While sometimes it seems like discount airlines are about to impose a fee for not being punched in the face, it’s true that ultra low-cost carriers do have to cut corners somewhere. It turns out that it’s really expensive to get planes full of people anywhere on time. [More]
spirit airlines
Baby Cursed To Ruin His Birthday Flying Spirit For The Rest of His Life
By 6.27.17
Earlier this month, a baby born on a Jet Airways flight was gifted with free flights for life. Not one to be completely outdone, Spirit Airlines said today that a baby boy born on a recent flight will also receive free flights for life… but only on his birthday. [More]
Spirit Flight Canceled After Woman Refuses To Leave Bathroom
By 6.1.17 — Updated: 6.2.17
Passengers on a Spirit Airlines flight from Florida to Cartagena, Colombia will arrive at their destination an entire day later than planned after their original flight was canceled when the plane’s pilots exceeded their maximum flying time, a result of delays caused by an unruly passenger who refused to leave the aircraft’s bathroom. [More]
Amid Cancelations & Delays, Court Orders Spirit Airlines Pilots To Halt Alleged Work Slowdown
By 5.9.17
With cancelled Spirit Airlines flights resulting in fisticuffs at the nation’s airports, a federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order against the union representing Spirit pilots, hoping to get passengers moving again. [More]
Fights Erupt At Airport After Spirit Airlines Cancels 9 Flights
By 5.9.17
There are heated situations, and then there’s the kind of chaos that has the police stepping in to break things up. Sheriff’s deputies had their hands full at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport last night, where a slew of canceled Spirit Airlines flights had frustrated passengers ready to rumble with the airline. [More]
Don’t Give Up Your Seat On A Flight Until You’ve Read The Airline Voucher’s Fine Print
By 12.2.16
You’re waiting at a crowded gate to board your flight, when suddenly, you hear it. “Flight XYZ is overbooked; do we have any volunteers willing to give up their seat in exchange for a travel voucher?” But before you volunteer yourself as tribute in the airline Hunger Games, make sure you understand exactly what kind of restrictions might come with that voucher. [More]
Do Airlines Really Ban Unruly Passengers For Life?
By 11.29.16 — Updated: 2.7.17
Here at Consumerist, we have seen more than our fair share of stories involving unruly or otherwise disruptive passengers who have gotten themselves kicked off flights for bad behavior. But upon hearing that Delta Air Lines had banned a passenger for life after he was caught on video yelling at his fellow travelers, we had to wonder: What do you have to do to get banned from an airline forever, and which U.S. carriers have such a policy in place? [More]
Airlines Offering Travel Waivers Ahead Of Hurricane Matthew
By 10.4.16
Travelers who were planning on flying this week to or from areas affected by Hurricane Matthew, which is currently in the Caribbean and heading toward the U.S. East Coast, may find themselves changing their plans, and some airlines are ready to help by issuing travel waivers. [More]
Spirit Promo Gives Bonus Miles To Customers Who Buy The Cheapest Fares
By 8.3.16
Whether they like it or not, travelers have become used to the fact that many airlines now reward frequent-flier miles based on how much your ticket costs: the more you spend, the more miles you get. But Spirit is flipping that idea on its head, and will instead offer bonus miles to customers who buy the cheapest fares — for a limited time. [More]
Spirit Airlines Wants To Make Up For Being Awful By Trying To Be More Punctual
By 6.27.16
Budget carrier Spirit Airlines, known for its low levels of customer satisfaction, is trying to take all those frowns and turn them upside down. One way the airline’s new leader is attempting to make customers happier? Actually getting planes to their destinations in a more timely manner. [More]
Pilot Who Failed Drug Test Can’t Try To Use DNA To Prove He Was Clean
By 6.24.16
Imagine you’re one of the many American workers subject to random tests for the presence of drugs or alcohol in your system, and a test turns up high levels of heroin and cocaine. If you contend that the lab must have mixed up your urine sample with someone else’s should you be able to demand a DNA test to prove your innocence? If you’re a pilot, the answer is no. [More]
An Improved Spirit Airlines Still Comes In Last In Customer Satisfaction Survey
By 4.26.16
A year ago, low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines made its debut in the American Customer Satisfaction Index with a thud, coming in dead last among airlines in the annual survey. But even with a 15% improvement over last year’s score, Spirit still couldn’t escape the cellar. [More]
Passengers Suing Spirit Airlines Over In-Flight Brawl Sparked By Boombox
By 4.8.16
Three passengers who were aboard a Spirit Airlines flight when a brawl broke out over an overly loud boombox are now suing the carrier, claiming that Spirit “failed to protect” them from harm. [More]
Spirit Airlines Drops Some Baggage Fees For Active Duty Military Personnel
By 3.14.16
Spirit Airlines has long been known as the airline that charges a fee for nearly everything: checked bags, carry-on bags, seat selection, and water, just to name a few. In a change of pace, the budget carrier recently announced it would no longer charge active duty military members fees on some of their bags. [More]
Five-Passenger Brawl Breaks Out Over Loud “Boom Box” On Spirit Airlines Flight
By 3.10.16
Passengers on a Spirit Airlines flight from Baltimore to Los Angeles had ringside seats to quite a brawl, reports say, after five women apparently got in a fight over a loud boom box. Yes, a boom box. [More]
Traveler Complaints About Airlines Increased Nearly 30% Last Year
By 2.19.16
While airlines might not be leaping at the chance to tell customers how to file complaints about their service, that hasn’t stopped more travelers from sharing their tales of woe with the Department of Transportation. In fact, the number of complaints filed by beleaguered passengers increased by nearly 30% last year. [More]
Traveling This Weekend? Airlines Offering Travel Waivers Ahead Of Winter Storm
By 1.21.16
Planning on traveling by plane in the next few days? The winter storm rolling across the country this weekend might have something to say about that. Ahead of the storm’s arrival, most U.S. airlines are issuing travel advisories and weather waivers for customers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic who might find their plans ruined by snow, ice, sleet, wind, etc. [More]
Spirit Airlines Replaces Loudmouth CEO Ben Baldanza
By 1.5.16
For the last decade, Ben Baldanza has been the outspoken, often crass leader of Spirit Airlines, the bottom-dollar carrier that was easily the most complained-about airline in the U.S., but which Big Ben declared was the country’s “most consumer-friendly” carrier. It looks like Spirit has fallen out of love with Baldanza, who has stepped down from his gig as CEO. [More]
