"Un-Spirited" to say the least....
Written: Dec 24 '00 (Updated Jan 02 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cheap
Cons: Completely rude employees, and dangerous equipment, constant unexplained delays.
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| Andelle's Full Review: Spirit Air |
Orlando Airport was NOT tremendously busy on 12-23-00. My twelve year old daughter was flying UNACCOMPANIED to Chicago-O'Hare for the holidays. She has flown MANY times, on OTHER airlines, with out incident of ANY kind! We arrived the recommended two hours early, and proceeded to the LONG line at Spirit. (No other airlines had long lines.) NOW we know why! We had called before making the 45 minute drive to the airport, and were informed that the flight was on schedule. Arrived at the airport and checked the flight board, on which Spirit is NOT listed. (This concerned us.) Upon getting to the desk (one hour later), we were informed that there was a three hour delay since the originally designated plane had "broken".
We were upset, but delays happen, and we proceeded to one of the many fine restaurants at Orlando airport, where a person still has the "right" to smoke, by the way! After waiting the three hours, we went to the gate, only to find NO ONE at the gate (Except passengers waiting)! There was one, very young, but very OBVIOUSLY well trained "Spirit" employee, at another Spirit desk, who did nothing but pass the buck, and avoid EVERY question we posed to him. We proceeded back to the ticketing desk, where we asked for a supervisor..... Another very corporate-trained robot, who would not let us get a word in edge-wise, informed us of Spirit's 100% safety record, and then threatened to call security if we just did not go back to the gate and wait. She also informed us that the SECOND plane had also "broken", and we were now waiting for the third, and by the way, there was YET ANOTHER delay. There would be NO sort of compensation offered, as they were only looking out for OUR safety. Upon arriving back to the gate, we were informed that a fourth delay had been announced, due to "weather" in Chicago this time! I called my ex-husband, who was at O'Hare, and he confirmed that there were NO WEATHER DELAYS. The weather was clear!
By this time, I was about to lose my mind, and went back to the main terminal to find someone with authority over the airport, who could give us some answers. I was handed a phone, with the operations manager of Orlando International Airport on the other end. He informed me that this was certainly NOT the first complaint he had heard, yet there was nothing he could do, since the airlines lease space from the airports, and he had no authority over them. The delays were their's, and in NO WAY related to the airport or weather. He informed me that my only course of action was to fill out a "complaint" form, and if enough complaints were received by a particular airline, they were in jeopardy of losing their lease with the airport. He strongly recommended I do this. I did one BETTER!
The lady at the information desk gave me EVERY complaint form she had. I went back to the gate. Held them up, like "Norma Rae" and begged everyone to take some time out of what they were doing (WAITING) and fill one of these out, so we could get some action against this airline, and get them removed for the future safety (not to mention sanity) of future unfortunate Spirit fliers! My hands were empty in moments. The "corporate" Spirit jerk then picked up the phone, and called the police and some big-shot airport executive. The police did NOTHING, as they agreed with us (the passengers) 100%. The executive, instead, turned on Spirit airlines, and basically said....You "screw" people around EVERY DAY, finally someone called you on it....Give these people some answers. He validated my parking, compensated me for all of the phone calls I had had to make during all the delays, shot the Spirit Airline worker a dirty look, and left with the police. It was a glorious moment....Until the NEXT delay!
FINALLY the plane left, with my unaccompanied twelve-year-old daughter on board. Believe me, it took every ounce of strength I had (Not to mention two valiums) to put her on that plane. We waited until the plane was in the air, and drove home to await word that she had arrived safely. Let me rephrase that.....Went home to drop to our knees and PRAY she arrived safely!
A few hours later, we received a frantic call from my ex-husband in Chicago. Every passenger had exited the plane, EXCEPT MY DAUGHTER! A small known fact....I guess ONLY to Spirit employees, and the unfortunate that have had to go through this (IT WAS NOT SHARED WITH US), is that Spirit Airlines uses the INTERNATIONAL terminal at O'Hare, which means that people picking up passengers from O'Hare traveling on Spirit are NOT allowed at the gate. They meet their "now depleted of Spirit" passengers at the end of an escalator, which they ride down from the gate. THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT GIVEN TO US!!!!
My daughter expected to see my ex-husband right outside the tunnel, as we have ALWAYS done with other airlines. She asked a Spirit employee for assistance. The "assistance" provided, was not...."Oh honey, let me walk you down to the pick-up area", or in the very least "follow the other passengers down that escalator, and your dad will be there". INSTEAD, this person, takes my daughter into a M-15 restricted area back room of the airport, scaring her to death, and leaves her there!!!
By this time, my ex has left a friend at the "gate" area, in case she shows up, and has gone to the ticketing desk for information, and is instead met with NO HELP! He seeks out the assistance of a very wonderful Chicago policeman at the airport, who extricates the appropriate answers from Spirit, and FINALLY after almost an hour) gets my daughter delivered to my ex. The Chicago policeman, waiting with, remains silent throughout the exchange. As the "Spirit" employee turns to leave, the policeman stops her, and points out the fact that she has failed in her job, by NOT requesting any sort of identification from my ex.
We still have a return flight to deal with. I don't think I can go through this again. I truly believe that the return ticket will remain unused, and we will seek alternative transportation to bring my daughter home to Orlando.
We will NEVER use Spirit Airlines again, and urge everyone else to do the same.
I am consulting with an attorney on Wednesday, December 27, 2000 to initiate a class-action lawsuit against this airline. I have set up a special email address, in which I would like anyone with Spirit horror stories to send detailed reports to. This email is:
NoMoreSpiritAir@aol.com
I will put up a website to keep everyone informed as this lawsuit progresses. PLEASE help out by spreading the word!! let's get this airline grounded before they end up killing a whole lot of people!
UPDATE............UPDATE.............January 2, 2001...........UPDATE
Daughter arrived home safely. That is the important thing. There was ONLY an hour and a half delay this time. Not weather related, just another "unexplained" Spirit delay. Upon arrival at the airport, we checked the board, where Spirit WAS listed this time, which was strange. The plane's status showed "IN". We panicked, and made a mad dash through the airport (No short journey in Orlando). All the time, I am thinking that my daughter landed and was alone at the gate or with some "irresponsible" Spirit employee. Upon arriving at the gate, we were informed that the plane was NOT in, but was delayed (No explanation given, of course). I wish they would get their act together, or get the heck out of the business (which I hope, and will help accommodate happening).
Lawsuit is in the works, but I need to hear from more of you! Come on people...How will you feel watching the news this year, and a Spirit flight crashed and we could have prevented it? My thanks to both "xspark69x" and "James Raddock"for their stories so far. WE NEED MORE EVIDENCE.....Take a moment and send your story! PLEASE!!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Andelle
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Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 6 members
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