Spirit Airlines

[ljbab728]

I did try to contact customer service and it's non-existent. However what I needed from them wasn't really important so I just lived without it.

I'm glad it was OK for you, but it isn't OK for many people who actually need customer service.

[no1cub17]

For those of you saying "I hope Spirit doesn't come to OKC" - HUH!?!?!?!?!? Why on earth wouldn't we want Spirit here? Fares out of OKC are absurdly high at times - why on earth wouldn't we want some downward pressure on our fares? Makes zero sense. If you don't want to fly Spirit, don't! I posted in the other thread about how my wife and I finally contributed to the DFW leakage - I have no doubt that it was due to Spirit and their low fares. The legacies have to compete now - and with these low oil prices, they're able to.

[Mike_M]

Ya I'm sorry, I know you guys in the travel industry think we should just man up and pay for OKC fares, which I can agree with if you're flying by yourself. But Just doing a quick search to my frequent destinations, I can save $200+ PER TICKET flying out of DFW vs OKC. And that's even excluding the Spirit fares. With gas being so cheap, plus parking off airport, I can spend somewhere around $75 to save $400 on a flight for my wife and I. I can't even imagine the savings for larger families.

[gopokes88]

Ya I'm sorry, I know you guys in the travel industry think we should just man up and pay for OKC fares, which I can agree with if you're flying by yourself. But Just doing a quick search to my frequent destinations, I can save $200+ PER TICKET flying out of DFW vs OKC. And that's even excluding the Spirit fares. With gas being so cheap, plus parking off airport, I can spend somewhere around $75 to save $400 on a flight for my wife and I. I can't even imagine the savings for larger families.

Where are you going?

[Urbanized]

Six hours of my time is worth more than $200 to me. And when you add the cost of gas and off airport parking you probably only save $125 or $150. Pass. I can take an Uber to the airport and back for $20 total.

[gopokes88]

Six hours of my time is worth more than $200 to me. And when you add the cost of gas and off airport parking you probably only save $125 or $150. Pass. I can take an Uber to the airport and back for $20 total.

And if he's flying to like New Orleans it might be worth it to just drive at that point.

If I'm flying across the country, coming home I don't want to spend all day flying only to have to drive another 3 hours. If it's a closer destination, driving to Dallas plus an 1-2 early to get through security and Dallas traffic, you start totaling it up and it doesn't save that much time, plus stress level is higher.

[no1cub17]

Indeed - when my wife and I leaked to DFW it's bc we saved $400 per ticket. It was nuts. If it had been even $100-$200 more to fly out of OKC, odds are we would've flown out of here. Sounded good in theory but when our LAX-DFW flight got in 1.5 hrs late, then shuttle to car, then 3.5 hr drive home at night in heavy thunderstorms - it was brutal.

[Jersey Boss]

3-4 hundred might not be much if you are travelling solo or with one other but when you factor in a family with two or three kids, the savings are well worth flying from DFW. . In fact with gas being so inexpensive the option of driving with a family is making more sense to some locations when you add in cab fares/car rental etc.

[Jersey Boss]

Indeed - when my wife and I leaked to DFW it's bc we saved $400 per ticket. It was nuts. If it had been even $100-$200 more to fly out of OKC, odds are we would've flown out of here. Sounded good in theory but when our LAX-DFW flight got in 1.5 hrs late, then shuttle to car, then 3.5 hr drive home at night in heavy thunderstorms - it was brutal.

With 800 in savings, perhaps a night at a Holiday Inn would have been an option, and still pocketed 600 after meals.

[stile99]

Six hours of my time is worth more than $200 to me.

I don't make $33/hour, so not for me. But just for fun, I played around with checking different flights using Google, trying a few common destinations. I started with New Orleans, since it was mentioned as might as well just drive there if you're going to drive to DFW (and I don't disagree with that, but we have to start somewhere). Using January 11 as the departure date and January 18th as the return on all:

OKC to MSY: $343 DFW to MSY: $139 (Spirit, $157 is the next best price).

