Other North & South America Frequent Flyer Programs - Spirit Airlines - pushing the luggage envelope

I recently flew Spirit with a friend and mom, very short trip, and we wanted to see just what the deal was with the luggage restrictions and how and if restrictions would be enforced.

I travelled with a promotional zipper-top tote bag, packed to the gills with stuff. It was over height, but could probably be stuffed under a seat. No issue. Carried my blanket - no problem. Was prepared to wear it like religious garb if denied.

Mom had a regulation sized Vera-Bradley styled zipper bag, completely in specs - no issue.

My friend, who likes to push the luggage envelope, decided to go for it. She had a bag 2" over size all around, a large purse, a coat she carried, a pillow and a bag with an orange in it. No one even blinked on the flight from ACY. We had printed our boarding passes beforehand and that cut down on scrutiny. Heading back to ACY from RSW we had to print our boarding passes at the airport and the bags were scrutinized by the check-in folks. Only my friends slightly-oversized bag was of interest but it seemed "close enough" they said. I noticed people with bags and purses, bags more oversized than hers...no one seemed to have issues. So during my experience, the rules were pretty lax, and if you're going to get bagged for an over-sized bag it will most likely be at check-in if you didn't print your boarding pass.

We brought a big athletic equiptment bag and left it in the car in case of a problem, we figured we could fit all 3 bags in it and check only one bag if neccessary ;)

I know this goes without saying, but Spirit is losing customers because of this nonsense. Passengers were discussing it, and not liking it. I have a ton of points I need to use up, so I'll be on Spirit again, but once those points are gone, so am I.

Interesting because I only hear people happy that they board and deplane quickly and are happy that the folks who tried to bring the entire contents of their closets onto the plane (thus delaying the flights and costing the airline mor money which means higher fares for all) as carryon are gone.

Please cite your source to confirm that they are losing customers. The loads and financials of the company tell a different story. Informed consumers know a good deal and, we at FT, know how to capitalize on them!

Interesting because I only hear people happy that they board and deplane quickly and are happy that the folks who tried to bring the entire contents of their closets onto the plane (thus delaying the flights and costing the airline mor money which means higher fares for all) as carryon are gone.

Please cite your source to confirm that they are losing customers. The loads and financials of the company tell a different story. Informed consumers know a good deal and, we at FT, know how to capitalize on them!

I am citing the roughly half dozen people I spoke to who were grumbling about it as my official source. Is that acceptable? The flight was 2 hours delayed so we spent some quality time together. It was the hot topic. That and the drunk guy who asked my mom if she was looking at porno on my laptop. May I ask your "happy to pay for a carry-on bag" source?

If we were limited to one free carry-on before, how were people getting the contents of their closets into it? Did they have small closets that the contents fit into carry on bags? I did not notice less carry on luggage, just smaller or more creative carry-on bags, or carry on bags people paid for. Nor did I notice an increase or decrease of boarding time. A man traveling with his children said he made them all carry small bags to save on the luggage fees :D

People grumble because they don't bother to read rules, keep up with the news and the like. Then they are outraged when confronted with what they should have paid attention to in the first place. It happens all the time; not just with this. I was teaching a course on comp and benefits last semester. I was talking about things that impact public policy decisions and mentioned the world debt crisis. Not a single student knew anything about it. I again asked if anyone knew about what was going on in Greece; if anyone knew about Congress and the extension of the national debt; if anyone knew about the downgrading of our debt. No one did. So, it's a sorry but true state of affairs that people are more interested in what happened to a celebrity than matters that really have a direct impact on their lives.

The bottom line is that people used to carry on huge bags that didn't fit in the overheads, huge shopping bags, etc. I swear, I once saw someone with one the size of a bodybag! Then the plane would be delayed while the bags had to be gate checked. Ben has said that operational results have shaved 6-8 minutes off the boarding process. They know because it's all timed due to the DOT looking at on-time performance. You can read the documents yourself since it is a publicly traded company, they are a matter of record. That's my source. And there are the "industry experts":

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/01/2564426/travel-briefs.html

People grumble because they don't bother to read rules, keep up with the news and the like. Then they are outraged when confronted with what they should have paid attention to in the first place. It happens all the time; not just with this. I was teaching a course on comp and benefits last semester. I was talking about things that impact public policy decisions and mentioned the world debt crisis. Not a single student knew anything about it. I again asked if anyone knew about what was going on in Greece; if anyone knew about Congress and the extension of the national debt; if anyone knew about the downgrading of our debt. No one did. So, it's a sorry but true state of affairs that people are more interested in what happened to a celebrity than matters that really have a direct impact on their lives.

