Spirit Airlines?

tawillers

Does anyone know anything about them?  They've got a $9 Fare Club Membership and it looks like it would save us a hell of a lot on our trip to Disney this Sept.  We'd be paying less than $1K for 5 people through them vs the $1500+ through other airlines.

Anyone have any experience or know anything about the membership?

GBCK

Spirit sucks

I've flown them once or twice--never on time, always delayed, and they suck.

My baby sis used to fly them a lot...which is why she almost missed gramps's funeral.  Bastard airline.

DG1

I think you'll end up spending the extra500 in various Spirit fees, and it'll piss you off in the process.

PMeg819

Your tickets may be less but they will nickel and dime you for everything else. Look at all the other fees: bags, checking in online, etc.

DG1

LR just had a horrible experience with them.

footballwife77

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_spirit-airlines?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:79ac6dab-3403-4d97-8c5b-ee44a3601f36Post:6c20bf85-f4f3-4ff2-bbb1-88ec98fbb03d">Re: Spirit Airlines?</a>:
[QUOTE]Spirit sucks I've flown them once or twice--never on time, always delayed, and they suck. My baby sis used to fly them a lot...which is why she almost missed gramps's funeral.  Bastard airline.
Posted by GBCK[/QUOTE]

This. My friend used them a couple times to go to vegas. She said they were delayed to/from.

alikatt17

You're probably better off flying Southwest.  I think it was under $2k for 7 people to fly round trip from Chicago to Orlando when we went in January.  I

f you're staying on Disney property, you can take the Magical Express for free to your resort from the airport, and back.  They even checked our bags in for us so all we had to do was go through security on the way back.

An acquaintence of mine just flew Spirit and it just a horrible experience.  Late, nickled and dimed for everything, etc.

zsazsa-stl

And they are the ones that charge every fee under the moon - like for checked baggage AND for carry-on bags, right?  Or was that just a suggested charge?

Check their fee list and make sure your savings wouldn't be eaten up with those. 

Also, I am very suspicious of the club things that suggest they could save you that much money.  If it were true, everyone would join it and they would go out of business.  A few years ago I was having trouble finding a reasonable fare for a trip H and I were taking.  The lowest fare was through American and then I got this e-mail offering a few free companion tickets if I would just cough up $75 or so for a "club" so I did it, got my companion coupons and then went to book that $500 ticket and use the coupon for H.  Surprise!  When I logged in through the club (which you had to do to use the coupon) that same route was now $1,000.  So it was exactly the same price for two tickets, pass or no pass, club or no club, except now I was out the $75 club membership.  I got my money back and booked my tickets the old fashioned way. 

GBCK

They do charge for carry-ons.

tawillers

I'm trying to add up the fees and see what they'd charge us.  DH is saying that since we're not in a hurry on that Saturday to get there (we'd get Disney tickets for Sunday through the next week) that the delays wouldn't be a big deal if it was so much cheaper.  I like the cheaper idea, but I don't think he's realizing that being delayed all day with 3 kids, 2 of them under 5, will be a nightmare.  It's not like it's just us two adults waiting quietly for our flights.

We're definitely doing the Magical Express transportation.  We did it when we went in 2010 and it was nice not to have to worry about anything.  Except our luggage arrived at our hotel really late at night and one of our bags was shredded, but that was a Disney thing, not an airline thing.  The delivery kid admitted to knocking the cart of luggage over and ruining our bag.

We're also seriously considering driving to Disney.  We don't want to do it, but the differences we've calculated vs flying is enough to make you sick. We're willing to pay more for the convenience of flying, but not when the difference is almost double.

Wzz

what is the difference in travel time, flying vs. driving? also, would you be staying overnight someplace en route?

DG1

Eh. Make sure flying really is more convenient. By the time you deal with security x5 and all those checked hopefully not lost bags and carseats and strollers, you might be better off just throwing it all in the car and going. I know it's a long drive, but just whip out the electronics and take plenty of breaks, and you'll get some peace.

GBCK

when I say delays, I don't mean that you get a 2 hour delay...

I mean you get a 2 hour delay that becomes a 4 hour delay that becomes "fly out at midnight, or take the flight tomorrow morning instead"

At least that was my experience last summer.  And has been baby sis's repeatedly. 

Just me but, vacation time is measured in HOURS...spending 6 of 'em at an airport unnecessarily  sucks.

driving also sucks in it's own way though.

tawillers

If we drove, we'd leave on Friday as opposed to Saturday.  It wouldn't eat up an actual vacation day, because we'd leave after DH got off of work.

We've done all the driving calculations - route, possible cities to stop in overnight, hotel costs, total fuel costs, food, how often we'd stop for gas/stretching our legs/bathrooms, even wear and tear on our vehicle, thanks to an online calculator.  We're pretty confident in the price we've come up with.

