Spirit Airlines files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

[LVSteve]

Will it affect their schedules? Who knows, but I suspect holiday travel will be a bit more fraught with worry, and maybe more expensive.

I have mixed feelings. I know the Justice Department filed an anti-trust lawsuit to prevent Spirit joining with JetBlue on the grounds that it would make air travel too expensive. However, I would contend that any concern that outfits its aircraft with a 28 inch seat pitch does not deserve to be considered an airline. If they go to the wall, I won't miss them.

Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy. What does that mean for travelers? | AP News

 

[Rustyt1953]

The spirit will no longer move me.

 

[lihpster]

The spirit will no longer move me.

Guess you'll have to rely on the rhythm from now on.

 

[AugieTN]

Wife has relatives in Phoenix and would fly Spirit. I have a couple of times. Didn't have any major issues, other than a couple of women not giving their seat up to a guy who paid for the seat.

I didn't notice the 28" seat pitch being a problem, other than being a bit tight.

 

[LVSteve]

Wife has relatives in Phoenix and would fly Spirit. I have a couple of times. Didn't have any major issues, other than a couple of women not giving their seat up to a guy who paid for the seat.

I didn't notice the 28" seat pitch being a problem, other than being a bit tight.

I'm pretty leggy for somebody under six foot, and I certainly notice when the seat pitch is under 30".

 

[Ameshawki]

Chapter 11, Reorganization. They're still flying.

I'm hard pressed to name an airline that hasn't taken the cure in the last twenty five years. Nature of the beast. Why anyone would invest in the industry is a mystery to me.

 

[Tom S.]

The spirit will no longer move me.

So you won't be "goin' up to the Spirit in the sky"?

 

[DWalt]

Spoxman said Spirit business will continue as usual. Yellow planes fly over my house often, but I have yet to become a Spirit passenger.

I got stranded in Denver for several days when Braniff (very) suddenly quit flying back in 1982. An interesting situation with Braniff’s rapid collapse. I won’t get into it but you can look it up on Wikipedia, etc. if you are interested. I vividly remember the pilot announcing to the passengers as we were landing in Denver that Braniff had just died, and passengers continuing on would have to fend for themselves. Or words to that effect.

 

[LVSteve]

Chapter 11, Reorganization. They're still flying.

I'm hard pressed to name an airline that hasn't taken the cure in the last twenty five years. Nature of the beast. Why anyone would invest in the industry is a mystery to me.

Yes, they are still flying, but I can see unexpected cancellations in the future of some travelers. They can only fly while they still have pilots and flight attendants. How many will jump ship with this announcement? I guess it depends on whether the company can still make payday.

 

[DWalt]

Yes, they are still flying, but I can see unexpected cancellations in the future of some travelers. They can only fly while they still have pilots and flight attendants. How many will jump ship with this announcement? I guess it depends on whether the company can still make payday.

I haven’t seen anything that provides details of how deep their hole is. They did announce that their stock will shortly be de-listed, and that indicates it is very deep. Next logical step would be that their creditors might seek an involuntary conversion to a Chapter 7 and start seizing their planes. I have seen that happen.

 

[dockmurgw]

AKA Jerry Springer Airlines.

 

[Roofuss]

Have not flown in over 20 years, and don't miss the mad house at the airports, lol !

 

[ladder13]

No interest in cheap airlines. You get what you pay for.

Neighbor was stuck in Orlando with four children and abandoned by Frontier. Frontier cancelled the flight, shut down customer service, and left the family to fend for themselves with zero assistance from Frontier.

 

[LVSteve]

No interest in cheap airlines. You get what you pay for.

Neighbor was stuck in Orlando with four children and abandoned by Frontier. Frontier cancelled the flight, shut down customer service, and left the family to fend for themselves with zero assistance from Frontier.

Frontier are well known for their negative customer care.

What frosts me is that the airlines gouge so much on fares at the holidays. To get a flight at a sensible cost with a 'better than basic' airline means booking way ahead. Then, if you have to change plans, it's BOHICA time. I cannot guess how much we saved driving to Texas last Christmas instead of flying, then having to return 2-3 days earlier than planned.

 

[ladder13]

Frontier are well known for their negative customer care.

What frosts me is that the airlines gouge so much on fares at the holidays. To get a flight at a sensible cost with a 'better than basic' airline means booking way ahead. Then, if you have to change plans, it's BOHICA time. I cannot guess how much we saved driving to Texas last Christmas instead of flying, then having to return 2-3 days earlier than planned.

The only places we go during any holiday is within driving distance. We like to be in charge of our own destiny. It’s madness to fly.

 

[yaktamer]

Too many horror stories and YouTube videos of brawls on Spirit. The cheapest airline I fly is Allegiant. Mostly because they have direct flights out of a smaller airport closer to home, so I don't have to pay as much for parking and negotiate the crowds and other hassles of Phoenix Sky Harbor. Also, as a veteran, I get two free checked bags and a free carryon (to include a small dog carrier if need be), as does anyone traveling with me, without paying any of the extra fees that they charge that really add up. Seats aren't as comfortable as most of the other airlines, but I can handle that if it's only a couple of hours. They typically only fly to destinations twice a week (or three times during peak season) and tend to have more flight cancellations due to "weather," so if I'm travelling for something other than leisure I generally look elsewhere.

 

[glenwolde]

I tend to fly these ultra-discount airlines exactly once. They have so many fees for so many things it never ends up actually being cheaper for me.

Most airlines lease a good portion of their fleet so they don't own all their planes. Those planes will get released back into the national fleet pretty quick if they are needed.

Flight crews are in demand so they should transition fairly easily.

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