Spirit Airlines declares bankruptcy for second time in less than a year

[Rainger99]

I have flown it once. It was a nightmare. Flight canceled and I was rebooked the next day.

The article claims that after the bankruptcy, it tried to rebrand itself as a more premium airline.

Spirit Airlines files for second bankruptcy in a year as financial challenges persist (https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/spirit-airlines-prepares-second-bankruptcy-200707918.html)

[Babbs1957]

Spirit and Frontier. Felt like we were in cargo planes with a bunch of metal 1940 airline seats lined up with zero cloth padding. Had they served drinks, they would have poured water or tea from plastic gallon jugs. Flew Frontier to Vegas to save money, lost it all in Vegas and was forced to fly Spirit back. Next time I lose it all, I'm taking Greyhound.

[Rainger99]

Next time I lose it all, I'm taking Greyhound.

I have not taken Greyhound in about 60 years but after seeing your post, I checked it out.
If you leave Vegas tomorrow (August 30), the cheapest bus leaves at 7:20 am. It goes to Flagstaff, St. Louis, Atlanta, and Orlando. It takes 61 hours and the cost is $302.45. I think you can get cheaper fares if you book far in advance - but you still have a 61 hour ride!

I also checked airfare. If you leave later in the week, the cheapest price is $207.45 from Vegas to Orlando on Spirit. It is non-stop so it only takes about 5 hours! There is an $80 fare but you have about a five hour layover in Chicago.

Unless you have a tremendous fear of flying, why would anyone pay $302.45 for a 61 hour bus ride instead of $207.45 for a 5 hour plane ride?

[BrianL99]

Spirit and Frontier. .... Flew Frontier to Vegas to save money, lost it all in Vegas and was forced to fly Spirit back. Next time I lose it all, I'm taking Greyhound.

I have flown it once. It was a nightmare. Flight canceled and I was rebooked the next day.



Spirit was a great airline, for frequent fliers, who know how the system works.

I've flown with Spirit back & forth to Boston & other places, dozens of times. The roomiest & widest leather seating of any comparable airline and their seating is as good as first class seats on many airlines.

Of course you have to know the system and not view Spirit as a way to get a cheap flight.

[Topspinmo]

I’m more concerned with maintenance on airplanes? Any airline in financial trouble probably first thing they skimp on maintenance costs. Next staffing like pilots? IMO not good plan?

[BrianL99]

I’m more concerned with maintenance on airplanes? Any airline in financial trouble probably first thing they skimp on maintenance costs. Next staffing like pilots? IMO not good plan?

& your evidence of that?

& your experience with the requirements of aircraft maintenance and running an airline?

[Topspinmo]

& your evidence of that?

& your experience with the requirements of aircraft maintenance and running an airline?

41 years aircraft engine mechanic.

[ThirdOfFive]

I have flown it once. It was a nightmare. Flight canceled and I was rebooked the next day.

The article claims that after the bankruptcy, it tried to rebrand itself as a more premium airline.

Spirit Airlines files for second bankruptcy in a year as financial challenges persist (https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/spirit-airlines-prepares-second-bankruptcy-200707918.html)
I've only flown Spirit once. Pretty uneventful though they charge for basically everything beyond the ticket.

My least-favored airline has to be Frontier. I've only flown them twice but both times it was a zoo at the gate. You get one small under-the-seat bag for free but it has to fit a box that is kept just in back of the boarding line, and it was a pretty small box. Ours was manned (personed?) by a ponderous woman with a face like a bull mastiff and apparently a disposition to match. Your bag had to fit precisely; nothing (including handle or straps) could protrude beyond the box dimensions. If it did, you were immediately sent to a small side desk where you had to pay $100 to check it (ordinary checked bags were only $50). There were a few rancorous exchanges with the mastiff and even more at the desk where several people had to fork over $100. My bag fit w/no problems. The rancorous exchanges did mean that we took off about a bit later than scheduled.

People walking by on the concourse could easily hear and see what was happening: my thought was that what was going on was the worse possible publicity for the airline.

[BrianL99]

41 years aircraft engine mechanic.

Then you should know better.

[westernrider75]

I have flown it once. It was a nightmare. Flight canceled and I was rebooked the next day.

The article claims that after the bankruptcy, it tried to rebrand itself as a more premium airline.

Spirit Airlines files for second bankruptcy in a year as financial challenges persist (https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/spirit-airlines-prepares-second-bankruptcy-200707918.html)

I flew Spirit back and forth from Latrobe to Orlando for the 2 years we owned our house here until we moved full time. No frills but you can’t beat $100 Roundtrip and no charge for parking.

