Spirit Airlines service to Cartagena- My Experience.

Monpirri says on Jun 3, 2008, 08:04:

I heard that Spirit has really amazing prices.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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gorgonabob says on Jun 3, 2008, 08:17:

US$170 return with taxes i recently bought. pretty happy with that. and they have been approved for flights from bogota in two months i think i read last week

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miamimike says on Jun 3, 2008, 08:18:

Spirit(see link) is based out of Ft Lauderdale and it appears many travelers are well satisfied with the carrier. Well received here in south florida.

http://www.boarding.no/art.asp?id=31599

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska

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hiker says on Jun 3, 2008, 08:57:

yes I used Spirit before to costa Rica,but folks watch out ,their customer service sucks. I tried to reach someone to speak to for 2 consecutive weeks to no avail, then gave up and went directly to the Airport

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Saltador says on Jun 3, 2008, 09:58:

Yea, I think you just have to hope for no glitches or snags. Read up on other peoples experiences, and all their rules and regulations.Sounds like if you ever need customer service, you're going to be out of luck.

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miamimike says on Jun 3, 2008, 11:01:

yes I used Spirit before to costa Rica,but folks watch out ,their customer service sucks. I tried to reach someone to speak to for 2 consecutive weeks to no avail, then gave up and went directly to the Airport
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Spirit customer service can't be any worse then Avianca(worst) and are a lot cheaper. I've had great luck on trips using them!

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 3, 2008, 11:09:

hiker says on Jun 3, 2008, 11:16:

Sorry Miamimike not even close,as a matter of fact , I just called Avianca yesterday to inquire about a flight a family member needs, and they answered me promptly , no problemo

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nine inch nails says on Jun 3, 2008, 11:18:

Yes their customer service sucks but when you figure them out and buy travel insurance every time (like $13) can save some big bucks. I just hope they stay in business and don't cut any CO routes:

Job cuts ahead for Spirit Airlines
Miramar-based Spirit Airlines has sent letters to union leaders saying it will close bases and lay off or displace hundreds of pilots and flight attendants.
Posted on Tue, Jun. 03, 2008Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email
BY INA PAIVA CORDLE
icordle at MiamiHerald.com

EMILY MICHOT / MIAMI HERALD FILE
Spirit Airlines introduced a new look for its planes late last year. In the foreground, jets show the new bright colors in contrast to the older Spirit design in the background at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Document | Letters sent to union leaders
Spirit Airlines may lay off or displace up to 60 percent of its flight attendants and as many as 45 percent of its pilots in two months, as it struggles to cope with soaring jet-fuel prices.

The Miramar-based low-cost carrier sent letters to union leaders Saturday, notifying them that it will furlough or displace up to 448 flight attendants and 242 pilots on Aug. 1, as the airline closes its New York LaGuardia and San Juan bases and reduces its Fort Lauderdale base. For flight attendants, the airline is also shutting its Detroit base.

''We were blindsided,'' said Sean Creed, chairman of the Spirit Airlines pilots union. ``Nobody expected it.''

Spirit would not confirm the numbers or disclose what flight cancellations will accompany the layoffs.

But according to the letters to Patricia Friend, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, up to 240 attendants will be affected in Fort Lauderdale, 141 in Detroit, 15 in New York and 52 in San Juan. Each letter names the flight attendants affected. Spirit has about 750 flight attendants.

The letters, written by Jeff Carlson, Spirit's vice president of flight operations, are required by law under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN, as well as by union contracts.

Creed said that up to 242 pilots will also be affected, but he was driving and did not have the letters with the breakdowns by base. Spirit has 540 pilots, he said.

''Everybody is shocked,'' said Creed, who is based in Fort Lauderdale but lives in Connersville, Ind. ``We had a meeting [May] 21st with the company, when they gave a completely different impression of the state of the industry as far as Spirit Airlines is concerned.''

Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson would not discuss details.

''Spirit notified the labor representatives of flight crews of potential reductions. These notices are necessary to comply with the WARN Act,'' she wrote via e-mail in response to questions.

``Spirit has made no final decisions about reductions, if any, but to maintain flexibility, we will need to continue to evaluate our overall flying this fall during our lowest demand period of the year if fuel prices remain at record levels.''

Spirit's roots are in Detroit, but it moved to Miramar in 1999 and began its strongest growth spurt after the private equity firm Indigo Partners took a majority ownership stake in July 2006.

