iahphx

Spirit announced they will fly one PHL-DFW flight beginning in April.

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/190...illy-to-dallas

For those who haven't yet flown Spirit, I can confirm that it's unpleasant. But not horrible. Everyone, including me, apparently has their price -- at least if they're paying for their own ticket.

I suspect US may match some or all of Spirit's PHL fares. They pretty much did this on Spirit's DCA-FLL flight. (Spirit recently decided to move that flight to BWI.) So I would look for some PHL-DFW bargains next year. I see Spirit is currently offering a sub-$40 one-way fare on some flights in that market, but it's only good on 1 flight a week (they will start with 4 and go daily by summer).

Frankly, from a business perspective, this seems like a horrible market for Spirit to enter. Spirit's business is leisure travel. Folks travelling on a business trip (and that's probably most folks travelling between PHL and DFW) won't fly them. I certainly wouldn't. So what's the point? This DFW expansion strikes me as, perhaps, the beginning of the end for them. We'll see.

N830MH

US Airways will be big pissed on Spirit. This will not happening. It will get more tougher competition against US & AA out of PHL. Give it chance to get some more competition.

phlwookie

Well, count me as one you won't find on them.

Unless there are more announcements coming, they're opening a station with just one (eventually daily) flight. That seems odd - certainly no economies of scale. With AA and US on this route, it'll be a tough slog for NK.

Frankly, I'm surprised they didn't go for ACY-DFW instead, though ACY may be weaker for them than I think.

Totoro

DFW-IAH is scheduled to start in the next few months, so the groundstaff at DFW will work that route too.

BoeingBoy

I suspect that NK will outsource nearly everything except a station manager and maybe a couple of agents. They'll pay per flight for everything else.

Jim

asicguy

I think I would rather take Amtrak to DFW from PHL then Spirit!

But, competition is never a bad thing, so hopefully this will be positive to all - lower fares on US to stay competitive, and a good bargain for leisure travelers who wish to brave Spirit Airlines...

FlyIgglesFly

I love this if it drives down US fares to DFW. I'll never fly Spirit, but I'm all for benefiting from their ridiculous* business model.

*Yes, I understand it somewhat works, I just dislike it.

HRDiva

That is what people in DTW and DCA said. Learn from history!

maksimfa

For shorter flights, ACY to Orlando, or PHL to MCO when I am in need are just fine on Spirit. Prices are great when you can get round trip all in under $100. Are you in sardine class? Sure... but the upgrades to the Big Front Seat are pretty nice and cheap.

Having Spirit come to PHL, and expanding to other major airports is welcome news, as no doubt it will place competition on the legacy carriers and others.

Tell you what, no matter how much hate people give Spirit.... they are one of the more profitable airlines out there, with a stock price going up. lol.

TPJ

I guess if WN entry to the PHL market didn't kill US, Spirit entry will not kill US, either...

iahphx

I am certain that US is not quaking in its boots about Spirit's DFW-PHL flight.

I also suspect they are waiting for this airline to self-destruct. It would seem like Spirit is indeed following the self-destruction playbook. These new DFW flights make no sense for them.

I think US is hurt more in Philly by Virgin's transcon flights. In case you don't know, Virgin is bleeding money, and will likely have to take dramatic steps to avoid bankruptcy next year. But, in the meantime, they offer a product travellers would actually want to fly (unlike Spirit), and I am sure they are depressing US's yields on the transcons.

IADCAflyer

I wonder when someone will get aggressive and try to commence service out of ILG - as an alternative to PHL.

bitburgr

That would be aggressive as (I think) there isn't commercial service at ILG. If I remember correctly, I wanted to try a DL commuter flight out of ILG a dozen years ago but there was no overnight parking at the airport.

It would be an interesting case, though.

travellerK

I flew Spirit once (R/T). We took the entire extended family of 19 people (I think three might have been lap children) from LGA-DTW for a relative's wedding for under $1,000 total. At that price I was totally happy with the service and would do it again if I had the opportunity.
That was however, before they started charging for carry-on bags. It was a commical site to see all the little kids in my family tugging their roller boards through the airport.

For business travel paid by someone else, I have never taken Spirit and don't expect to (for numerous reasons), but there might be enough leisure travel for them to do allright.

weave

I live near ILG and took DL between ILG and ATL when it was offered, and parked in the lot for a few nights -- for free -- without a problem.

I loved it. They didn't even open up the security line to get to the gate until 30 minutes before departure. So just pull up to the parking lot 32 minutes before your flight and you were golden.

Flights were about $50-$100 more than PHL but well worth it. Was sad to see it go away.