Posted on Nov 09, 2006 - 07:11 AM

Catching the Spirit, and Other Airline News

Have you flown Spirit Airlines lately? I had the chance to experience their round-trip service a couple weeks ago between Myrtle Beach and New York City, and board one of Spirit's newest jets as part of its revamped fleet that was rolled out this fall.

All in all, it seems like a tremendously improved flying experience for Myrtle Beach travelers. For me, it was beneficial on three fronts:

Comfort - Decent legroom, but what really makes a nice difference is the fleet's new leather seating with adjustable headrests. Also, by sporting a brand-new Airbus fleet, Spirit's planes have yet to fall victim to the disturbing trend in the airline industry highlighted recently in The New York Times: forsaking cleanliness in the name of cost savings.
Efficiency - The good news about Spirit's New York City service is that it serves LaGuardia, perhaps the most convenient of the Tri-State area's three major airports. The bad news is that it serves LaGuardia, perhaps the most delay-riddled airport in the country. Knowing this whenever you fly in and out of there, you just pray that the airline does enough of the little things to minimize this factor. Spirit did that for me - its online check-in/boarding pass option, combined with the surprisingly smooth airport check-in process, gave me enough time to enjoy my overpriced LaGuardia coffee with two of the city's tabloids instead of just one.
Price - The $200 fare was very reasonable, especially considering I needed to make my reservations at the last minute (within four days of my departure) and that it included non-stop service. If you have flexibility in your travel dates, Spirit runs frequent specials that include $7 and $8 one-way fares to a large number of its destinations. Don't think they're running any as of this writing, but you can always check out their site at any time to catch their latest deals.

Some other air travel news of note for Grand Strand travelers:

A new local travel company, Myrtle Beach Direct Air and Tours, will offer direct flights to three northeastern cities as well as golf, hotel and entertainment packages beginning in spring 2007, as reported in Tuesday's Sun News. The Web site currently hosts a simple promotional page, but will be fully operational by Nov. 14.
AirTran Airways just concluded its seasonal service between Myrtle Beach and Atlanta, but is now offering a chance for its travelers to select the latest addition to its route map. Nearby airports in Charleston and Wilmington are on the list; with enough votes, it just might provide a viable extra option.

Comments

scott says on 02/10/2009 at 11:37:

I understand that Myrtle Beach Direct will be offering golf, entertainment and vacation packages. What a great idea.
Mike says on 02/10/2009 at 11:37:

I just flew Spirit from New York to Myrtle Beach and the flight itself was fine. Clean Plane, pleasant staff. The only problem is that their NYC hub is LaGuardia airport and that facility is like a third world country. What a pigsty! Overcrowded, dirty, and basically about the worst airport I have been in in years. I’ll never go back there if there is any other option.
KC says on 02/10/2009 at 11:37:

I’ve heard that Jet Blue might be coming here, or to Wilmington. Anyone heard otherwise?
Leslie says on 02/10/2009 at 11:37:

Spirit Air to and from Atlantic City, NJ is a blessing. The air terminal in Absecon, NJ is a pleasure to fly in and out of and the time of the flight 1 hr and 10 minutes vs. the time it would take to drive is great!

This smaller airport is convenient to Philly too.
Annette Shepherd says on 02/10/2009 at 11:37:

Spirit and other similiar airlines are a welcome addition to the Myrtle Beach Jetport, however, I have learned when shopping for a good price, do not overlook US Air. I go online to Cheaptickets.com, orbitz.com and all the other ticket brokers and find the cheapest price - then I go straight to the airline and it is usually a little cheaper direct with the airlines. I have found many times that US Air will beat the smaller airlines. Of course if you are going one way or you can not book in advance, the smaller airlines will probably be your best bet.
mm says on 02/10/2009 at 11:37:

The rumor has it that Myrtle Beach Direct Air and Tours will feature some great packages toward hotel and golf. Has anyone heard?
Jim says on 02/10/2009 at 11:37:

To mm: The site just went live today. Check out the package deals at http://www.myrtlebeachdirectair.com