Trip Report: Spirit Airlines - LGA-FLL, FLL-LGA
Our cab showed up 10 minutes early at 4:40am (from Four Twos – 718-746-2222). The ride to LGA took 10 minutes and cost $15.50, which I think is pretty good for airport service.
Saturday, October 7, 2006. Spirit Flt. 705 LGA-FLL
When Mel and I got into the terminal, the check-in lines were already long, but we got on the Spirit Plus line and only had to wait one minute.
Our one bag was 64 pounds, and we had to pay $25 for the overweight charge, which I thought was silly because if we had split the bag into two bags, it would weigh more in total because of the weight of the second bag. Oh well.
Security was fast, one lane left empty and we coasted through.
We then realized why LGA’s Central Terminal Building is less than adequate. The shops are so small, it gets packed with people even when there are only a few in there.
The Dunkin Donuts they had didn’t even have doughnuts, so they didn’t really have anything to dunk. We then went to another stand and got some snacks and ate near our gate.
I’m now writing this part at 25,000 feet, and my pen just popped, so I’m writing with a new pen.
http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/philwriting.jpg
Boarding was almost 10 minutes late because the gate agent simply was not there, and even the crew seemed annoyed by it, as they waited near the jetway door.
Being Spirit Plus, we were the first to board on Airbus A321 N588NK.
Honestly the seat pitch did seem a little small compared to other biz classes I’ve experienced (Seat 3D &F), if I recall correctly.
When the boarding was slow, I approached the front to ask the pilot, who was standing outside the cockpit, what the registration of the plane was, since it was dark outside still and I couldn’t see it. He looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears and I then said “N number” and he told me 588.
I asked the F/A for a blanket and he said they didn’t have any, and added that it’s an LCC and “It’s what America wants.” He was actually pretty funny. The same as F/A as earlier told us that our flight time would be “a quick 1 hour and 82 minutes”, which I laughed at pretty hard.
I forgot the push-back and depart time, but it went fast. The takeoff was smooth, even though the winds were 30mph in a drizzle.
The F/A was (is) very nice. Friendly, yet stern with passengers that violated rules like getting up early and so forth. VERY kind and accommodating. I ordered a Budweiser (two) and Pringles.
Landing was very smooth, so much that I didn’t even notice that we landed as I took pics out the window.
I rate this flight an 8, because I left the plane with a smile on my face. Why not a better rating? Because this is how every average flight SHOULD be anyway. It’s a shame that I’d even give them a rating above 5 for what should be average service.
Thursday, October 12, 2006. Spirit Flt. 710 FLL-LGA
Though boarding for our 6:55pm flight was to be at 6:15, we arrived at FLL at 3:30. Our goal was to check in our bags, get our tickets and relax a bit while taking pics at the terminal.
Our tickets home were not business class this time, and though we originally wanted to experience both sides of Spirit’s product, we ultimately decided to upgrade if the seats were available and the price right.
We walked up to the counter with each station manned with ticket agents, all tending to a customer at each, but there was no line. Mel and I were next and we stood there. But as each customer was finished, the ticket agent left the station on by one….apparently a shift change. It got more frustrating as the number of open station went from about 6 to 1, with an old lady working incredibly slow on the same customer for about 8 minutes.
After a while, another agent emerged, acknowledged our long wait (we didn’t even have to say anything or complain about it) and apologized as she called us over to a now-open station.
We upgraded to Spirit Plus for $45 each. Our checked baggage was given a special tag so that our bags would be off-loaded first….something we apparently should have gotten on our LGA-FLL flight, but didn’t.
We also checked 3 bags, distributing the weight from our 1 original bag to avoid the overweight charges.
It began drizzling as we were taking pics outside, so we came in earlier than we expected. We saw that FLL has a similar problem with shops like LGA does, with only a Nathan’s Hot Dog stand beyond security. In fact, they hardly have much BEFORE security at Terminal 4, with a large bar (that doesn’t serve food) and a Sbarro’s.
We went to Sbarro’s and the cashier asked me how I was doing. I told her “I’ll be better when I get back to New York and don’t have to pay $3.05 for a slice of pizza.” She found it funny, but I kept a stern face.
Once in security, I was asked to get onto a different line, I assumed to even out the crowd. But then I saw that I’d be going through a “puffer”, one of the exciting explosive material smelling machines!!!
It’s like a metal detector, only deeper and with closing and opening glass doors at the beginning and end. The lady told me to get inside, and that I’d feel a little air be blown on me. Well I jumped when I felt how it was harder than I expected. My shirt came up a bit actually. Had to be funny for anyone watching. I waited about 15 seconds while it smelled me, and green lights lit up and the door opened. Yay for national security.
Once we got into the terminal, we grabbed a seat at about 5:00pm. We then learned that our flight would be 50 minutes late, I assumed due to another airport’s delays. So, I asked the gate agent why, and he told me that the plane coming from NY would be late. This made little sense to me, because all flights into LGA except for the last one into it (the one we were going to get on) and the first one out (the one we took down here) are A319s, and since we were waiting for an A321, I didn’t get why we’d be waiting for an A321 to be arriving from New York.
Shortly thereafter, we were told that our flight would be departing at at least 7:45pm, due to high winds and ATC in New York. I checked LGA’s ATIS, and it said wind was 9mph with no mention of gusts, not to mention clear skies. So, I felt I was being lied to, and I began to get angry.
Then we were told that we were delayed until 8:30, blaming ATC in NY, and saying that it WAS NOT due to wind. Also, that our plane was not here yet because it’s coming from DTW and due to the rain we had earlier, that it had to divert to PBI for fuel.
One plus is that the plane that showed was Airbus A321 N586NK….the only one in the fleet with the older white scheme from the MD-80s. I’ve been a big fan of this plane for a long time, and I got to fly on her!
We finally boarded at 8:35pm, and took-off at 9:22pm. Our pre-flight drink was just served water, with no option like our previous flight, but I assume that’s because we were late and in a rush.
Once in the air, we didn’t get any attention from the F/A for a full 40 minutes. Why did I pay extra for business class? IN FACT, the people in coach were tended to before we were. At this point, my overall feeling on the flight became very negative, moreso than the 3-hour delay.
The cabin lights still seemed pretty bright, and it made it tough to rest and maybe get some sleep.
I ordered a Beringer Cabernet and a “fiesta pack”, which consisted of tortilla chips, nacho cheese and salsa. The portions of the three were VERY fair actually, and quite tasty.
We finally landed at midnight, and it took us 40 minutes to get our bags at the claim, too (that priority bag tag apparently meant NOTHING). We grabbed a cab and we were home by 1:00am.
I rate this flight a 3.
Overall, I think Spirit is decent. Their service has potential and some of their employees were friendly. But ultimately, I was displeased with the business class service on the way home. I also felt I was being fed bull by staff at the terminal during the delays. Spirit offers passengers some good prices and deals, but the experience is nothing to write home about.
I'll make another post later talking about the spotting/photography side of it all.
THIS TRIP REPORT IS NOT DONE...READ MEL'S POST BELOW THIS FOR HER TAKE ON THE TRIP.
Would You Like Me to Share?
Phil and Mel,
First of all welcome home.
The CEO and VP Marketing of Spirit are good friends of mine--would you like me to share your comments with them? If so I would be happy to do so.
My problem with so called LCC's is that if there are problems you have no choices as you are restricted to staying with them--they have no interline agreements at all.
Again welcome home and let me know if you'd like me to share.
Art