Boosting its flights to Latin America and the Caribbean, Spirit in May 2007 became the largest carrier at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

But the airline lost $16.7 million in the fourth quarter, on $187.1 million in revenue, according to the Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The prospective layoffs are the latest pullback in an industry reeling from record fuel prices. Last month, American Airlines said it would eliminate an unspecified number of jobs as it reduces its domestic capacity up to 12 percent in the fourth quarter.

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nine inch nails says on Jun 3, 2008, 11:20:

To add it does take a looooooong time to reach them by phone but they usually do respond back by email within sufficient time if you submit them a request on-line.

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miamimike says on Jun 3, 2008, 11:38:

hiker says on Jun 3, 2008, 11:16: flag

Sorry Miamimike not even close,as a matter of fact , I just called Avianca yesterday to inquire about a flight a family member needs, and they answered me promptly , no problemo

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Hiker you do some searches here on Avianca, esp Tom Tom's comments.You got lucky! Look at their record over 10 years not one or two trips,,,

No hay Peor Ciego que el que no quiere Ver o Sordo que el que no quiera Oir--Sarah Palin, Wasilla Alaska

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Monpirri says on Jun 3, 2008, 12:26:

I also had AN excellent service with Avianca when I traveled to Colombia in December and January 2008!
AVIANCA, AVIANCA...

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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darkangel305 says on Jun 3, 2008, 12:32:

my co worker says his son was not allowed to fly back to the states because the flight was overbooked
for two weeks he had to stay in Cartagena
not that i dont belive my co worker but can this possibly had happen with Spirit most airlines will give you a free ticket or atleast a hotel stay intill you could fly to your destination
anyone ever had that problem with Spirit?

also Spirit charges for baggage but i think American will start doing the same

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Gator says on Jun 3, 2008, 13:04:

We never had any real problems with Avianca - our problems came with American Airlines and LACSA. We now fly COPA, but that's a personal preference. Our daughter love Avianca and almost refuse to fly with anyone else when they come to visit.

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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seabass says on Jun 3, 2008, 13:31:

I'm goin' up with da Spirit in the sky
Ya know that's who I use when I fly

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seabass says on Jun 3, 2008, 13:31:

And I like COPA too...very professional.

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Lchiwawa says on Jun 3, 2008, 14:01:

i was looking up tickets for some friends through them the other day and i came across one from ft. lauderdale to cartagena for only $90. of course that wouldnt benefit me much since i live in bogota. but they could always just take a bus down for maybe another $80 or so and it would still be hella cheap. long and boring but still cheap.

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BillBigD says on Jun 3, 2008, 14:13:

darkangel305-i think your co-worker friend got scammed by his son. LOL I have flown Spirit interntionally also and had no problems. Of course I was accused of working for the airline by some here who have never flown them.

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 3, 2008, 14:45:

According to this: https://www.spiritair.com/RouteMaps.aspx service between FLL and BOG should start at the end of this month.

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nueva york bombero says on Jun 3, 2008, 14:57:

I 'll try them.... a lot of negative stories, but I will see for myself.....
I just wish they flew to Medellin.

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 3, 2008, 15:33:

http://www.eltiempo.com/vidadehoy/viajar/2008-05-21/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_...
El Tempo says they'll start FLL-BOG in july.

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jenny6 says on Jun 3, 2008, 18:48:

Thanks for the post. I'm flying Spirit next week and was a little apprehensive about it. I saved $500 flying with Spirit instead of Avianca. I hope it's worth it!

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nueva york bombero says on Sep 6, 2008, 13:15:

I just booked on Spirit NY to Cartagena $90 each way!!!
I even applied for a Spirit credit card and got $40 off!!!
$269 with taxes bitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ciao Pescao!

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Papi de Alejo says on Sep 6, 2008, 14:09:

I've seen folks complain about the service that they get, or more to the point, don't get with Spirit. I just booked with them and trust me, my expectations are pretty low. I'm thinking, I get on in NY, change planes in FLL and get off in Cartagena. The inconvenience of not having a free soda and bag of chips or selecting my seat or even paying for my one suitcae, seems to be well worth the $400 that I will save. I was traveling every 3-4 months to Colombia, I now plan on going every six weeks. I just hope that my already low expectations are not too high.

PdA

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

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