OKC to LAX: $314 DFW to LAX: $89 (Spirit, next best price is $162).

OKC to ORD: $275. DFW to ORD: $89 (Yup, Spirit again, 137 next best price).

These are some high savings, even for just one person. As mentioned, if you are traveling with a family, you'd pretty much have to be insane to fly out of OKC. Same trips with two adults and two children:

OKC to MSY: $1481. DFW to MSY: $553 Spirit, next lowest $693.

OKC to LAX: $1293. DFW to LAX: $353 Spirit, next lowest $645.

OKC to ORD: $1097. DFW to ORD: $353 Spirit, next lowest $625.

Conclusion: There is no reason whatsoever for a family to fly out of OKC (with the caveat that I obviously did not try every possible combination of airport and dates), and barely any reason for a single person to do so.

[Urbanized]

...Conclusion: There is no reason whatsoever for a family to fly out of OKC (with the caveat that I obviously did not try every possible combination of airport and dates), and barely any reason for a single person to do so.

You're making an awful lot of assumptions about other peoples' finances, time availability and how much the value their own time, or do not. Just because you might drive to Dallas and back to pick up a $400 bill doesn't mean everyone else would. As in, if you offered me $400 cash to drive to Dallas and back right now, no way I would do it, and I am by no means rich.

Fine if it works for you, but of course the logical extension of your argument is that many of those destinations you should just drive to. I know for a fact that I could drive to NOLA and back for far less than $553, for instance. I suppose if your own time and convenience have no value to you, you should by all means go that route.

[gopokes88]

I don't make $33/hour, so not for me. But just for fun, I played around with checking different flights using Google, trying a few common destinations. I started with New Orleans, since it was mentioned as might as well just drive there if you're going to drive to DFW (and I don't disagree with that, but we have to start somewhere). Using January 11 as the departure date and January 18th as the return on all:

OKC to MSY: $343 DFW to MSY: $139 (Spirit, $157 is the next best price).

OKC to LAX: $314 DFW to LAX: $89 (Spirit, next best price is $162).

OKC to ORD: $275. DFW to ORD: $89 (Yup, Spirit again, 137 next best price).

These are some high savings, even for just one person. As mentioned, if you are traveling with a family, you'd pretty much have to be insane to fly out of OKC. Same trips with two adults and two children:

OKC to MSY: $1481. DFW to MSY: $553 Spirit, next lowest $693.

OKC to LAX: $1293. DFW to LAX: $353 Spirit, next lowest $645.

OKC to ORD: $1097. DFW to ORD: $353 Spirit, next lowest $625.

Conclusion: There is no reason whatsoever for a family to fly out of OKC (with the caveat that I obviously did not try every possible combination of airport and dates), and barely any reason for a single person to do so.

Have you ever traveled with kids? Like ever?

Driving three hours (assuming there's no traffic in Norman or Dallas) to Dallas to get on a plane for another 2 hours. Then when its time to come home you are tired, grumpy about going back to work, and having to fly 2 hours to drive 3 hours....with kids. That sounds like punishment, not vacation.

So don't give me this there no reason whatsoever to fly out of OKC.

Price isn't everything to ALL people. Learn the phrase opportunity costs. I weigh OC much more than price. The more complicated an itinerary the more things that can go wrong. Kids make it tough.

The way people pitch flying out of Dallas sounds like a used car salesmen to me.

"I can save you $400 round trip!!!!"
"Whats the catch"
"You gotta drive 3 hours each way, no promises or guarantees there wont be massive delays, weather, cancellations, or general life randomness. (What would have happened if you had booked your Dallas flights this past May, right around the time of the rock slide by Ardmore, your 3 hour drive just became 5. Is that a reason?) You also have to pay $15 a day to park in Dallas airport garages, leave your car at Wal Mart and Uber to the airport (yay another leg, what if Uber is surging?), or be "that guy" to a Dallas buddy who calls for a place to park a car...you'd be stupid not to do it this way!"

