Spirit Airlines-Ft. Lauderdale to Medellin

[Ricardo]

I know someone else mentioned this in another section, but here is the press release about Spirit's service to Medellin via Fort Lauderdale. They will offer daily non-stop flights beginning March 1, 2009.

http://www.spiritair.com/PressReleas...umber=20081218

[SEDONA7]

Spirit Airlines does offer some great fares to travel to Colombia, but good luck if you need customer service to help with an unexpected delay or connection issue.

This past week, I had to contact Spirit customer " NON-service " as my wife was traveling to Medelln to spend time with her family. The flight from Tampa was delayed (she says no one could explain why). OK this sometimes does happen when flying these days. I contacted customer service as I was concerned about the connecting flight on Spirit from Ft. Lauderdale to Medellin. The Tampa delay was going to make catching the next flight to Colombia very difficult.
I can understand why outsourcing to another country makes economic sense to a business such as an airline, but when the customer service person has such a heavy accent that it makes it difficult to understand what he is saying then I have a big problem with that.
Here is a short version of how the conversation transpired.
I explained to the customer service rep that the delay in Tampa was going to cause my wife to miss the connecting flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Medellin. The customer service rep was unaware of any delay and assured me the flight from Tampa was on time. I again explained that the flight was suppossed to leave Tampa at 8:30 AM and the time was now 9:30 AM and the plane was still at the gate. He again asked me where the connecting flight was going. I again told him to Colombia , South America as he could not pull up the flight to Medellin on his computer. But he did manage to tell me that I had made a mistake in booking the flight as Spirit Airlines does not fly to Columbia South Carolina !!!!!! After several attempts to help this customer service guy to understand that the connecting flight was going to Colombia, South America, not Columbia, South Carolina, and he responding each time that Spirit does not fly Columbia South Carolina, I finally hung up out of frustration.
The good news is that at least someone in Ft Lauderdale, was able to have her transported to Miami where she finally boarded an Avianca flight and arrived in Medellin later that night.
Makes the phrase " you get what you pay for" all that more poignant.

[BIG E]

Well... I wouldn't call them bottom of the barrel. They are a budget carrier, but so is Southwest Airlines.

There are things that go on behind the scenes sometimes that passengers do not need to know. They should have given a canned excuse. I make the gate attendants blame air traffic control or even airport operations. I would prefer weather when possible.

Spirit has a great safety record, but their customer service department is lacking. I have used them for jump seating home a few times and have always been impressed with the professionalism of their crews.

It sucks that your wife missed her flight, but it could have happened anywhere with any airline.

There may have been a serious issue with the aircraft that was being repaired. If that was the case, be thankful they delayed it. If there is a mechanical problem that can be fixed the same day and a new aircraft used, they typically dont tell passengers. Why? Because people WILL refuse to fly on that airplane and the airline will lose money. If a large number of people refuse, they have to cancel the flight... then everyone is screwed. And it is not as easy as changing aircraft.. it really is not that simple. Typically, that causes problems with other flights, and creates hell for changing flight plans, and potentially finding another crew.

These things happen when you fly. If they are too much of a hassle, you may want to consider taking a ship next time!

Seriously... this is a part of flying. And dont think that the crew and airline gate agents dont care. They do. It causes problems in their work day, and we HATE dealing with upset passengers!

I personally have had more problems on Southwest than any other airline... both as a crew member catching a ride somewhere, and as a passenger. In my opinion, THEY are a bad company. Their crews are good, but the company as a whole treats people like crap!

[GringoPaisa]

This is a great deal, even though they charge for everything, even bags, and they have a 1 bag limit.

Now Copa airlines is trying to compete with cheaper airfares out of Miami.

yo yo yo.

NOw if the local domestic airlines would just lower their rates. jesus oops dont want to offend my fellow catholic friends on the board, but jesus f christ! the domestic flights in colombia are expensive.

[LastLion]

Originally Posted by BIG E

Well... I wouldn't call them bottom of the barrel. They are a budget carrier, but so is Southwest Airlines.!

Hey what is the bottom of the barrel airling BIG E??

By the way I love southwest at least for the vegas/ LAX/ san diego hops that I tend to do multiple times a year. They are rarely late and neither flight is more than an 1&1/2 so I could careless about the onboard service. I just like on time or close to on time. Also you can easily arrive in SFO parking lot 30-40 minutes take 15 and just hop on the flight..

[BIG E]

Originally Posted by LastLion

Hey what is the bottom of the barrel airling BIG E??

By the way I love southwest at least for the vegas/ LAX/ san diego hops that I tend to do multiple times a year. They are rarely late and neither flight is more than an 1&1/2 so I could careless about the onboard service. I just like on time or close to on time. Also you can easily arrive in SFO parking lot 30-40 minutes take 15 and just hop on the flight..

I dont want to knock on any airline, they all have their own problems. But... world worst are Go! Hawaii and Mesa Air Group.... one in the same. Their CEO is a POS.

Southwest sucks in my opinion. I wont travel with them. No way. Its not about safety, its about how they treat people.

[JMitch1959]

Originally Posted by BIG E

I dont want to knock on any airline, they all have their own problems. But... world worst are Go! Hawaii and Mesa Air Group.... one in the same. Their CEO is a POS.

Southwest sucks in my opinion. I wont travel with them. No way. Its not about safety, its about how they treat people.

What's a POS? And how they treat what people? Are you referring to their customers, employees, or both?

[BIG E]

Originally Posted by JMitch1959

What's a POS? And how they treat what people? Are you referring to their customers, employees, or both?

POS = Piece of ****


How they treat their employees and other airline personnel catching rides with them. Horrible.

They cheat their pilots out of so much money, they break rules and violate union contracts... they suck

[Colombia Vacations]

Maybe Spirit and Jet Blue are putting the squeeze on American Airlines, they now have tickets on sale FROM Miami to Bogota and Micky's Medellin for $124.00 (plus tax)
http://www.aa.com/aa/netsaaver/viewN...e=southflorida

BIG E: I agree, Southwest is a POS!! They treat their people like ****, especially when the flight attendants have to clean all the poopy diapers and other garbage people leave on the plane after everyone gets off, I was forced to book a flight on Southwest once because of a cancellation on another airline, I did not know the cattle call routine and got the very last isle seat on the plane, I got to watch and listen to the flight attendants whine, I whined so much they did give me a free beer, but made me promise not to tell the CEO. ;-)

[Micky10]

I want a 3/4 month contract in the States, to make a little dough, but really just to say I AT LEAST ONCE bought a really great airfare.

Love - Micky