The bottom line is that people used to carry on huge bags that didn't fit in the overheads, huge shopping bags, etc. I swear, I once saw someone with one the size of a bodybag! Then the plane would be delayed while the bags had to be gate checked. Ben has said that operational results have shaved 6-8 minutes off the boarding process. They know because it's all timed due to the DOT looking at on-time performance. You can read the documents yourself since it is a publicly traded company, they are a matter of record. That's my source. And there are the "industry experts":

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/01/2564426/travel-briefs.html

No, nobody was surprised or outraged. They just didn't like it.

Ok, so they are just complainers. And they don't understand the finances behind it.

I guess they didn't mind the delays in the past--or they didn't notice them, just like they didn't notice any efficiencies with them. But the DOT tracks that and it's public record. The efficiencies are there to read! And all that translates into continued reduced fares. It's a simple concept and I hope you can help others understand it.

Comparable fares on other airline(s) that "fly bags for free" are much higher. Just sayin...there's nothing free.

I don't like grocery stores that package my fresh veggies. I like to pick them out myself. But all the grocery stores near me package them now. So I get stems and bad green beans in the bag and I have to pay for them! I could go travel to Whole Foods and pick my green beans. I could go to the Italian Market; but they bag them up too or forbid you to touch them if they are loose. OK; it's life. I don't think it's worth complaining about it. I understand that if I want to pay X, I go to the grocery store or the Italian Market and don't expect to pick out my green beans. If I want to pay X+++, I go to Whole Foods and get to pick my green beans. Having realized that about life has freed me from the need to complain about things I can't control.

May you find peace and happiness.

Already found peace and happiness.

My post was to give a little info for people who either don't want to or can't afford to pay for a bag on Spirit (captive audience at ACY- only major airline flying at that location) and my experience with enforcement.

Just complainers who don't understand things, simple concepts. Hmmm.


http://www.spirit.com/OptionalFees.aspx

Won't miss the crude advertising, not being able to book an award flight on-line, or the 3 month life span of inactive accounts.


But, of note: the FA's were handing out coupons for 2500 miles for filling out an app for the new cc on my last flight, whether you get accepted or not. They said....repeatedly... that you get a free one way flight with those 2500 miles just for filling out the app. This is untrue, since you would have to be a card holder before that would be accurate. :td:

Well, since you said you are gone, again I wish you peace and happiness.

Wait till you spend $900 on an emergency roundtrip on USAirways PHL to
CLT and have to pay $25 to check your bag, the kiosks are out of order, etc. And then the FA's yell at the passengers! That happened to me recently!

Then you'll see what nonsense really is!

Well, since you said you are gone, again I wish you peace and happiness.

Wait till you spend $900 on an emergency roundtrip on USAirways PHL to
CLT and have to pay $25 to check your bag, the kiosks are out of order, etc. And then the FA's yell at the passengers! That happened to me recently!

Then you'll see what nonsense really is!

I hear ya. I try to avoid PHL - the last time I flew from there the yelling started on the economy parking shuttle bus. At least you made it to the plane ;)

I personally think there is absolutely nothing wrong for charging for carry on luggage. A lot of people feel that they are entitled to "free" carry on luggage. Well that "free" is not really free, it is just included in the price already. I don't like Spirit's product but I actually like its business model.

Well, since you said you are gone, again I wish you peace and happiness.

Wait till you spend $900 on an emergency roundtrip on USAirways PHL to
CLT and have to pay $25 to check your bag, the kiosks are out of order, etc. And then the FA's yell at the passengers! That happened to me recently!

Then you'll see what nonsense really is!

That's why I have some AP sitting around so I can get one of those for only 15k.
And, why didn't you just drive?

Why didn't I drive? It was a business emergency and I had to be there that afternoon when the emergency was discovered.

bah! Now it's a 1.50 (or was it 1.05) to print a boarding pass at the airport. How does that work?? Will I have to put money in the kiosk? :D

I booked some award travel recently and don't remember that.... it is a new fee, no?

Can't you just print your boarding pass at home and at the hotel for the return flight?

I was in LAS recently again and the US Airways kiosks were mostly out of order; out of paper or the like. It taked money to service them. So, if you want to use them, you should pay for it.

For those who are interested in the financial aspect of the business, here (http://www.wsw.com/webcast/rj73/spia/)is the webcast to the presentation they gave at the Raymond James Airline conference yesterday. Ben is very upfront about what to expect and not to expect (I've only flown Spirit twice in my life and own no stock, so I really don't have a dog in this hunt.).

Mike

Can't you just print your boarding pass at home and at the hotel for the return flight?

I was in LAS recently again and the US Airways kiosks were mostly out of order; out of paper or the like. It taked money to service them. So, if you want to use them, you should pay for it.

Not always.

For those who are interested in the financial aspect of the business, here (http://www.wsw.com/webcast/rj73/spia/)is the webcast to the presentation they gave at the Raymond James Airline conference yesterday. Ben is very upfront about what to expect and not to expect (I've only flown Spirit twice in my life and own no stock, so I really don't have a dog in this hunt.).

Mike

Thanks. Unfortunately, there is a fee to watch it.


:D