4 Signs the Airlines Just Don't Get It

[SarahS]

There's been a lot of outrage lately over AIG, but frequent travelers haven't forgotten the many abuses committed by a different segment of corporate America: the airline industry. Unfortunately, the airlines are still at it -- check out our latest story below.

Are Spirit's ad campaigns really that bad? Should Ryanair charge for using the bathroom in flight? Weigh in with your thoughts!

Related Story
Airlines Still Don't Get It: Four Recent Blunders

[ghstudio]

Good article....

There are still some untapped fees:

A charge to look up flights on the airline's web site, whether or not you book a flight.

A charge to find out the flight status

A charge to get an electronic ticket confirmation by email

A lost or damaged baggage fee if your bag is lost or damaged

A check-in fee if you don't use the electronic check in.

[soliteyah]

Good article....

There are still some untapped fees:

A charge to look up flights on the airline's web site, whether or not you book a flight.

A charge to find out the flight status

A charge to get an electronic ticket confirmation by email

A lost or damaged baggage fee if your bag is lost or damaged

A check-in fee if you don't use the electronic check in.

Shhh! Don't give the airlines any ideas!

God, could you imagine if they charged you just to search for a flight?? I'd be paying out the wazoo!

[RichardNika]

I've flown Spirit about 40 times in the past two years. I use their $9 club and their Mastercard (which I use at least once a month to defray the membership fee) and I play their crazy internet sales like Heifetz played the violin. That's how, living in Miami Beach, I go visit my daughter and grandson in Atlanta - or how we both go to NYC just for the day to visit museums - for less than a lot of our neighbors pay to go out to dinner. I've only had one bad experience with their personnel - two nasty female flight attendants on a Guatemala-Ft. Lauderdale flight in August 2007. Generally speaking, on-board and desk and gate personnel are polite, even friendly. One pilot sang his own "company song" for passengers just before landing - his voice was so bad that everyone clapped - and then joked that CDs would be available at the exit!

Trying to deal with their OFFICE people is another matter. They are very hard to reach. As Pres. Obama said the other day, persistence is a virtue!

The FAA forces them to include their absurd extra fees in the posted fares, so when you see them post a fare, that's it - UNLESS you want to check luggage or reserve a seat.

Here's how to fly Spirit without getting upset.

(1) Join their $9 club and their e mail list and then apply for their mastercard and use it at least once a month. Having the card means double mileage, AND you get to preboard!

(2) Check your e mails regularly. Look for the word "Promotions" (NOT "Spirit") in the subject line. Follow the prompt.

(3) Don't check baggage. Ever. And don't try to carry a huge bag on board. Keep the size down. Their bins are good sized but not huge.

(4) Don't reserve a seat on line. It costs money. If you're traveling alone, go to the airport early, go to their desk, and ask the agent to give you an aisle or window. Otherwise, you'll end up in the DMS (Dreaded Middle Seat) If you're a couple, use the kiosk (if it's working) to get your boarding passes. If at all possible, the kiosk will put the two of you together. Worked for us.

(5) When you buy a ticket on line, if you don't weant the travel insurance, remember to uncheck the box for it! Then the ticket price drops to reflect its omission. If you're paying less than $50 for a roundtrip, who needs it, anyway?

(6) Bring an empty water bottle through security, then fill it from a water fountain. Spirit charges for everything on board unless you need water to take pills. Then they'll give you a small cup of it free. Bring your own food. It's not just a question of money, Spirit sells only junk food and candy on board. If you're starving and forgot to bring food, you can buy a decent large muffin for $2. If you want something stronger than water, get some of those little airline-type bottles of booze at a liquor store for $1-$2 and put them in your one quart size transparent bag along with your toiletries. Yes, TSA allows them. But a mixer (soft drink) will cost you $3.

(7) If you take Spirit to New York (LaGuardia) and you're under 65, stop at a Hudson newsstand on the ground floor and buy a one-day MetroCard for $8. It provies unlimited transport on the M-60 bus into Manhattan and on all buses and subways in all 5 boroughs until 3 AM the next day. If you're 65 or over, bring quarters and pay the $1 senior fare in cash. (Dollar bills are NOT accepted) Transfers are free. This doesn't really work on the subways, though, just the buses.

(8) There's an "Au Bon Pain" stand right by Spirit's LaGuardia gate. Their coffee's just as good as Dunkin Donuts next door, and no line. They have really good $1 rolls, and the butter and jam are free. (Self service) You might want to pack some of their goodies for the return flight.

(9) If you fly them into Atlanta, you'll go via the D gates and have to take the little airport subway. In the terminal, follow the signs for MARTA, the local light rail/subway system and use it. The fare is $2. Transfers to and from buses are included in your fare card. But remember to put your fare card on or through the machine when you leave the system as well as when you enter it. Take a minute on your way to or from Spirit's Atlanta gate to enjoy the student art exhibit inspired by the Olympics.

(10) If you fly them into Los Angeles (LAX), take the free shuttle to the outdoor bus terminal nearby. From there, you can catch a public bus to almost anywhere in the region.

(1)

[praveenmohankumar]

I have a story about my lost bad while travelling through Srilankan Airlines from Trivandrum to Bangkok via Srilanka.. I was travelling with my family and all our dress, laptop, mobile, camera with my 4 year old daughter's medicine are lost when we reached Bangkok. we made a complaint and nothing turned around till we returned back. We got $50 as our first compensation in Bangkok Airport and they said the Trivandrum branch will be contacting me for further procedures regarding my claim. After 2 months a letter came from Chennai head office stating "All baggage claims are settled on the weight basis and not on their value" and my bag weight 10kg which is $200 ($20/kg) when I talked to the manager he says its their RULE!!

