RSS Feeds|
• Front page • Metro • Sports |
At 3:40 p.m. today, Spirit Airlines lands its first flight at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Spirit is known for offering insanely low fares and for its off-beat advertising campaigns.
At 3:40 p.m. today, Spirit Airlines lands its first flight at Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
Spirit is known for offering insanely low fares and for its off-beat advertising campaigns.
But here are some other things you should know about Columbia’s newest air carrier.
THE SCHEDULE
Spirit will fly one daily round trip between Columbia and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. until June 11. After that date, Spirit also will fly between the cities twice on Saturday and twice Sunday.
TODAY-JUNE 11
• Sunday through Friday: Departs Columbia at 4:10 p.m. and arrives in Fort Lauderdale at 5:50 p.m.
• Saturday: Departs Columbia at 10:05 a.m. and arrives in Fort Lauderdale at 11:45 a.m.
STARTING JUNE 12
• Monday through Friday: Depart Columbia at 4:10 p.m. and arrive in Fort Lauderdale at 5:50 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: Depart Columbia at 10:05 a.m. and arrive at 11:45 a.m.; depart at 8:35 p.m. and arrive at 10:15 p.m.
THE DESTINATIONS
The only direct flight out of Columbia is to Fort Lauderdale. The airline offers links from there to more than 20 destinations. Its focus is the Caribbean and Latin America, but Spirit flies to cities such as New York and Chicago.
THE DEALS
Spirit offers fares as low as $9 but there are limited numbers and passengers have to travel on select dates. The company sends free e-mails to advertise specials. But it offers more deals to people who join the $9 Fare Club. Membership costs $9 for a 60-day trial and then costs $39.95 annually.
THE EXTRAS
When you buy a ticket on Spirit, you’re only paying for a seat. Everything else, including checked luggage, costs extra.
The airline charges $10 per checked bag when reserved online. It charges $20 per bag at the ticket counter.
Drinks and snacks cost extra.
Travelers can upgrade to a “Big Front Seat.”
THE AIRPLANES
Spirit flies Airbus A319 and Airbus A321. Both are full-size passenger jets. Every plane in the fleet is less than two years old.
THE IMPACT
Columbia desperately needed a low-cost carrier to force major airlines to drop prices.
So far, it’s happening, said Mike Flack, Columbia Metro’s executive director. Other carriers aren’t dropping prices to Spirit’s level but they are coming down, he said.
Reach Phillips at (803) 771-8307.
