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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Flying Spirit Airlines? They now charge for carry on!
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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| | | Posted: 12:27 AM on 04.06.10 |
->> You may carry on a small backpack, but Spirit Airlines now charges US$9 for a carry on when you buy online as a 'member'; $30 on the phone or for non-members ... and $45 at the airport.
Yup $45 for a carry on bag.
So ... who's flying Spirit Airlines? |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 12:48 AM on 04.06.10 |
->> Not me, never have, never will!!
I'm a Southwest kind of guy!!
They serve all the destinations I fly to, soooo.... |
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Daniel Putz, Photographer
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Owings Mills | MD | USA | Posted: 3:01 AM on 04.06.10 |
| ->> Southwest is king! |
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William Guerro, Photographer
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Galloway | NJ | USA | Posted: 7:44 AM on 04.06.10 |
| ->> About the only thing that Spirit doesn't charge for is Toilet Paper, but give them time, they will. |
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Jon L Hendricks, Photographer
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Hobart | IN | USA | Posted: 9:33 AM on 04.06.10 |
->> Steven,
Where did you hear this info? I'm not seeing it on their site or press releases. |
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Jon L Hendricks, Photographer
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Hobart | IN | USA | Posted: 9:40 AM on 04.06.10 |
->> Found it....
http://www.spiritair.com/Policiesbags.aspx#CarryOnBag
Looks like it's for travel after August 1st purchased after today.
Fees apply only to carry-ons that go in the overhead bin and do not fit under the seat. And it doesn't look like it's $9 online. The prices are $20 online-member, $30 online-non-member, and $45 at the gate. Although these prices seem to bring costs in-line with major carriers overall prices since the flights are cheaper. |
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Luke Johnson, Photographer, Student/Intern
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St.Petersburg | FL | USA | Posted: 9:42 AM on 04.06.10 |
| ->> I will continue to fly southwest... Plus I don't know of any other airline that allows media pre-boarding. |
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Juerg Schreiter, Photographer
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Fort Lauderdale | FL | USA | Posted: 10:31 AM on 04.06.10 |
->> Go FedEx ... they had a sign at the store,
'We ship your luggage, door to door anywhere in the US for $25.00' |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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| | | Posted: 10:33 AM on 04.06.10 |
->> I just did a random side-by-side of flying 'ultra low cost carrier' Spirit Airlines & American Airlines between Boston & LAX on random dates, choose April 19 to April 26.
In the end, Spirit Airlines comes to $333 MORE than American Airlines. I love ultra low cost carriers and looking at all fees they break out of the costs that most travellers never see coming. |
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Chris Russick, Photographer, Assistant
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St. Petersburg | FL | USA | Posted: 11:24 AM on 04.06.10 |
| ->> Be careful when using the $9 club. The terms of service state that after 60 days, they will charge your card $39.99 for an annual "Membership." |
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Geoff Miller, Photographer
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Steven Mullensky, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Port Townsend | WA. | USA | Posted: 5:27 PM on 04.06.10 |
->> The only problem I have with Southwest is that for my preferred route, they stop in Oakland or Sacramento. Makes a 2 hour 15 minute trip over 5 hours.
Alaska charges a $75.00 per ticket change fee and Southwest does not. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 5:45 PM on 04.06.10 |
->> Southwest wins hands down on almost everything!!
Y |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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| | | Posted: 6:18 PM on 04.06.10 |
->> Southwest Airlines still offers a media pre-boarding option for photographers. This is helpful on full flights and you need to make sure your bag gets a spot overhead.
JetBlue still allows for one free bag, but they have two different carry on requirements for their A320 & E190 aircraft.
