Hi,
" ... but I figure there must be some people that feel it's worth it or they wouldn't still be in business."
==> A few thoughts for you here.
First, remember how most people are - not right or wrong, but how most of us act and behave. As a whole most people are far, far more likely to look to review-writing, social media etc to express a grievance than they would for a positive experience.
Now, this does not say the negative reviews are fake, wrong etc, but I think what tends to get... lost if you will... is the numbers... American Airlines gets (probably) hundred and of new complaints each day... but they also most tens of thousands of people each day -- so what does that equate to as a ratio? That to me is perhaps a better way to look at it.
Second... The complaints themselves... true, many if not most are probably very legitate and based on facts..... but.... there will also be some that are simply not, what I call "credible" complaints. An example might be showing up with baggage in excess of the previously disclosed limits and then being charged for it. Now, this most certainly IS a negative -- but largely, that's of the passengers own doing/making- not the carrier. So, on that basis alone, I personally wouldn't "count" as legitimate, a complaint like this.
The reason I raise this issue is that Spirit has some unique rules (when compare to other US carriers) and tends to enforce them on a very consistent basis. So, IMHO, I tend to see a fair percentage of issues that, to some degree, have elements of "I didn't know/realize that.."
Lastly, I think flying Spirit IS different than other US carriers -- and as such, you - the passenger - need to know, understand and agree to these differences before you buy. IMHO, Spirit does a fair to good job of disclosing these issues in advance... I think some of the negatives are quite simply click buy first, ask questions later.
I am a huge fan of Spirit? I am a fan of giving passengers a different business model to choose from for their travel.. and for some, that works.. so to that end, I'm a fan... My own personal travel isn't alligned well with their model - so I choose not to fly them - but that's soely because we're not a good fit; and not because I think they are inherently bad ... or good.
Travel Safe,
Edited: 6 years ago