TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Spirit from FLL - SXM?

Still havent bought airfare for November as the prices for AA are still quite high. Normally we drive to Charlotte and fly from there to SXM. I noticed I can drive to Atlanta and do ATL-FLL-SXM for about half the price. Even with two hotel rooms in ATL this would still save nearly $800.

What is the consensus with Spirit? I have never flown them. Is it worth paying an extra $800 to avoid them? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

We flew Spirit last year and it was absolutely perfect. We had a pretty new plane and everyone was very nice. They are under the same flight regulations as every other airline and I would fly them again in a minute.

Check out Nashville to Puerto Rico on Southwest then jet blue to SXM

They may get you there?

The first of May I was scheduled to drive to ATL and catch Spirit to FLL and on to SXM. At 1|30 am I received a text message saying my ATL 7 am flight was canceled. Spirit ( after finally greeting them on the phone) offered a $50 credit and basically said good luck you are on your own unless you want to rebook on the next Saturday flight.

A quick call to Delta saved the day (less $200) with a flight at 7:45 from ATL to FLL. A OJ outside run from terminal 2 to 4 at FLL and back through security got me to my Spirit flight with a good 10 minutes to spare. ( first Delta flight out was booked, actually over booked)

The original savings over the direct flight my wife took was about the $200 I paid Delta to get me to FLL in the nick of time.

Also Spirit is no frills, which means, if they fly you get a seat and A/C for the flight. Everything else has a fee.

Be careful and have a nice flight and time in SXM!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

I think that JetBlue has dropped their SJU-SXM service.

Some may have good experiences with Spirit, but they typically have the lowest ratings of any US airline.

The once a week service does give me pause - if that flight is cancelled it would not be a good situation. I think I will stick with AA.

This is a perfect example of how airfares just baffle the mind.

This is obviously not appropriate to your situation but just used as an example:

Using that same near $700 CLT-SXM route if you START in BOS and connect through CLT (both ways) the fare DROPS to $381 R/T...for the same CLT flight....so with the BOS flight added it's a $300 discount <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

(11/12-19 used)

Right. No more Jet Blue service from SJU to SXM. There are a couple of really small carriers, like Seabourne, that do the SJU to SXM route.

As someone else said, the problem is the once a week flight. You can save a lot of money with them, so long as you recognize that, and that they charge for everything. They charge for seat assignments. They charge for CARRY ON bags. (In fact, the last I knew, carry on bags cost MORE than checked bags, which is one of the few things they do that makes sense.) They charge to CHECK IN at the counter. Their seat pitch is horrific--NO leg room whatsoever. Possibly they charge to accept credit cards, not sure about that, but a similar carrier, Allegiant does. For the SXM flight, if you save enough money otherwise, it might be worth it for the Big Front Seat. We have used them a couple of times to squeeze in an extra cheap trip to SXM, and we had no issues. The problem would become if there is an equipment issue, you could have a big problem. For a once a year type trip, probably not worth the risk. They do NOT cooperate with any other airlines. One time our flight from Tampa to Atlanta was cancelled on Delta. Because Delta cooperates with other airlines, we were able to switch to US Air (at the time), from Tampa to Charlotte and on to SXM for no extra money. That would not happen with Spirit.

i took spirit for our trip last march. the seats are a bit tight....there is no ''free'' services....but....they got us there and back ON TIME......we saved about six hundred plus dollars vs AA out of Miami....and at thetime saved two hundred bucks each vs JetBlue. PLUS....JB would've been a six am flight to sju...and then a five and a half layover in sxm!!!!! The savings to us were worth it....just about paid for the car rental for the three weeks we were there. or....surely paid for many nice meals. IF it was longer than the 2.5 hours flight, i may have thought twice....but for the savings we took the chance, and had NO problems at all.

Count your blessings. You are one of the few lucky ones when it comes to Spirit Airlines! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" />

I'd rather stay home than fly Spirit Airlines.

Absolutely horrible. Made us wait 2 hours for another flight to come in and connect and left me stranded on some island after I missed the connection.
Stranded. Can't even remember what island it was.
irina

Son flew Spirit from FLL to SXM said very cramped paid for luggage as stated here but he got to SXM. He problem came on departure. No plane. He was told due to unforeseen circumstances next flight was next Saturday. No voucher for a hotel or food. He found seats on Jet Blue and got home.

When he asked for a refund Spirit said it was beyond their control and gave him $75. So what started as a cheap flight turned into more than we paid for a round trip Boston to SXM with checked luggage.

Buyer beware. Personally, I'd never take an airline that flies once per week. But the thought of staying and additional week in SXM sounds nice.

My one Spirit experience reminded me of taking a third world bus ride with goats and chickens sitting on crowded passengers' laps and more riders hanging from the windows on the outside.

oh please, flown them 20 times, fortunately never a major issue. Most of my trips were FLL-STT, usually less than $100, bring my own water and snack, cocktail packages better then the big guys, big front seat is $50 extra.

The last time we used Spirit they canceled our flight out of Tampa, lost a day of vacation. Coming home was also a problem, got in Late and almost missed our next flight. Will never fly them again, very rude personal.

I have use Spirit every year from FLL and never ran into any delays or any problems, love that it is direct and times are good coming and going. It is not a long flight so we just grin and bear it!

sue....agree 100 percent.... 2.5 hours...direct to paradise....surely worth it. worth grinning and bearing

it's like someone saying they had a horrible flight on Delta and will never fly them again. If you won't fly an airline because of a botched flight, you will run out of airlines to fly.

I don't think the actual flight quality was (is) the issue but more the fees for what is not charged for on other airlines, the cramped seat pitch and the chance of being stranded for up to a week if there are plane/weather issues.

If those do not concern you then it usually is a cheaper way to get to where you want to be.

I absolutely DISAGREE on the 'what they charge for versus other airlines'. If you add in all the extras, the price ia almost always going to still be way lower. The seat pitch is very uncomfortable. But again, you know about that ahead of time. The only 'one flight per week' and not cooperating with other airlines is a way bigger issue. You know what all the extras will cost before you book the ticket. You either then book it or not, based on how much cheaper it is than your other options. Them cancelling the flight at the last minute and telling you that you're on your own to get there is a big problem.

Agree with Carol, would never fly Spirit again! I have had to many problems with Spirit. After you pay all their fees Spirit is not much cheaper that other airlines. If you have global entry, Spirit does print TSA pre check on their ticket, you will have to go thru regular TSA line at airport. My last Spirit flight was cancel, first question by me, can you put me on another airline? No!!! When is your next flight that I can get on? Three days!!! Walk to American counter and I was in St. Martin the same day.

Actually, I don't think I said that I would never book Spirit again. I DID say that it is often MUCH cheaper, even when you add in all fees. Cancelling flights and not having any alternative for several days, now that does give me a big concern..

"Spirit does print TSA pre check on their ticket, you will have to go thru regular TSA line at airport. "

Not correct.

With TSA precheck on boarding pass you can go through the TSA precheck line instead of the regular line.

Sorry I forgot "not".

Just a point for fall flights on Sprit. The pilots have requested release to strike from the National Mediation Board. If released there will be a 30 day cooling off period and then they are free to strike.
G