Let's Buy Spirit Air

Post by thrance » Mon, May 04, 2026, 3:31 PM UTC

carlosjobim wrote: post #356

thrance wrote: post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If we let the free market do its work, there'd be no airlines. Jet fuel is heavily subsidized, the State injects massive amounts of money into airports and plane manufacturers, etc. Honestly, with the looming climate crisis, we should probably just let them fail one by one and let alternatives (who can actually be profitable) take off.

In a free market, every working citizen could easily afford more expensive airline tickets, since they could keep their entire income with no taxes deducted.

Post by tecleandor » Mon, May 04, 2026, 3:33 PM UTC

foolfoolz wrote: post #474

Brendinooo wrote: post #426

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bullet trains would be good in tighter networks of cities. Southern Cal, Acela corridor. But I'm just not sure the demand would be there for longer distances unless it's so cheap that it's worth the extra time. Like what's China to Kunmung, a 6 hour flight vs a 12 hour train, at a comparable cost?

even SF to LA would have trouble with a high speed rail because the price would likely be the same as a flight

Post by dghlsakjg » Mon, May 04, 2026, 3:35 PM UTC

eru wrote: post #249

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like you're living in a different universe then. I will literally never fly Spirit (well, neither will anyone else) nor Frontier ever, I loath the experiences I've had on them so much. First, as someone with relatively long thighs, I literally don't fit in their sardine can seats. But more relevant to most people, while things may be OK if everything goes perfectly and nothing is delayed or cancelled, you are…

From a customers' immediate point of view, this sucks for you. But it's great they are not regulated utilities. Because either everyone would have to pay for extra legroom, even if they don't need it, or some freakishly long people would not be able to pay for the extra legroom that they need.

Post by jabedude » Mon, May 04, 2026, 3:37 PM UTC

notepad0x90 wrote: post #24

I could easily afford any of their competitors but I always picked Spirit airlines. The pricing makes sense, pay more if you need more things. I liked Spirit because it was more akin to riding the bus, I got treated well every time by their staff and the experience was fairly consistent. Other airlines also have cramped sits, what little they did better than Spirit isn't worth the price, and the experience was incons…

Post by bobthepanda » Mon, May 04, 2026, 3:39 PM UTC

dannyw wrote: post #114

tomhow wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They can't do this most of the time because for most of the year on most routes, supply outstrips demand (i.e., many/most flights on most airlines fly at least a little bit empty, often significantly empty – overall load factors are about 80-85%). They have to charge fares that customers will be willing to pay, even if that means losing money on a given flight. They can only charge profitable fares on the routes and…

Was that Flightfox? If so, I loved using it, helped me save so much money but also time :) It sounds like there’s a problem with having too many flights that are barely full and hence unprofitable. AFAIK the federal gov spends significant money subsidising many “small airport” routes even if they’re barely used.