usvi-on-line
Spirit charging for seat assignments
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gymnastika
- Posts: 291
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:01 pm
- Location: texas
Spirit charging for seat assignments
I bought my tickets a few weeks ago on Spirit and finally got around to selecting seats....
$10 for isle or window,
$5 for middle,
$15 for exit.
You don't have to pay if they "randomly" assign you seats at the gate.
hmmm... wonder how that's gonna work to have toddler's sitting next to strangers?? That will make for some fun flights.
apparently this new charge went into effect a few days ago. I found out more info from a forum and people are "upset", to say it nicely.
I have 4 legs of this trip. I would have to fork out 100 bucks to insure all of us sit together!!! I have a 7 yr old and 12 yr old. Do they really make children seperate from their parents? crazy.
$10 for isle or window,
$5 for middle,
$15 for exit.
You don't have to pay if they "randomly" assign you seats at the gate.
hmmm... wonder how that's gonna work to have toddler's sitting next to strangers?? That will make for some fun flights.
apparently this new charge went into effect a few days ago. I found out more info from a forum and people are "upset", to say it nicely.
I have 4 legs of this trip. I would have to fork out 100 bucks to insure all of us sit together!!! I have a 7 yr old and 12 yr old. Do they really make children seperate from their parents? crazy.
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California Girl
Do you know for a fact that they separate children from their parents, or is that just an assumption on your part? I would think they would do everything in their power to keep children with their parents as other passengers wouldn't want that responsibility placed on them.
I know that I have no kids and I certainly wouldn't want to sit next to a child that needed attention the entire flight.
I know that I have no kids and I certainly wouldn't want to sit next to a child that needed attention the entire flight.
They might not be so bad as to separate the kids from both parents but one might end up with both kids, esp if one kid is a lap baby. Happened to us on a flight back from Florida and it was not fun. Luckily both of my kids slept, one on me and one next to me while my husband reclined up in the bulkhead seat.
We buy 3 seats for the 4 of us (until Max is a little older) and it is SO much easier when we have 3 in a row. Hubby & I can help each other out and also there is not a non-related grown-up sitting next to my kid getting bothered. It seems to be a win-win.
Our experienc with Air Tran was that it was our problem, not theirs. Period. They did NOTHING to help us at all. I understand if no one else wants to give up their seat for us (not their fault we have a kid), but at least the staff could have tried to help us find a volunteer.
We buy 3 seats for the 4 of us (until Max is a little older) and it is SO much easier when we have 3 in a row. Hubby & I can help each other out and also there is not a non-related grown-up sitting next to my kid getting bothered. It seems to be a win-win.
Our experienc with Air Tran was that it was our problem, not theirs. Period. They did NOTHING to help us at all. I understand if no one else wants to give up their seat for us (not their fault we have a kid), but at least the staff could have tried to help us find a volunteer.
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gymnastika
- Posts: 291
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:01 pm
- Location: texas
They say they will do their best to accomodate families. Hmm.
This happens to families all the time. One lady told the flight attendant that she would have to help keep an eye on her extremely HDHD 5 yr old since the airline wouldn't sit them together. It didn't take long for the flight attendant to arrange for the mother and son to sit together!
Who knows. I can't imagine this going over well with families traveling with small children. You will have to rely on the kindness of strangers, that haven't pre-paid either, if they would be willing to switch. Oh Joy. What fun that will be.
This happens to families all the time. One lady told the flight attendant that she would have to help keep an eye on her extremely HDHD 5 yr old since the airline wouldn't sit them together. It didn't take long for the flight attendant to arrange for the mother and son to sit together!
Who knows. I can't imagine this going over well with families traveling with small children. You will have to rely on the kindness of strangers, that haven't pre-paid either, if they would be willing to switch. Oh Joy. What fun that will be.
Ultimately though, we as consumers have a choice. At some point you have to speak with your pocketbook and say, Enough.
These days being a savvy consumer for airlines is difficult and you have to weigh a TON of factors. When factoring the REAL costs of a ticket I factor in:
Time schedules, baggage allowances (knowing how much I need to take and what they are going to charge me if I go over), amenities, liklihood of upgrade etc. It all adds up especially when it comes to baggage these days.
