www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Airlines establish their own policy concerning compensation for missed flights. I don't think there are any federal regulations regarding that. There is a minimum connection time for each airport, with different times for different types of connections. It is difficult to find those times, but if an airline sells you a ticket that has a connection, the time is sufficient to make the connection. Most airlines will compensate you (lodging and/or meals) if they are responsible for you missing a flight. If the time between landing and takeoff is more than the minimum connection time, you probably will not receive compensation. You should check with United about their policy.

The bold part is the key. If the delay is the airlines fault (e.g. mechanical issues, pilot calls in sick etc.), then they are generally required to provide lodging, food etc. If the delay is not the airlines fault (weather, air traffic control issues, etc.), then you're pretty much on your own, even though they are still required to get you to your final destination. This is usually how people end up having to spend the night at the airport.

GringoJoe is correct weather delays will not get you any compensation from the airline but if you use AMEX and have their travel insurance then they will reimburse you for room, food, personal items up to the limits on the insurance. I have used it quite a bit and other than taking a little while to get reimbursed it makes things a little less stressful.

Is there a fee to use AMEX and the travel insurance

I am a man of very FEW principles. But one of my principles is to NEVER pay a bank fee to use an account.

Yes it used to be 7.95 for every round trip ticket purchased and it did not matter if you booked tickets for friends and family for each ticket the fee was paid for it was covered. A few years ago they changed to an annual fee. I am not sure what just that part costs, but I pay about $460.00 per year, but that includes flight delay, lost baggage, medical, dental, vision, accidental death, emergency evacuation and other things all with sizable limits. Also it kicks in once I am 100 miles from home, and does not matter if I am on paid carrier or in a car, as long as I am staying somewhere overnight and more than 100 miles from home I am covered. Because I travel a lot I feel it is a great value knowing I am covered for just about anything that might crop up.

Will NEVER EVER fly Spirit again and i have a 50 dollar voucher from them.
Straight thru from now on with JetBlue.

Is JetBlue that much better than Spirit?

The Pony Express is better than Spirit.

Btw- the name is such a misnomer since their employee have had absolutely no spirit in the few interactions that I've had with them.

I have the exact opposite experience with Spirit. I seldom see uptight counter people in FLL, and I have met dozens of the SJO employees (having dated a trainee there at the time).

Spirit is great for direct flights, no hassle, pay for what you want. I've not used them for connecting flights. They have strict restrictions that the counter people cannot override, but I have seen many times them bending over backwards to squeeze a rule-breaker through.

They are decent people who work for the least-paying airline around. It is foolish to expect Delta-like treatment from a carrier charging half or less. If you are a high-maintenance flyer, then do the world a favor and stay away from Spirit. You will be miserable, guaranteed.

That said, if you go bare-bones you need to figure that at some point your number will come up and the aggravation is yours. Shyt happens. Everyone hates Spirit, but I seldom see their planes empty on takeoff.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

Sounds like an airline catering to people who can't really afford to travel, but do it anyway...and get what they pay for!

It's not foolish at all to expect their best customer service from any employee, regardless of how much they are making. But I know it's asking too much to have a little pride in your work in our society these days. Customers should not have to pay for Spirit employees' displeasure with their jobs.

I guess I'm a "high maintenance flyer" then since I expect the employees to speak to me in a respectful way and not snap at me or cop an attitude if I have a question or request. If you allow people to talk down to you or disrespect you because you are paying less for a ticket, that's your prerogative.

I've made at least 40 flights with Spirit. I cannot remember anyone giving me lip over anything. I've seen the occasional grouch, but I don't think it's much different between carriers. The CostaRican employees seem a lot happier than the FLL ones. I suspect that it is a pay-related thing.

Your 'pride-in-your-work' statement is 100% spot on! I see it everywhere in FL now. I don't think the $15 an hour min wage would fix that. Today's sense of entitlement is outrageous.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

I have to agree with BD on this one. I have been flying Spirit since 2006 probably 6 times a year. I go direct to CR and Nicaragua from Fort Lauderdale. I have yet to have the first problem taking off.

There is a long line that is slow moving usually because people don't pay attention to their ridiculous limit of 40 pounds for checked luggage then they spend 10 minutes trying to rearrange to meet the limit in order to not pay extra.

As another poster stated probably people who can't afford to fly but do anyway. It's true most of the people on Spirit are Central or South American so they usually have limited funds. Not their fault, it's reality.

If you get to the airport early enough it's usually not a problem. Also, if your not checking baggage you check in at a kiosk and walk right to security.

I, last week booked a round trip flight to CR from Fort Lauderdale with an extended return trip. Including a large front seat and a carry on for $265 which included $45 to change the return date if needed.

I didn't book a seat for return flight or carry on for the return flight because I usually fly over to Nicaragua for a month or so and will fly to Fort Lauderdale from Nicaragua instead of CR.

So my return flight I'll have to pay $35 or $40 for a bigger front seat and $26 for a carry on.

So maybe I'm just lucky but haven't had the first problem in many, many trips.

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nicarica

as much as people love to bitch about Spirit they haven't had their systems blow up like Southwest and Delta have during the last few months. So even the large supposedly well run airlines have had issues. Depending on who you talk to, some think they handed the situation well and others felt they did not handle the situation well.

Not quite accurate, Spirit had the first major melt down three or four years ago. They had to go to manual checkins and it was a nightmare for a couple of days. I remember it well, it was the last time I flew with Spirit and if they start giving away free flights I still will not fly with them.