Spirit Airlines Cheap Fares

[pyratt]

Just thought I'd pass this along. Recently hooked up with Spirit Airlines $9 FARE CLUB.....it affords you e-mails with CHEAP RATES to SDQ (and Punta Cana) I believe......

Was able to put together a flight from FLL to SDQ for $181US (non-stop) this week for an August trip.

Worth checking out as the fly to/from numerous US cities......

 

[santobonao]

u going to believe that?

 

[agomera]

Actually it does work, I think you have to pay a 9 Fares club membership, and they will send the dates when the $9 Fares + taxes (US$181 in total). Does anyone knows if spirit has a good demand, since they increased the number of flights to 4 daily SDQ-FLL ?

 

[DavidZ]

u going to believe that?

Believe what? They have sales every week...sometimes for one cent! The $8, $9, $19, $29, etc. fares are available quite often. It is part of their marketing strategy...Ive gotten an $8 fare before... I am on their regular email list (no cost) and get sale fare emails sometimes 2-3 times a week...

 

[playacaribe2]

But...

If you need to bring checked luggage, you will now pay for that privilege.

Also, they only guarantee that one paid bag will get on the plane, the second paid bag is on a space available basis....this means that if you bring a second bag to the airport and there is no space, you must find a way to get your luggage home, abandon it at the airport, place it on the next space available flight (which may or may not be the next day) or not get on the flight...in which case you lose your ticket (as Spirit now requires a 24 hour cancellation period as opposed to cancelling anytime prior to flight departure).

So the questions become, how can they fly for such ridiculously low numbers AND why would there be no space available for luggage? The answer, I believe, is the same for both questions.

It would appear Spirit is transforming itself into a cargo airline that also transports people. While cargo is also lifeblood for the other airlines, Spirit seems to have decided that the profits are greater for cargo than people. But since the planes are already outfitted to carry people, why not restrict luggage, increase cargo, and offer reduced fares for the privilege. Will it work?

The answer is yet unwritten. Again another question arises as to the numbers of people who are willing to forego luggage for price. Unscientifically speaking, I have yet to see very many people other than business flyers checking in on a D.R. flight with less than two bags.

So now the bet by Spirit is that a lot of you that fly to the D.R. are willing to potentially give up the second suit case altogether and to pay for the first. Personally, I am betting the other airlines see an increase in their passenger business.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

Just thought I'd pass this along. Recently hooked up with Spirit Airlines $9 FARE CLUB.....it affords you e-mails with CHEAP RATES to SDQ (and Punta Cana) I believe......

Was able to put together a flight from FLL to SDQ for $181US (non-stop) this week for an August trip.

Worth checking out as the fly to/from numerous US cities......

 

[aviastar]

American Airlines offers the same fare for SDQ MIA SDQ, so I don't understand why people are interested in Spirit's low cost service, it is not as budget carrier, they sell the normal level fares for limited service.

 

[DavidZ]

American Airlines offers the same fare for SDQ MIA SDQ, so I don't understand why people are interested in Spirit's low cost service, it is not as budget carrier, they sell the normal level fares for limited service.

While Spirits "rack rates" may be similar to AA's, AA has never offered fares as low as many of Spirit's sale fares (even adding $5 for a checked bag)...add to that the convenience of flying out of FLL, instead of MIA, and there are many people who grab Spirit Tix over AA...

 

[aviastar]

AA is a reliable carrier and what's the problem to fly out of MIA?

 

[agomera]

...add to that the convenience of flying out of FLL, instead of MIA

If you compare both airports, MIA can be busy, but it's easier to walk around from one place to another. FLL had serious problems with their international arrivals / immigration lounge cause they couldn't handle more than 3 flights at the same time, and that's one of the reason why some carriers like AA and US dropped their FLL-SDQ route. Also, moving from one terminal to another can be bothersome, you have to leave security, walk outside, walk or wait for the shuttle, and then go through security again.

AA is a reliable carrier and what's the problem to fly out of MIA?

That's a question that I asked before and I still don't understand why? I don't think Spirit is a low-cost carrier, they are more like a "Voladora". Maybe Delta from FLL will be good choice because at least they will do a baggage interlining if you are connecting, and sometimes you can just check in for all the flights, but if you are connecting with spirit you'll need to claim your bags, re-check (wich means another line), and get new boarding passes.
Miami is a great place, and AA has a good service, it's reliable, and they know why they fly :glasses:

 

[edm7583]

ok first post on this website so here goes:

I fly Spirit Airlines to the DR because they have unbelieveably cheap fares at some times. It is very difficult to get the $9 fare for both ways (you have to stay down there for either 1 night or for 2 months!) but usually you can get the 9$ coming down and your return flight can be somewhere around the ballpark of $129 or so. Add the taxes and you got a fare for about $250. Every time I try American I get the $400-$500 ballpark or more.
For this price difference, I will take a little less customer service.

I will admit though, that Spirit's customer service can be horrific. I experience the worst of it in February in Punta Cana during the Valentine's Day blizzard in the US. If they cancel a flight, they offer no compensation except a seat on the flight out. Also they are introducing the ultra low cost model, charging money for soda, coffee, etc. and paying $5 per checked bag each way. This can be annoying, but as long as I stay ahead pricewise, i'm stuck with them.
Also, Spirit has in the past year or so WAY outgrown it's little concourse it has for itself in the Fort Lauderdale Airport. With all the international and domestic flights coming in and out of this little concourse now, it is a mob scene. One ladies and mens room each with a line out the door, one little Nathan's hot dog joint, and a duty free that is closed half the time.

