We have used Spirit often to fly to STT from Atlantic City, NJ.

Their (new) policy on baggage is:

1 Carry-on: Free
Up to 2 checked bags (50 lbs. max): Either $5. each - advance purchase or $10. each - airport purchase. These charges are for each way.

Over-weight bags are more....i believe up to 70 lbs. - $25. each. They do weigh bags!

Still, if you're getting a great fare the extra $10. per bag round trip (purchased in advance) is not bad. Our most expensive trip to STT, via Spirit, was $89. each way plus fees and taxes. So the $10. bag charge is not a "deal breaker".

They fly all new Airbus 318s which (IMHO) are very comfortable.

Hope this helps.

F.I.

F.I.
Thank you so much for your expertise. We have never flown Spirit and didn't want to get hit with a bunch of added fees. I am a little leery of having only one flight in and out each day. What is their track record like? On time, cancellations, etc? Spending an extra day on STT is great. Missing a day and paying for the villa is not so great. KK

One more question...Is it 50 lbs per bag or 50lbs total for both bags? Thanks, KK

To add to the luggage requirements, if you are traveling with babies as we are in mid August their car seats are free. I have two grandbabies we will be traveling with and this is what Spirit tells us. We fly Spirit every week (my husband does) and we are booked for the STT flight out of FLL for our trip. The flights are usually good but you do have to buy anything to eat or drink except water. Delays have not been a problem until this last Sunday out of FLL to Atlantic City where he was scheduled to leave at 8:15pm and did not leave until 1:35am and arrived 4:am and went to work at 7am. There were no announcemnts in the airport and very little info given out. I was on the computer at home communicating to my husband what was happening until they quit updating the site. Bad night. I did check to see how other areas were doing and the delays were very few and only mins. So for the most part it has not been bad flying with them. The planes are comfortable. On the REAL neg. side----customer service just isn't there!!!! I just can't say enough. Prices are good, plane is comfortable and delays todate not to bad, customer service stinks and do not expect to get hold of them on the phone, it is rare when they don't ask you to hang up and try again at a different time due to the volume of calls they are experiencing.

Thanks MaryAnn! It is better to know this information before booking. I don't want any last minute surprises. KK

KK

It's 50 lbs per bag.

We really haven't had problems with Spirit. I believe once we were about 40 minutes late on take off, but only 10 minutes late on arrival.

All airlines have their "horror" stories. Being a frequent flier I've had "baggage, delay and seating problems" with American, United, Continental, Northwest, Delta, and the list goes on........

If a "problem" develops just see a gate or main counter agent....be courteous (it wasn't their fault) and try to get the problem resolved. You're more likely to get better results by being nice than arrogant. I remember a man complaining (loudly) to a United gate agent about his seat assignment. He finally shouted out "do you know who I am?" With that the gate agent picked up the microphone and announced that she had a man at the counter who didn't know who he was and would someone come up and identify him. (lol)

F.I.

You should be aware that in addition to almost non-existent customer service, Spirit does not have inter-line agreements with other carriers. What this means is that if Spirit cancels your flight for some reason, you will NOT be accommodated on another airline......just something to keep in mind with just 1 flight a day. I am a former airline employee and would not fly Spirit except as a last-case scenario; having said that, I realize cost is important, so just keep the above in mind. Good luck on your trip.

Keith:

Some days they have 2 flights.

Also, in the last year how many STT flights has Spirit cancelled? What are the odds?

If the problem is mechanical then the airline must find a solution. If it's weather related than the passenger is responsible.

Two years ago I was in Montreal flying on Continental to Newark, NJ....there was a snow storm in Newark so the Montreal flights were cancelled. Continental protected me on another flight....4 days later.....I took Amtrak home the next day.....so much for several flights per day.

F.I.

Thank you all so much for your help. I just wanted to make sure there weren't any other hidden costs. I am sort of like the travel agent for our group and I'd feel terrible if I got us a great "deal" only to find out later it wasn't so great. All this info is helpful. Thanks, KK

Future Islander:

Just so you are aware, yes, if the problem is mechanical in nature, the airline must provide a solution, but if that airline does not have an interline agreement with other carriers (Spirit), then the solution does NOT include protecting you on another airline, or any other form of transportation. You will be put on the next available flight of that carrier.......just something to keep in mind if you are in St. Thomas ready to fly home, and you have to be at work the next day, etc. and Spirit cancels your flight....you'll be sitting there watching AA, DL, US, etc. all leave without you......