In case you needed another reason not to fly Spirit Airlines...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 3:48pm

(if the $100 carry-on baggage fees weren't enough)...

Their CEO calls customer complaints "irrelevant", and is refusing to refund a dying veteran his $197 ticket price because he "has no one to blame but himself" for not purchasing insurance.

This guy takes asshole to a whole new level...he comes across so horribly in that interview.

(And I apologize for using a Faux News article, but this was the only one with extensive quotes from the CEO)


Spirit Airlines Updated On: 5/3/12 at 03:48 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 3:58pm

My favorite part:

“We feel very badly for Mr. Meekins, however, this is a country and society where we kind of play by the rules,” he said.

Clearly, Mr. Baldanza has never been to the United States.

[Calvin]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 3:59pm

Spirit Airlines is a joke, and the CEO is a boor. However, he's kind of right on this one, as indelicately as he's putting it. It was a nonrefundable ticket without insurance. I don't think any other airline would have handled it differently other than saying no in a much nicer way.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 4:03pm

Other airlines may have said no at first, but I guarantee you, the minute the media got a hold of the story, they'd have caved immediately because of the bad PR. This guy just doesn't seem to care.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 4:06pm

Charging $100 for a carry-on while having the worst reputation for lost/damaged luggage is highly indicative of apathy. I've never read a single good thing about this airline. While the base fare may be cheaper, it sounds like you'll still end up paying more one way or the other.

[Calvin]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 4:11pm

About the only airline that's more of a joke than Spirit is Ryanair.

And adamgreer, you give airlines far too much credit. :) They operate on razor-thin margins no matter how much they nickel and dime you. They would have just handled the situation more gently at the onset so it never became a news story in the first place. Spirit, perversely enough, enjoys this kind of bad publicity, because it gets a usually forgotten airline in the headlines. Just like when Ryanair talks about adding pay toilets on its planes.

Updated On: 5/3/12 at 04:11 PM

[Wildcard]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 12:58pm

I've only flown Spirit once and promised myself never to fly them again. There are so many hidden charges, the service is terrible and the planes are in terrible condition.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 1:16pm

Ryanair is implementing some standing "seats" where you basically lean against a stool for the whole flight.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 5:47pm

^You mean these ungodly looking things?

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/images/uploads/airline_standing_seat.png

[Calvin]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 6:32pm

Well, looks like he's backtracking after all.
Link

[gettinhep]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 6:49pm

Another PR screaming success.

Ryanair is implementing some standing "seats" where you basically lean against a stool for the whole flight.

This thread reminds me of a Bob Newhart sketch - the Mrs. Grace L. Ferguson Airline and Stormdoor Company.

"You people flying tourist don't have any straps, so don't bother looking for them..."

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/5/12 at 3:33pm

I never really understand why people are so satisfied when companies/persons give in to PR pressure. Yes, the problem is resolved, but does anyone think the perpetrator has any real genuine feelings of remorse? It's a false victory, IMO. This CEO still doesn't care.