he? It's so hard to please some people.

Imagine if you had taken off and there was storm or fog or something and you had to circle the airport a couple times... good luck having to make a fuel emergency landing in heavy fog.

And I thought that Southwest commercial with the coin-operated everything was just a spoof, seems Spirit is trying to make it a reality.

This is what happens when you apply the Wal-mart approach to international flying. Spirit's not available where I am, I usually use Delta.

Hell, i'd pay for that

Actually, in a way, they do that now. Continental, for instance, has "priority seating" the first few rows past First Class can't be selected unless you're an elite member, or it's less than 24 hours before boarding.

I know I will catch some grief on this one, but lately I just go ahead and paid the extra $25 insurance. The freaking airlines are just getting too frisky with luggage, arrival and departures times that a little insurance will be wise. Also, since I always buy the tickets six months in advance, it covers any accidental and medical emergencies. It might be wise to be prepared.

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Hit them fast, Hit them hard and NEXT!
A good chica is like a good carpenter - No wood gets wasted!!!

As an aside, on my return flight from CR yesterday, Delta will no longer be serving lunch on their flights (didn't ask if it applied to dinner as well, but I suppose it does), even if your ticket states that lunch would be served. When I questioned the Flight Attendent she said to take the matter up with the gate agent upon arrival. This was a new policy effective 7-01-08.
They offerred a drink with either peanuts or a small bag of cookies, or you could purchase a variety of different items. A small roast beef sandwich and a bag of trail mix cost me $10.00. So, my suggestion is if you are planning to fly Delta in the near future, pack a hot lunch and/or dinner in your carry-on bag.

ICE

spirit operates with a skeleton crew to keep costs low. What that translates into for the traveller is that it takes a very long time to check in. Even if you arrive early you may barely make your plane.
They also take forever to get the checked bags onto the carousel. At least forty five minutes. I took spirit for the first time on my recent trip. I will take american next time for sure even if it costs a little more.

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I believe in moderation in everything except excess.
I phuck 'em just to see the look on their face.
Klatu, berata, nicto.

i guess you get what you pay for... i don't really consider paying for a soda a big deal, what i do not like is that you cannot bring in anything into an airport to eat, and then mcd's food is double what it is in the normal world plus a 17000% tax on top of that...