Sure you may have bought the ticket for $15 cheaper but if you're paying more at the gate for baggage seat assignments etc. then you might be betetr off saying "no" to the "cheaper" ticket with the budget airline.
Now all things being equal just whip out the magic 8 ball or close your eyes and pick.
Bottom line is, in most cases, you get what you pay for. If you pay rock bottom rates then you're gonna get rock bottom service and amenities.
I could go on and on about the new model of "pay as you go" or "pay per use". The argument is why pay for something you don't use? But that argument doesn't always fly (pardon the pun). I mean, I may never dial 911 but I sure as hell expect it to be there when I do and I guess there's a reasonable expectations amongst travelers that these are basic necessities (like baggage).
Just wait, the pendulum will swing and when people decide to forgo their little games and stay home, they will change their tune or go out of business -- whichever comes first!
END RANT*
These days being a savvy consumer for airlines is difficult and you have to weigh a TON of factors. When factoring the REAL costs of a ticket I factor in:
Time schedules, baggage allowances (knowing how much I need to take and what they are going to charge me if I go over), amenities, liklihood of upgrade etc. It all adds up especially when it comes to baggage these days.
Sure you may have bought the ticket for $15 cheaper but if you're paying more at the gate for baggage seat assignments etc. then you might be betetr off saying "no" to the "cheaper" ticket with the budget airline.
Now all things being equal just whip out the magic 8 ball or close your eyes and pick.
Bottom line is, in most cases, you get what you pay for. If you pay rock bottom rates then you're gonna get rock bottom service and amenities.
I could go on and on about the new model of "pay as you go" or "pay per use". The argument is why pay for something you don't use? But that argument doesn't always fly (pardon the pun). I mean, I may never dial 911 but I sure as hell expect it to be there when I do and I guess there's a reasonable expectations amongst travelers that these are basic necessities (like baggage).
Just wait, the pendulum will swing and when people decide to forgo their little games and stay home, they will change their tune or go out of business -- whichever comes first!
END RANT*
*Another fine scatterbrained production
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gymnastika
- Posts: 291
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:01 pm
- Location: texas
I only fly Spirit when I am absolutely desperate, which I always am when it means I COULD go to the islands one extra time per year!
I don't expect ANYTHING from them when I fly, except for the plane not to go down. I almost had to laugh that they are charging for seating now. OF COARSE!! This is Spirit we're talking about! They were the first to charge for the first bag here in the States, if I'm correct.
I sure wish Southwest would fly to STT. They are so pleasant to deal with. That would make such a nice transition into my vacation.
One can dream.
I don't expect ANYTHING from them when I fly, except for the plane not to go down. I almost had to laugh that they are charging for seating now. OF COARSE!! This is Spirit we're talking about! They were the first to charge for the first bag here in the States, if I'm correct.
I sure wish Southwest would fly to STT. They are so pleasant to deal with. That would make such a nice transition into my vacation.
One can dream.
Better YET we should all start a petition for Richard Branson to get Virgin America to start flying to STT. We love Virgin Atlantic. By far my fave airline and now that they're in the US it's a good fit.
I'd be willing to pledge my never endinf airline loyalty to them if they'd start flying to STT!!!
I'd be willing to pledge my never endinf airline loyalty to them if they'd start flying to STT!!!
*Another fine scatterbrained production
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gymnastika
- Posts: 291
- Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:01 pm
- Location: texas
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Berlingirl
- Posts: 499
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:09 pm
- Location: New England
Steve...you bought a ticket on a certain airline for a certain time...you didn't "reserve" a particular seat...that is the difference. Yes, be there early and yes to those who are wondering. They will split up families who don't pony up and pay the price to sit together. A number of airlines have been doing this for a long time...mostly charters, Air Canada as well as anumber of European carriers. Also nothing new is paying for checked luggage with a lot of the carriers...it's just the nature of the beast that is now starting to wash up on our shores. I don't like it either...don't think anybody does...