A Spirited Defense of Spirit Airlines

My wife and I, along with several other couples, have planned a trip to Atlantic City for a few days later this summer when I turn 50. It’s hard to make 12, 14 people happy but we worked it together.

For instance, most wanted proximity to the beach, which eliminated the hotels at the marina. Some wanted a spa right in the hotel. Some wanted a nice outdoor pool at the hotel. Others wanted a smoke-free environment. Some wanted the restaurant and nightlife to be right at the hotel so nobody had to drive or walk the Boardwalk late at night. And, of course, price was a consideration.

It was a process of elimination that went back and forth with dozens and dozens of e-mails until we whittled it down. We won’t be staying high-end at Borgata or Revel or Caesar’s Palace, but we won’t be staying at Billy’s Sleep and Slurp in Absecon, either.

We did our homework and we know that we’ll be getting what we pay for.

Too bad travelers who fly Spirit Airlines don’t understand that general mantra.

Spirit isn’t Virgin America or JetBlue. It isn’t even Southwest, much less American or United. And it doesn’t pretend to be. Spirit is what it is – a low-cost carrier that tacks on a plethora of unbundled fees like paying to pick your seats, paying for water on-board, paying for checked bags and carry-on bags, and so-on.

And people don’t like it.

According to a report released by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), Spirit Airlines passengers are most likely to complain about their experience, as the carrier generates the most complaints for its size and generates an increasing number of complaints each year. In fact, Spirit generates approximately three times more complaints per passenger than any other airline.

"Many of the DoT complaints are driven by customers not fully understanding that we offer unbundled fares that let them control how much they spend," Maggie Espin-Christina, a spokeswoman for the airline, told USA Today.

Here’s what I say: Quit your b****ing.

Yes, I blame you, fellow air traveler. Do your research, then do the math. There should be no issues, no surprises, when flying Spirit. If you’re not used to random seat assignments, seats that don’t recline, being charged to put an item in the overhead bin, that’s not a Spirit problem. That’s a you problem.

You. Get. What. You. Pay. For.

If you want a $20 filet mignon, go to Outback. If you want a $50 filet mignon, go to Peter Luger. Some people like the $20 version, apparently, because every time I go to Outback the line is out the door.

Similarly, Spirit fliers won’t admit it, but they go back. In droves.

For all the complaints, Business Week noted that Spirit is the most profitable U.S. airline. Spirit’s 16.2 percent margin is highest among U.S. public airlines, as is its 26 percent return on capital, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

You have choices, of course. You could choose not to fly Spirit Airlines, go with another carrier, see if the cost per ticket works out better. Or you could fly Spirit and dig deep for those three singles to pay for a bottle of water – or not.

Either way, the onus is on you to get what you pay for.