Flying would be so much more convenient (you'd think), but the cost is almost double.  Personally, I'm leaning more toward driving, even though I know it won't be fun.  We know you get what you pay for RE: the airlines, and I feel like the smallest thing could ruin my day when it comes to airports and 3 kids.

DG1

Once we're out of carseats, I'll consider flying a bit more - say, to see my parents. But really, I far prefer having only my own schedule to deal with, being able to stop when I want to or have to, etc.And not having to deal with airport security. Especially for long trips - you don't want to deal with lost luggage or trying to pack 7 days' worth of sunscreen for 5 people into a 3 oz bottle (or pay through the nose for it on-site at the resort).

I'd also spend the whole time wondering how many people in the airport are like WWers, hating me just for daring to bring kids through the doors. 

The whole thing just sounds at least as stressful as driving.

If you're flying for convenience, make sure you are at least likely to actually get the convenience. It sounds like you'd be paying $300 more (plus even more for check-on bags, checked bags, the privilege of breathing their air, etc.) and getting ZERO convenience (and, really, probably a lot more headache). 

If you can fly southwest, you'd be FAR more likely to have a positive flying experience, at least. 

**O-Face**

Taw-I'm totally late to this party, but here are my $.05.

My father does not fly.  Like ever.  Not since he came back from Germany during his service days.

So, every vacation was driving, and we'd probably be out for about 3-4 weeks.  I remember those times fondly.  I mean, it's part of the experience.  You get to stop at fun gas stations, see what's there, visit bathrooms (yes, kids LOOoOoove bathrooms) and just see how the world is, from a car, 200 miles at a time.  It's not the easiest but it's all I ever knew, and hey, I turned out just fine. 

Heffalump

I flew them once, way back in the early 2000's when they had only recently stopped being ValuJet after that unfortunate swamp crash.  All I remember was that the flight attendants were way too happy and sang a little song on the final descent.

(No help, just had to share.)

6fsn

I'd totally drive it.  Flying with kids holds zero appeal to me and I enjoy a good road trip.

GBCK

I hate driving with a purpose, but I enjoy a road trip.

But that only works if everyone understands the fun of the road trip.

Heffalump

Having done both, I think I'd rather fly with DD than drive.  But she's just one kid, not three, so maybe more kids are exponentially worse, IDK.

She is already prepping for our Alaska flight--this kid is a planner.  Over breakfast last weekend, she did this brow furrow thing she does and announced that she had been thinking (awww) and she thought we should take the portable DVD player AND the iPad in case two of us want to watch a movie at the same time. 

tawillers

O - I also have fond memories of our vacations.  We ALWAYS drove and it always took 2 days to get there.  My dad has never been on a plane and my mom just took her first ride a couple years ago when she visited my brother and his family in China.

I always thought the road trip part was so much fun.

DH really doesn't want to drive and I'm wanting to.  But at the same time, he doesn't want to put out the money to make the flight a good experience, so we've got some more discussing to do.  He sees the road trip as a potential 24+ hr nightmare vs a 5-8 hr nightmare if we flew.  He has a point.  At least we have a little time to figure it out. 

NOLABridesmaid

i don't mind road trips, but I hate driving and will pay in order not to have to do it.

6fsn

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_spirit-airlines?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:79ac6dab-3403-4d97-8c5b-ee44a3601f36Post:181aa133-e249-44f9-abea-2e3045a2e742">Re: Spirit Airlines?</a>:
[QUOTE]O - I also have fond memories of our vacations.  We ALWAYS drove and it always took 2 days to get there.  My dad has never been on a plane and my mom just took her first ride a couple years ago when she visited my brother and his family in China. I always thought the road trip part was so much fun. DH really doesn't want to drive and I'm wanting to.  But at the same time, he doesn't want to put out the money to make the flight a good experience, so we've got some more discussing to do.  He sees the road trip as a potential 24+ hr nightmare vs a<strong> 5-8 hr nightmare if we flew</strong>.  He has a point.  At least we have a little time to figure it out.  :)
Posted by tawillers[/QUOTE]

Except even with the best airline it may end up being far more than a 5-8 hr flight. 

**O-Face**

Taw, with driving you have a little more control too, that helps.  I mean if your car is in good condition, you plan your itinerary well, know your route, you really decrease the chance for issue.  Whereas with an airline (that is already not a good one) you are really tempting the lack of control and frustration factor. 

beachbum7212

I'm going to echo PP's in that it's not worth it. FI and I recently flew home to see family w/ them and the "low airfare" roped us in - after being nickle and dimed for every last thing we ended up paying more than we would have with American Airlines or Delta. Don't do it.