Rick Seaney, co-founder of FareCompare.com - is a world-class air travel expert.
FareCompare.com presides over a kingdom of sophisticated software that searches out fares and destinations at a billion combinations per query - while keeping track of 500 airlines serving more than 270,000 markets around the globe.
And all of Rick's data is updated continuously - in real-time.
No wonder he's the media's go-to guy for all things air travel. He's got the answers. And he loves to share his knowledge.
That's why Rick and the team created FareCompare.com - to help everyone become an air travel expert, and get the best deals first -- every time they fly.
“Pre-reclined” is in the same vein as what Lexus says about their used cars. Lexus doesn’t sell “used” cars, they sell “pre-driven” cars.
Rafael,
“Pre-driven” is good, and I also hear the phrase “pre-owned” a lot – either way, it spells S-P-I-N.
Cheers,
Rick
Yes, and this after Spirit’s CEO claim that the carry on fee would actually improve the efficiency of the boarding process. I’d like to know how charging $45 per bag, probably with a good percentage of people needing to pay at the gate, after trying to get away with not paying at all, is going to improve this. Then again, I didn’t really need another reason not to fly Spirit.
What, no credit card or coin slot in the armrest so they could just charge people to recline? A missed opportunity for extra revenue!
Please, Frosty – don’t give them any more ideas!
Cheers,
Rick
How about charging for the reading light or air. Afterall, electricity doesn’t grow on trees! ;D
The Spirit PR team can spin the story all they want. Passengers are just going to call their carry-on baggage “personal item” and carry the rest in their pockets and under their jackets, thus making the seating even more cramped.
The average carry-on probably weighs only 20-30 lbs; the average passenger weight in their US market is probably around 170 lbs. If this is accurate their carry-on is only 15% of their weight. Since not every passenger brings a carry-on or chooses to just check-in baggage, this average carry-on weight would be further reduced. $45 is a lot to charge for a one-way $100 ticket. This model will just hurt their customers and further increase their awful rating for customer complaints.
I can see the benefits of some ala-carte style services. However, if the savings aren’t passed onto the passengers, and are just meant to increase the bottomline, this model will fail.
Apparently they also charge $2 for bottled water. I’d consider water a requirement for safe travel.
I won’t support them. Other airlines are watching this closely and might consider this if it becomes accepted by the US domestic air travel market. Southwest and JetBlue don’t charge.
The $45 fee really doesn’t bother me that much if what they were espousing was true…what they neglect to tell you is that you need to be a member of the $9 club to get sale fares…one problem I only travel about once a year so a $40.00 (39:95) fee in order to join just raises my airfare $40.00 …this is a non starter for me so Farewell Spirit!
Andrew,
If you fly about once a year, that club may not be worth it – you have compare and see (try my favorite website).
Best,
Rick