Spirit has taken the first step to bringing Ryanair-like structures to the United States. In a press release entitled ‘Great News!!!’, Spirit is now offering the opportunity for passengers to ‘customize their travel experience and save’.
While we understand the idea of “liberates customers from being forced into paying for services they do not desire or use” can be a good one…after all, we can’t recall checking more than one bag per person on any trip we’ve ever taken…This can be classified as a potentially dangerous first step toward something less wonderful.
This is Spirit’s new ULTRA Low Cost Carrier product…
Spirit Standard ULCC Product Features
- Ultra low fares
- Largest ULCC network in The Caribbean & Latin America
- Online check-in
- One Carry-On Bag
- Reliable, on-time service
- Clean, new airplanes, the youngest Airbus fleet in the Americas
- Deluxe leather seating
- Friendly staff
Spirit Optional Services & Products
- BIG FRONT SEAT(TM)(2)
- Hotels, Cars, Vacation Packages & Cruises
- Event Tickets, Golf Tee Times & Tours
- Travel Insurance
- Onboard beverages and snacks
- Discounted Airport Parking
- Checked baggage(3)
- Personal Cargo(TM)
While many of these new options are already available, customers will be able to take full advantage of all the products and services by June 20, 2007. We had a look at Spirit’s website to see what was going on. Here’s some of what we found…Effective June 20th…
- F or the 1st or 2nd checked bag up to 50lbs – $5 Online, $10 At the Airport. 25 Extra Pounds – $25, 50 Extra – $100, Exceeding 62″(L+W+H) in size – $100, Exceeding 80″ – $150. The third bag will be $100 extra, $125 for 25 extra pounds and $150 for 50 extra pounds.
- Beverages will no longer be complimentary after June 20th – Juices, Soda, and Hot Drinks will cost $1. Water will remain complimentary.
- Snacks will be available priced from $2 to $4, with credit or debit card only.
- Standard array of travel insurance and vacation packages airlines have been getting into
- The Big Front Seat will replace Spirit Plus service. We looked but couldn’t find details of this…but assume it is a flat rate for the wider seating in the front…but will no longer offer the complimentary amenities Plus once did.
“Obviously we are proud to have broken the rules and created arguably the best airline in the Americas.” Yeah, well…the jury is still out on that argument. This may be the beginning of the end.