Half the world doesn't care and sees the $$$$.
The other half thinks that sounds like a nightmare. I'll either pay it, drive to MSY, or just not go and save some money.

Don't speak for my half of the world. I care much more about the experience than the price. If the journey gets too complicated and miserable just to save a few bucks, I just won't go and save all the money.

[gopokes88]

You're making an awful lot of assumptions about other peoples' finances, time availability and how much the value their own time, or do not. Just because you might drive to Dallas and back to pick up a $400 bill doesn't mean everyone else would. As in, if you offered me $400 cash to drive to Dallas and back right now, no way I would do it, and I am by no means rich.

Fine if it works for you, but of course the logical extension of your argument is that many of those destinations you should just drive to. I know for a fact that I could drive to NOLA and back for far less than $553, for instance. I suppose if your own time and convenience have no value to you, you should by all means go that route.

OKC-NOLA driving is 10 hours 58 minutes.

OKC-Dallas 3.5 hour drive + 1 hour to get through security check in and get settled + 30 min traffic/wreck cushion+1.5 hour flight (assuming its on time). That's 6.5 hours.

The hassle isn't worth saving 5 hours. So I'd either just spend the extra to fly out of OKC, or just drive the entire way.

Oh and he also forgot to mention Spirit charges for the air you breathe on the plan. $71 is the base fare, unless you're planning to wear the same clothes, or buy new ones with all that cheddar he's saving, probably going to check a bag. So add $50.

[Bellaboo]

Base price on Spirit is one price, but by the time you add all the fees it's another. You can't fart on Spirit without getting a bill.

Frontier is the same way.

[Plutonic Panda]

You're making an awful lot of assumptions about other peoples' finances, time availability and how much the value their own time, or do not. Just because you might drive to Dallas and back to pick up a $400 bill doesn't mean everyone else would. As in, if you offered me $400 cash to drive to Dallas and back right now, no way I would do it, and I am by no means rich.

Fine if it works for you, but of course the logical extension of your argument is that many of those destinations you should just drive to. I know for a fact that I could drive to NOLA and back for far less than $553, for instance. I suppose if your own time and convenience have no value to you, you should by all means go that route.

Well, apparently a hell of a lot of people do. I always fly direct to OKC airport every time, but it seems every time I hear about someone taking a vacation, they drive to DFW and flight out of there.

[Urbanized]

Well, apparently a hell of a lot of people do. I always fly direct to OKC airport every time, but it seems every time I hear about someone taking a vacation, they drive to DFW and flight out of there.

I'm not at all saying that people don't. Just that it's not for me under almost any reasonable circumstances that I can imagine. I'm just getting tired of some of the posts on here that read like "WTF?! Don't you know that you could have saved TWO HUNDRED BUCKS?! You must be an IDIOT!!"

If someone refuses to put value on their own time and convenience that's their own business. Just don't try to tell me what MY time is worth TO ME.

[stile99]

As in, if you offered me $400 cash to drive to Dallas and back right now, no way I would do it, and I am by no means rich.

Fine if it works for you, but of course the logical extension of your argument is that many of those destinations you should just drive to. I know for a fact that I could drive to NOLA and back for far less than $553, for instance. I suppose if your own time and convenience have no value to you, you should by all means go that route.

You've now doubled the hourly rate to $66/hour. I've no idea what you do for a living but I'm starting to think I should have chosen it as my career path.

Like I said, I don't disagree with just driving from here to NOLA, and my money is where my mouth is. I'm taking a trip there in the near future, and I'll be driving. Flying has become such a hassle these days that if it is within a day's drive, I'd rather drive. Bonus, I have transportation when I get there. But the fact remains that if you are looking to save money, which is what I understood Mike_M's point to be, you can save quite a lot. Are you giving up the convenience of just driving 10-20 minutes to WRWA? Obviously, that's the entire point. Is that convenience worth $600? To you, yes. To Mike_M, no. So taking away all the strawmen, I believe it is safe to say Spirit coming to OKC can only exert a downward pressure on prices, and if you don't like them, don't fly them. You couldn't pay me to, even though the "Charged for the air you breathe" is an exaggeration to the point where anything else the person says becomes just as much of a joke.