 

[Hillbilly]

My recent, and enjoyable, experience with Spirit was good all around.
$150 r/t
$10 each for two bags Extra bags, that is)
Water and Cokes were free ( I saw where they won't be in the future)
No problems--other than understaffed US Immigration area--
Highly doubt cargo priority: They just bought a flock of Airbus 319s which work great for pax.
If you check in by email, your extra bags are $5.
Dominicans tend to overload the system. Anyone on one of those cattle runs that AA has to NYC can see that. One woman, six bags of "personal items" and I could fit into each one of those bags!! Yeah, right....

Even spending the money to get to Santo Domingo and back Spirit waved us a fortune.

HB

 

[azabache]

Great info...but to be fair to Spirit Airlines--water will still be complimentary.

 

[El_Uruguayo]

It's only what a 2 hour flight? I figure it's worth saving a couple hundred for the flight. Now the question is, are there any cheap flights from ottawa or montreal to Fort Lauderdale??

 

[DAKRA]

My 2 Cents.. Spirit had a BOGO (Buy One Get One)

Last Year, I flew from Providence, Rhode Island to SDQ on Spirit. In fact, when I bought my ticket, they were having a buy 1 get 1 free sale. The cost of the Roundtrip ticket was about $400. I had to fly from Providence to FLL and FLL to SDQ. Not really that bad, but the flight was PACKED and every seat was at your knees. Very nice ride and new airplanes but it was packed like sardines. No pillows or blankets. Basic food service and food for sale. The flight was ok, but I did not like having to stop in FLL because the Airport is soooo Busy both Going and Coming (Customs was a Nightmare). I did this only because of the free ticket offer.

According to the details of the offer, Spirt would email me the details on how to redeem my free ticket. I have not seen anything yet and I am still waiting. I am sure that the details are coming soon..... But for Now, I just fly AA. *** I do agree that Spirit does have great deals like $9 flights (it is the cost of the taxes and fees that you are really paying for...)

By the way, if the price is right, GO FOR IT !!!

Here is the Spirit Offer I mentioned:

Here's how to get your BOGO* voucher:

1. You must be a member of our frequent flyer program, FREE SPIRIT. If you are not a member, enroll now.

2. To qualify for the promotion, you MUST REGISTER for this offer using your FREE SPIRIT number between 7:00 AM ET on 12/05/06 and 11:59 PM ET on 12/07/2006.

3. Buy a new ticket on spiritair.com between 7:00 AM ET on 12/05/06 and 11:59 PM ET on 12/07/2006 for departing and return travel from 1/10/07 through 3/28/07 to or from the markets listed below and on spiritair.com. Book now ??

4. You MUST Include your FREE SPIRIT number on your reservation when booking your flight on spiritair.com.

5. On or about 5/1/07, for those who qualify for the promotion, Spirit will e-mail a voucher in the amount of the ticket purchased, less any taxes and fees, to the registered e-mail address on your FREE SPIRIT account. Other restrictions apply. Visit spiritair.com for complete details ??

Select BOGO cities are listed below.
Please visit spiritair.com for the complete list of BOGO Markets.

Chicago (O'Hare) To:
Cancun, Mexico
Fort Myers
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Kingston, Jamaica
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Nassau, Bahamas
Punta Cana, DR
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santo Domingo, DR
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Washington, DC (Reagan) To:
Cancun, Mexico
Detroit
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Kingston, Jamaica
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Punta Cana, DR
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santo Domingo, DR
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

 

[mspattya]

I have chosen to fly Spirit rather than AA for pretty much the same reason. PRICE. I also use their free Spirit mastercard to pay all my monthly expenses and then just pay off the balance each month.
A ticket to pop from Tampa was well over 500.00 with AA, the same price as a ticket to London Gatwick from Tampa ( US Air). I went to Europe for a month lol.

 

[laurapasinifan]

Id listen to any carrier for a short period of time....but time and time again....the BS falls to the bottom....and i am left booking with AA all over again...I keep trying to check out all these crazy offers from these oddball carriers and they all fall flat.....

I am not going to drive another 100 miles to fly out of some special airport covered by a certain carrier to save $150. and I dont want to fly when the airline wants me to fly...I NEED to fly when it fits my schedule!!!!

I am sure there are good deals for each airline at various airports....but for NYC...(JFK, LAG) no body comes close to competing with American airlines....

I fly new york to STI....all the other specials are meaningless to me....

I love the fact that some of you people are willing to play roulette with your bags.....maybe they will get on the plane maybe they wont...and I am not talking normal problems..with airport baggage issues...I am talking they WONT put the bags on..like someone mentioned if the planes get to a certain point of being full......ha ha ha ha crazy

bob

 

[Hipocrito Mejia]

I have to agree with Bob. I can check everywhere, and the only airline that has a truly convenient schedule and the best pricing to boot, is AA. Unless something changes, they'll continue to get my business.

 

[Menstresdias95]

It seems rather strange to me that so many folks pump up AA as if they have everyone beat hands down. I've been to the DR six times in the past 18 months and flown with Delta for less the AA rate every time. Try Delta to SDQ or STI, they're usually very competitve and very reliable.

 

[aviastar]

I don't see the point of flying to FLL with NK, when AA offers the same prices to Miami, unless you need to go to that area.

 

[agomera]

I don't see the point of flying to FLL with NK, when AA offers the same prices to Miami, unless you need to go to that area.

...And better connections procedure, more connecting flights, Baggage interlining.