My opinions on Spirit Airlines' new bag policy can be found here - http://SpiritBags.notlong.com (including a side by side comparison of why they are not an ultra low cost carrier) ... as well as having been interviewed by MSNBC.com for a story going live tomorrow morning. |
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Kevin Novak, Photographer, Assistant
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 7:34 PM on 04.07.10 |
->> pj -
I saw that earlier today. I'm thinking it will take a lot of 1 euro paying customers to cover the cost of replacing the seats of those that choose to "protest". |
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Paul Alesse, Photographer
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Centereach | NY | USA | Posted: 8:31 PM on 04.07.10 |
| ->> Can anyone please elaborate on what's required from passengers to qualify for media pre-boarding? |
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Eileen Blass, Photographer
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xxxxx | xx | USA | Posted: 10:36 PM on 04.07.10 |
| ->> So, Steven, I rarely use the photographer pre-board on Southwest. Most of the time I get a "B" boarding pass because I check in online exactly 24 hours before.....and most of the time "B" boarding works out just fine. When I do use the pre-board option, I usually have no problem. But a few months ago, I tried to get the pre board and the gate agent asked to see my camera which was on my shoulder. It was a D3, and I had my rolling Airport Security bag. She said the camera was not that big and the roller was like everyone else's, so she denied my pre-board. But then she said I could board with the families. Then an awkward moment as a ticked off mother got in my face and complained that I was NOT traveling with children. How dare she talk about my camera like that ;) It was kind of an ugly travel day.....but, hey, I didn't close any airports that day. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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| | | Posted: 6:36 AM on 04.08.10 |
->> Eileen,
Very often Southwest Airlines has photographers board with pre-boarding families and they ask you to board after the children.
Determining whether you board as media is actually not gate agent discretion. Those with 'clearly with equipment' and credentials or those 'clearly with professional equipment' are entitled to pre-board.
Your answer to the mother should be simple, and the reason SWA allows for media pre-board ... it is for the safety and security of the fellow passengers.
If you board last, your bag may be gate checked, SWA does not want the liability of gate checking a bag of cameras or the delays associated with fighting with a photog. Additionally, camera bags are heavy, so they want the bag stowed safely prior to other passengers boarding to prevent you from smacking someone in the head with your loaded Airport Security roller.
I have told this to others before and they've backed down from their righteous tone.
...but as you said, at least you didn't close any Capital City airports, so it must be a good day for you :0) |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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| | | Posted: 6:39 AM on 04.08.10 |
->> Paul,
Here you go:
http://www.swamedia.com/swamedia/media_cameras.html
SWA is aware many states do not credential, in New England SWA flies from CT, RI, MA, NH, who all no longer issue media credentials (RI does, only for those engaged in covering the police beat full-time, no one else). In these cases professional organization IDs (NPPA Photo ID works) is accepted, as are event credentials ... or the ability to demonstrate your are traveling 'clearly with professional equipment' |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 9:53 AM on 04.08.10 |
| ->> I flew SWA two weeks ago and had a problem with the gate attendant. He flat told me I couldn't pre-board because "pre-boarding was only for photographers with "those big" cameras". I was in somewhat of a crappy mood, hey I was flying and the plane was full, and told him he must be unfamiliar with his own employer's policy and did he want to step over to the ticket counter so I could show it to him (and have the young women at the counter who knew the policy explain it to him also). He kind of gave me the huffing noise and said, Oh, go ahead." The two suits who were at A1 and A2 were visibly pissed off but I got on and walked to the back of the plane where I prefer to sit. As Eileen posted above it is kind of amazing that some of SWA's own people don't know about the policy. And unfortunately it's usually the person who has to apply it. The rest of the legs I had a B1 to B-5 pass so I didn't bother with the hassle since there is always plenty of room if you're that close to the "A's". |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 11:38 PM on 04.09.10 |
->> It ain't just SW Chuckie... although I'd love to have seen your expression when he said "those big cameras"....
Friggin airline industry is a total mess... or am I missing something Steve? |
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David Seelig, Photographer
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Hailey | ID | USA | Posted: 1:47 AM on 04.10.10 |
| ->> I keep the swa regulations on my desktop of my laptop it has saved me a few times. Also always be polite as in this day age anger at an airport gets you in more trouble then you would know what to do with. |
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