Stupid-fee alert: $5 to print a boarding pass
Spirit Airlines is advertising the new charge as a way to save money. Honest.
This post comes from Jeanine Skowronski at partner site MainStreet.
Another day, another stupid airline fee. This one is courtesy of repeat offender Spirit Airlines.
Now passengers on the budget airline will pay an extra $5 to have an agent print out their boarding passes at the airport. Post continues after video.
Spirit Airlines is billing the new fee-ture as a way to save. According to the press release (.pdf file), passengers who check in online or at an airport kiosk will have $5 deducted from the price of the ticket.
"If you choose to check in online you will save more than ever before," Spirit's chief marketing officer, Barry Biffle, writes in the release. "It's a win-win for everyone: more ways to save and only charging customers for services they actually use."
The $5 fee for printing a boarding pass is per person and is now being applied to all domestic and international bookings for flights from Nov. 1 onward.
Spirit said the fee will be waived in cities where it does not have airport check-in kiosks or if a customer is not able to use the automated kiosk to print a boarding pass. No matter what, beginning June 26, 2012, boarding passes printed at Spirit's airport kiosks will no longer be free but will cost $1. Boarding passes from an agent will still cost $5.
Fees are somewhat of a Spirit Airlines specialty, with the airline charging consumers to take a carry-on bag, to pick their own seat, and for failing to pay baggage fees in advance.
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kbgem wrote:
"Soon they will figure out how to put a five dollar machine to use the toilet on the flight".
This is already the case in Europe. One of the discount airlines (Ryan Air I believe), has already installed a coin receptacle on the airplane lavatory doors, where it costs one Euro to use the facilities.
I say, piss on the door.
This airline has just created it's own destiny...out of business in a few year I predict or many lawsuits. Elderly people do not use computers, do not have access to the internet, that is called discrimination. What if you are traveling and have no access to a printer for your return flight. What about in this bad economy people can not afford the internet etc. etc....Bad move NO-Spirit!
No person in my family will give this airline a dime! That has got the dumbest CEO I have read about in a while.
approximate time to fly from n.j. to florida 3hours, add drive time to the airport 2hours, get to the airport early for checkin and groping 2hours, get out of the airport with baggage 1 hour, rent a car and drive to final destination 2 hours(more or less depending on final destination), total time approximately 10 hours each way, travel expenses...airfare, gas to and from airport and parking about $300.00. oh yeah does not include cost of car rental, having to put up with other passengers, flight attendants, crowds in general and also possible flight delays. this is each way for one person.
approximate drive time 18 hours, approximate fuel cost $225.00($3.50/gallon and 20mpg), overnight stay on the way( i cannot drive 18 hours straight) $75.00, food $100.00, throw in $50.00 miscellaneous expenses..$450.00..thats for 2-3 people, you ride in comfort, no crowds, no groping, no wondering if you car will still be in the parking lot when you get back, no car rental and you can sightsee if you feel likeit.
THINK I'LL DRIVE!
Ah yes. Thank you Southwest airlines. We have 4 free trips and a companion pass that makes me fly for free with my wife through next June. We also have a southwest Visa charge card that we already have amassed 39,000 points in just 3 months which is good for another 2 free flights.
We recently went cross country to Fort Lauderdale (free with checking 3 bags free) and cross country to Boston (free with checking 4 bags). We are booked to Denver and a return to Boston in the next 2 months. I had a (free trip) with US Air last year and they charged me $25.00 for one bag going and $30.00 for the same bag returning. Southwest is running a 40th birthday special for all flights for very low fares. Check it out, you will save money and maybe become a Southwest customer.
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