FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Anybody buy at the Spirit counter recently? No fee waiver
Old May 21, 2018 | 8:45 am
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btonkid12345
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Originally Posted by dordal
Just went to the spirit counter to buy a ticket, and was quoted the same price as the website. No ‘passenger usage fee’ waiver.

Spoke with the manager who said the price is the same as the website; there’s no extra fee to waive.

New policy or misinformed manager? This was at OAK.
I've noticed this since February at all Spirit counters.

They DON'T charge the Passenger Usage Fee at the ticket counter, but they seem to replace most of it (save for less than $1 each way) with other fees - for me it's been called "fuel charge" and "regulatory compliance charge"

BEFORE, it used to go like this:
Online fare $29, of which $9.99 is a passenger usage fee and the rest is base fare and taxes and other fees
Ticket counter $19.01 - the exact amount of the usage fee would be deducted and you'd have to just pay for every thing else

NOW, it goes like this:
Same online fare of $29 from above
Ticket counter $28.XX - the usage fee is not charged but Spirit replaces most of the fee amount with a fuel charge and increased regulatory compliance charge, different than what was listed online

Another Fornaro change? It this 'kosher' per DOT rules given Spirit isn't paying taxes on the usage fee and they charge an equivalent replacement of it at the counter?

This recently cost me a few hundred more based on a recent small group booking with Spirit and I was considering filing a DOT complaint to see their official response, given it seemed shady and there is no other way I know of to reach Spirit customer service.
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