Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Spirit Airlines to abolish reclining seats
It looks like the "recline or don't recline" issue can finally be put to bed. Spirit Airlines, the budget carrier famous for charging for overhead bin space, racy ad campaigns and general disdain for all passenger comforts has just started rolling out aircraft bereft of reclining seats.
Citing extra space and lower weight, the airline claims that this will help passengers save money by keeping prices low. But in reality, it's just another stunt to cram as many passengers as possible into the already crowded, fee-riddled aircraft. The Sun Sentinel has more details on the upcoming plan below.
Citing extra space and lower weight, the airline claims that this will help passengers save money by keeping prices low. But in reality, it's just another stunt to cram as many passengers as possible into the already crowded, fee-riddled aircraft. The Sun Sentinel has more details on the upcoming plan below.
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 8)
Marcus Kephart Apr 24th 2010 12:48PM
This is good news. Lighter equals better gas mileage.Less maintenance is always better, especially if it delays a flight for a safety issue. (and multiplied by hundreds, if not thousands of seats)And finally...a stop to the constant bickering from the rude passengers who can't handle crowds. And you can always stay home.
Marshall Apr 22nd 2010 6:31PM
It is time to recreate the civil aeronautics board here in the USA and it time
to bring back humane legroom, new charter airlines so that passengers can have
freedom of choice. Dump these ridiculous fees of check in bags,carry on bags(?)
food for purchase(?) online fees ,cancelling fees. Time to get real.
kmic7432 Apr 22nd 2010 6:58PM
On long flights where you have to sleep, ie...international flights I can see a seat needs to recline, but as a tall person with long legs, my knees hit the seat in front of me just sitting down, when the person infront of me reclines, it pins my knees, or I have to spend the entire flight with my legs spread so the person in front of me can lay down. I think on short flights it is extremely rude to do that to the person behind them. If you are 6 ft tall, there is not enough leg room as it is.
john Apr 23rd 2010 6:14AM
Pee on them toooo!
paula Apr 22nd 2010 7:06PM
Hey, I have always flew Airtran, we sit first class because you get your suitcase to fly with you free, above or below...free beer(s) or mix drink and a basket of treats that you have a choice of snack and if you want two or 3 snacks, you get them no charge. This last fight we even got free wifi....can't beat that. Got to talk to my loved ones via internet at home all the way from Orlando to Flint, Michigan. It was fun and exciting and only cost me an extra $50. above my normal cost of the ticket. Don't pay for the luggage or pick your sit till you get to the airport. Cost more to do it on the net. Always up grade at the airport from coach to first class and its cheaper. This airline (Airtran) has always took care of us and would not fly with any other airline. They are the top notch that I always expect. If you add up all the fees you pay to pick your seat, pay for luggage and pay for drinks or extra snack, you are paying more than the $50. You do the math. Fly only the airlines that take you there and safe landing.
catherine Apr 23rd 2010 7:34AM
Yeah!! I'm tired of having people leaning back practically in my lap, especially the larger people. They should also have special airlines for the crying babies and their parents.
rayarpt Apr 23rd 2010 8:12AM
I never recline my seat. It is a very small recline and it effects the person behind me. BUT, I have to accept the dope in front of me reclining his seat. This is a great idea
Royce Apr 22nd 2010 7:13PM
Either the corporate leadership of Spirit Airlines want tons of free advertising for their "creative" approach to airline issues or they are trying to put the airline out of business completely.....which will undoubtedly happen in the future with decisions like these.
Dusty Apr 22nd 2010 7:14PM
ed
Apr 22nd 2010 2:54PM
I applaud Spirit Airlines!!!!! Thank you Spirit Airlines. I fly a LOT, and I mean a lot. I hate when the person in front of you sits down and boom, they put their seat all the way back and you have someone in your lap, very nice. Just what I wanted, a head of hair in my face, then they stretch and boom, you have a new lap child/adult. Good move Spirit. Now, charge for fat people that take up more than one seat. Make lap children sit on the lap of the person that wants to tolerate that annoyance, sit children in one area of the plane. Next....charge for snacks, I watched on a charter when people had to pay all of a sudden 66% don't want anything. Give it free and the snack bags and sodas are all over the place. People just can't wait two hours without eating? omg. I could go on but I like what Spirit is doing.