[Priebehouse]

I have found no better carrier between Detroit and Orlando for value, timely flights and scheduling. I can pass on the 1.5 oz bag of pretzels and a free water/coke/coffee. I bring my own on the flight, purchased after TSA pre-check. So I pay for a bag (if needed). With a house in each location, who needs more than one bag? Delays? We have only experienced 2 major delays; one for a hurricane and the other for Snowmageddon. Spirit will survive. A few minor chages, bumps and bruises - but the big yellow birds will continue to fly

[Topspinmo]

Then you should know better.


That means nothing down in trenches.

[BrianL99]

41 years aircraft engine mechanic.

That means nothing down in trenches.

I'm sure the guys turning wrenches and changing the oil, know way more than the FAA, who considers Spirit Airlines one of the safest of the major carriers.

Statistics and history don't mean anything?

[Topspinmo]

I'm sure the guys turning wrenches and changing the oil, know way more than the FAA, who considers Spirit Airlines one of the safest of the major carriers.

Statistics and history don't mean anything?

Yes, they do, don’t see FAA fixing anything except after the fact and usually only get involved after fact.

Spirit relatively small compared major airlines.

Some are just lucky, eventually due to management luck eventually runs out.

[Normal]

Wow, who knew? Spirit Airlines and The Villages Health are related. What a tight knit world we live in.

[Topspinmo]

Wow, who knew? Spirit Airlines and The Villages Health are related. What a tight knit world we live in.

Spirit one up on VHC. Maybe the 3rd time will be charm? :eclipsee_gold_cup:

[gatorbill1]

Worst airline ever - used once - never again

[FloridaGuy66]

Tried booking with them once. Was something like a $69 direct flight to Buffalo from MCO one way. Unfortunately I had a large suitcase and a backpack to bring with me. I also wanted to choose my own seat so that at least I wasn't stuck in the middle for almost 3 hours.

By the time all these extra fees are taken into account, it was closer to $200 for the one-way flight so I just ended up booking with Southwest for roughly the same price and at least knowing the seats aren't packed in like sardines and the service is relatively decent.

[BrianL99]

Tried booking with them once. Was something like a $69 direct flight to Buffalo from MCO one way. Unfortunately I had a large suitcase and a backpack to bring with me. I also wanted to choose my own seat so that at least I wasn't stuck in the middle for almost 3 hours.

By the time all these extra fees are taken into account, it was closer to $200 for the one-way flight so I just ended up booking with Southwest for roughly the same price and at least knowing the seats aren't packed in like sardines and the service is relatively decent.

That was a good trick, because you can't choose your seat on Southwest Airlines, until your flight departs AFTER January 27, 2026.

If you chose your seat, you didn't fly on Southwest.

[FloridaGuy66]

That was a good trick, because you can't choose your seat on Southwest Airlines, until your flight departs AFTER January 27, 2026.

If you chose your seat, you didn't fly on Southwest.

Sounds like you've never flown Southwest before. I've flown Southwest probably 100 times.

It's like boarding a bus. Anyone flying on Southwest can choose your seat. You walk on and choose your seat. As long as you're not one of the last 10-15 people boarding, you can easily find yourself a seat that's not a middle one.

It's unfortunate that they're doing the money grab thing and removing this practice. It also made their boarding times faster than any other airline.

[BrianL99]

Sounds like you've never flown Southwest before. I've flown Southwest probably 100 times.

It's like boarding a bus. Anyone flying on Southwest can choose your seat. You walk on and choose your seat. As long as you're not one of the last 10-15 people boarding, you can easily find yourself a seat that's not a middle one.

It's unfortunate that they're doing the money grab thing and removing this practice. It also made their boarding times faster than any other airline.

I've flown Southwest 100's of times. You're assigned a Boarding # and get to choose any seat that's available when you step on the airplane. The smart Southwest flyers, buy "Priority", so they have a number lower than 20 for boarding (EXTRA cost). Then the for another EXTRA cost, you get "Early Check In", which will usually get you a number lower than about 50.

Southwest Airplanes have between 24-30 rows, which means at least 25 people sit in a "middle seat", whether they like it or not. Unfortunately, Southwest official policy, is they don't interfere with Passengers "saving seats" for their friends with higher boarding numbers, which means that if you're not lucky enough to have a number under 100, you're likely going to be in a middle seat.

There is no way to insure you don't get a "middle seat" on Southwest. It's the exact same gamble as buying a cabin seat on Spirit, other than you pay extra.

It's usually between $40-$60 to get an upgraded seat on any airline ... just spend the money.