Sun-Sentinel
A week after announcing fees for carry-on bags, Spirit Airlines is taking heat for installing seats that don’t recline on its newest planes.
Spirit’s two new Airbus 320 aircraft feature “pre-reclined” seats, spokeswoman Misty Pinson said Tuesday.
That means even Spirit passengers who want to pay for reclining airline seats won’t have that option.
The airline put the first A-320 into service on March 14 for the Fort Lauderdale-Washington, D.C., route.
The other arrived last week and currently is being used on flights between Fort Lauderdale and New York’s LaGuardia airport.
Two more A-320s will join the company’s fleet this summer, and both will feature the “pre-reclined” seat design, Pinson said.
Spirit’s entire 30-plane fleet features one cabin class and two seat-types, with three seats configured on each side of the aircraft.
Spirit’s new stationary seats weigh less offering greater fuel economy, Pinson said.
In addition, there are fewer moving parts built into the seat, which minimizes maintenance costs associated with broken seat backs. Pinson said the result is lower fares.
But some Spirit passengers are already complaining the new planes leave them more cramped than ever.
“I hate sitting upright,” said Eve Greene, who recently traveled from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to New York’s La Guardia airport on Spirit’s new A-320. “It felt cheap and uncomfortable.”
riding spirit is like going on a flying coach-bus.
if its a quick short flight and all you have is a handbag…
I belong to their $9 Fare Club because I have family in Florida. In my opinion, they have no right to call themselves a bargain airline anymore. The public isn’t that stupid.
Ryan Air charges a pound to use the bathroom on their flights. I kid you not.
Starting in September 2008, Spirit aircraft became “air billboards.” Plans for advertising on the overhead bins, tray tables, seatback inserts and bulkheads is being rolled out at present. US Airways and Ryan Air are the first airlines to start advertising in the airplane, as well as the now defunct Skybus Airlines that also sold “branded airplanes” as full-body advertisement along the fuselage. A Bureau of Transportation Statistics report concluded that in 2008 Spirit had the highest number of complaints per passenger from any other major U.S. airline. On April 14, 2009, Spirit raised the price of the first checked baggage… Read more »
I wonder who’s job it is to think up these things?
wats next bring your own seat?!
even the $9 special they run are not such a bargain. After the tax and fees and fule charge and other charges and then there is the check in charge and the carry on charge by the time you add all of it up you maybe saving about $25 per ticket maybe a bit more
for short trips under 2 hours it may make sense but longer flights i would much rather being comfortable
only spirit no physical
Sorry spirit but Ryanair already have no reclining seats.
only some you get what you payfor
This is the best!
hahahah!