[bradh]

This was before we had the kiddo, but once we drove to DFW to fly to PHX (only because AA cancelled our flight out of OKC and we HAD to be in PHX for a wedding). Let me tell you, mind you this was without kid so just the two of us, that drive back to OKC was freaking brutal. Flying out of DFW is a non-starter for us. Just not worth it to us, if we're taking a trip we just plan accordingly. Our time and sanity is worth it.

[ljbab728]

Well, apparently a hell of a lot of people do. I always fly direct to OKC airport every time, but it seems every time I hear about someone taking a vacation, they drive to DFW and flight out of there.

Plupan, I deal with people on a daily basis who are going to go on vacation. The number that want to drive to DFW to leave or who would even consider it is probably under 5 percent.

[Plutonic Panda]

Plupan, I deal with people on a daily basis who are going to go on vacation. The number that want to drive to DFW to leave or who would even consider it is probably under 5 percent.

Are you sure? It just seems like a lot of people I know are driving to DFW to fly. I do agree with Urbanized on this though how others shouldn't ridicule the ones who choose to fly out of Will Rodgers.

[ljbab728]

Are you sure? It just seems like a lot of people I know are driving to DFW to fly. I do agree with Urbanized on this though how others shouldn't ridicule the ones who choose to fly out of Will Rodgers.

LOL, yes I'm sure. It's my job.

[stile99]

I do agree with Urbanized on this though how others shouldn't ridicule the ones who choose to fly out of Will Rodgers.

If anything I said gave the impression I was ridiculing anyone for their personal choices, I apologize, as I do not feel that way nor was it my intent to give that impression. If this impression came from others, I'll leave them to apologize for themselves. The reason behind my reply was only in response to the subject of this post, and the expression of some people that they hope Spirit doesn't come here. As illustrated, the prices flying out of OKC to almost anywhere vs flying out of DFW to the same destination is insane, and if Spirit coming to WRWA does something to address that, how can it be a bad thing? Nobody is going to be forced to fly Spirit airlines, so if you don't want to (and I personally count myself in that camp), then it's just as simple as this: DON'T.

If it is worth $400 to you to drive to DFW, then get in your car and head South. If your time is more valuable to you, then fly out of WRWA. However, the ridicule goes both ways. I get the sense that people who choose to drive have been ridiculed in the last few posts, and I believe their choice is just as valid as anyone else's. If $400 is peanuts to you...GREAT! To others, it's a week's wages if not more, and taking a couple hours from their hard-earned vacation time to save some of their hard-earned dollars is NOT something people need to be scoffing at.

[damonsmuz]

Since we're comparing fares here. I'm going skiing in a few months and did some searching.

Airfare from OKC-Jackson Hole from Mar 1-Mar 5 : $485
DFW-Jackson Hole: $508

DFW was actually more expensive to fly out of than OKC. DFW is not always the right move...and for those that say there is no reason to fly out of OKC... why would you pick DFW when it can be more expensive?

[sooner88]

Since we're comparing fares here. I'm going skiing in a few months and did some searching.

Airfare from OKC-Jackson Hole from Mar 1-Mar 5 : $485
DFW-Jackson Hole: $508

DFW was actually more expensive to fly out of than OKC. DFW is not always the right move...and for those that say there is no reason to fly out of OKC... why would you pick DFW when it can be more expensive?

When I went to Jackson this summer, it was cheaper to fly from OKC to Jackson Hole (through Denver) vs. directly from Denver to Jackson Hole.

[Bullbear]

basically everyone makes their own travel choices and determines if its worth it to fly from here or there. I do both. But we drive to Dallas at least once a month anyways and have a permanent bedroom set up there so its not a big deal for us to drive down and we don't have to pay parking ect as we have access to be dropped off and picked up and a place to stay before and after the flight so it works sometimes and sometimes we just fly from here. It all depends on how things go.