My bag itself costs me $50! and you can't get a good dress for $30! I am not sure whats going on in their mind about their passengers belongings...

Not sure what to do next other than going for a court case..I will be grateful if you can help me with good advice.

[dhammer53]

I've flown Spirit about 40 times in the past two years. I use their $9 club and their Mastercard (which I use at least once a month to defray the membership fee) and I play their crazy internet sales like Heifetz played the violin. That's how, living in Miami Beach, I go visit my daughter and grandson in Atlanta - or how we both go to NYC just for the day to visit museums - for less than a lot of our neighbors pay to go out to dinner. I've only had one bad experience with their personnel - two nasty female flight attendants on a Guatemala-Ft. Lauderdale flight in August 2007. Generally speaking, on-board and desk and gate personnel are polite, even friendly. One pilot sang his own "company song" for passengers just before landing - his voice was so bad that everyone clapped - and then joked that CDs would be available at the exit!

Trying to deal with their OFFICE people is another matter. They are very hard to reach. As Pres. Obama said the other day, persistence is a virtue!

The FAA forces them to include their absurd extra fees in the posted fares, so when you see them post a fare, that's it - UNLESS you want to check luggage or reserve a seat.

Here's how to fly Spirit without getting upset.

(1) Join their $9 club and their e mail list and then apply for their mastercard and use it at least once a month. Having the card means double mileage, AND you get to preboard!

(2) Check your e mails regularly. Look for the word "Promotions" (NOT "Spirit") in the subject line. Follow the prompt.

(3) Don't check baggage. Ever. And don't try to carry a huge bag on board. Keep the size down. Their bins are good sized but not huge.

(4) Don't reserve a seat on line. It costs money. If you're traveling alone, go to the airport early, go to their desk, and ask the agent to give you an aisle or window. Otherwise, you'll end up in the DMS (Dreaded Middle Seat) If you're a couple, use the kiosk (if it's working) to get your boarding passes. If at all possible, the kiosk will put the two of you together. Worked for us.

(5) When you buy a ticket on line, if you don't weant the travel insurance, remember to uncheck the box for it! Then the ticket price drops to reflect its omission. If you're paying less than $50 for a roundtrip, who needs it, anyway?

(6) Bring an empty water bottle through security, then fill it from a water fountain. Spirit charges for everything on board unless you need water to take pills. Then they'll give you a small cup of it free. Bring your own food. It's not just a question of money, Spirit sells only junk food and candy on board. If you're starving and forgot to bring food, you can buy a decent large muffin for $2. If you want something stronger than water, get some of those little airline-type bottles of booze at a liquor store for $1-$2 and put them in your one quart size transparent bag along with your toiletries. Yes, TSA allows them. But a mixer (soft drink) will cost you $3.

(7) If you take Spirit to New York (LaGuardia) and you're under 65, stop at a Hudson newsstand on the ground floor and buy a one-day MetroCard for $8. It provies unlimited transport on the M-60 bus into Manhattan and on all buses and subways in all 5 boroughs until 3 AM the next day. If you're 65 or over, bring quarters and pay the $1 senior fare in cash. (Dollar bills are NOT accepted) Transfers are free. This doesn't really work on the subways, though, just the buses.

(8) There's an "Au Bon Pain" stand right by Spirit's LaGuardia gate. Their coffee's just as good as Dunkin Donuts next door, and no line. They have really good $1 rolls, and the butter and jam are free. (Self service) You might want to pack some of their goodies for the return flight.

(9) If you fly them into Atlanta, you'll go via the D gates and have to take the little airport subway. In the terminal, follow the signs for MARTA, the local light rail/subway system and use it. The fare is $2. Transfers to and from buses are included in your fare card. But remember to put your fare card on or through the machine when you leave the system as well as when you enter it. Take a minute on your way to or from Spirit's Atlanta gate to enjoy the student art exhibit inspired by the Olympics.

(10) If you fly them into Los Angeles (LAX), take the free shuttle to the outdoor bus terminal nearby. From there, you can catch a public bus to almost anywhere in the region.

(1)

Richard,

This is the best post that I've ever read on this board.

dh

[Traveling Granny]

This is directed to Praveenmohankumar. The moral of your story is never put anything of great value that you must have for your trip in a checked bag. This would include your laptop, camera, and daughter's medicine. Clothing items would be expensive to replace but not as much as the other items, and they are usually much easier to replace. Medicines, especially prescription meds, may not cost as much but are usually among the most essential items you will pack. So always carry those on with you.

[sunil00719]

ha, welcome to my world. you have got to wonder how long will it keep on going. how much can airlines get away with ? a lot of it is really our faults as travelers is not being proactive in holding airlines accountable for their behavior.

[RichardNika]

Sophomoric sexist airline campaigns remind me of the king and emperor (queen and empress?) of them all - the long-gone National Airlines "I'm ___ (insert female first name here), fly me!" complete with accompanying musical jingle.

Airlines that treat real and/or prospective customers offensively will, inevitably, go to that great airline graveyard in the sky. Remember Eastern and the WHEAL (We Hate Eastern Air Lines) clubs? They survived as long as they did because they basically flew from every US city and town to every other US city and town. They met their doom in 1991, with Frank Lorenzo playing the role of Dr. Kevorkian. How many outrages did Eastern visit on me during the many years I flew them? Let's just say that they're the only airline that put me on the wrong plane!