While traveling to Dallas, Tx for the eclipse this past weekend, I did an interview on the podcast AppleSauced, on Technology, Life, and Beer!
Public Service Warning: Navigating Troubles with Spirit Airlines and Frontier
During a recent trip from Dallas, I encountered severe disruptions that I believe warrant a public warning about Spirit Airlines and similar budget carriers.
The journey began with my Frontier flight to Las Vegas being delayed due to a storm, putting my connecting flight with Spirit at risk. Recognizing the potential issue, I contacted Spirit proactively to find a solution. Their response was to reroute me through Oakland, which would get me and my daughter home that night but also basically forced me to purchase a new ticket, costing an additional $285.09 each—above the amount I paid for the initial fare. Adding to the frustration, the price for the same rerouted flight is normally just $74 and you can almost be assured that flight I missed was over booked so it didn’t cost them anything for us missing it.
The situation became more complicated when addressing compensation. Frontier offered me two $75 vouchers, while Spirit initially offered nothing. It was only after I voiced my concerns on Facebook that Spirit responded with a two $50 vouchers. Both airlines’ vouchers came with a two-month expiration, which felt more like token gestures than actual resolutions, especially given that I’m unlikely to choose Spirit for future travel after this experience.
This incident highlights a broader issue with budget airlines: exploiting vulnerable passengers during disruptions. Both Spirit and Frontier shifted blame between each other and even suggested I was at fault for the incurred costs.
From this experience, my advice is to carefully consider both the upfront savings and potential hidden costs when booking with budget carriers. The real expense might come unexpectedly, turning what seems like a bargain into a costly ordeal.
