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

[adamgreer]

(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

[Mister Matt]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Wildcard]

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]

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

[adamgreer]

^You mean these ungodly looking things?

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

[Calvin]

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

[gettinhep]

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]

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.