If people don't like it, feel like a cow and heard yourself onto a southwest plane. No seat assignments, what are those people thinking.
I'm very impressed with Spirit. No reclining seats, charging for those large carry ons and offering a discount on airline tickets, I'm ready to fly with you again.
Don't like being in that tight an area? Then fly first class. Costs more but you got loads of room.
Face it, most aircraft are nothing more than flying busses. In fact a bus probably has more room between the seats than any airline coach section does. The whole thing is the airline trying to make as much money off as many people as they can using the elast amount of equipment and personel as they can. Basiically to put more money into the pockets of the investors and the ceo.
Maybe it is a good time to look into high speed rail. GIve the airlines some real competition.
DELUMIERE Apr 22nd 2010 7:25PM
SPIRIT defined is Chutzpah!
Dusty Apr 22nd 2010 7:15PM
Mark
Apr 22nd 2010 3:03PM
What? It is not lower ticket costs if they then turn around and charge for your bags. Who the hell flies without bags? Especially carry-ons? I love Southwest Airlines. Their so called "cattle call" boarding makes people show up ON TIME for their flights. All airlines board the plane by row numbers. All you have to do with Southwest is print your boarding pass online and show up for your damn flight on time if you want to get your choice of seat.
Southwest cares about their passengers. They treat their passengers like values customers, not like dollar signs. With the airlines where you can choose your seat online, who the hell says you are gonna get the seat you want anyway. You are left to choose from what is left at that time. With Southwest you are just doing that on the plane instead of on the computer.
I also like Southwest. If you want a choice seat, then get there early and get you boarding pass as soon as possible.
There IS one problem with Southwest and that is the lack of a first class section. Flying coach from PHX to LAX is no problem, but flying from say LAX to JFK? Way too cramped.
Paul Apr 22nd 2010 9:00PM
Uhhhh, WN does NOT fly to JFK'
Mike V. Apr 22nd 2010 11:05PM
I'm sure he meant LGA
Big Mike Apr 22nd 2010 9:03PM
Well, Alex, if you recline your seat on me, I'll push you right back up. And if you don't like it, we'll see if you can push backward as hard as I can bench press...or as long. And when we get off the plane, maybe we'll se if you can run away as fast as I can chase your self-centered azz down...you pissant sack of s*it.
Michael...good analogy.
dave Apr 22nd 2010 7:24PM
Ahem. Yes, I 'm sure that their whole overriding goal is to save passengers money, just out of the simple goodness of their hearts.
buster Apr 22nd 2010 7:24PM
You have a choice! If you don't like what Spirit is doing, fly with another airline, or go by bus, or stay home. We have turned into a nation of whining crybaby's that want everything their way-and cheap.Get a Grip!
john johnson Apr 22nd 2010 7:24PM
beginning of the end for spirit
walter seltzer Apr 22nd 2010 7:59PM
If they lose 8 to 10 passengers per flight because of this, they reduce the load by 1,500 pounds and save a lot of fuel. How much would they save in fuel if they lose 100 passengers per flight. Maybe they can save even more fuel by staying on the ground.
spud Apr 22nd 2010 8:00PM
I really could not care less what Spirit does. I will never set foot on an airline that treats its passengers this way, so they can go dance the hully gully for all I care. Anyone want to bet how long before they are bankrupt?
pepelaputr Apr 22nd 2010 8:22PM
Spirit is working it's way towards RyanAir which is experimenting with no seats at all, just standing room, and pay toilets. I guess there're no health or safety regulations in Ireland.