ReportWire

Tag: Spirit Airlines

  • Done with Spirit, Finding Choice Preferred Hotel Award Availability, Hotel Currency Conversion Scams and More

    Done with Spirit, Finding Choice Preferred Hotel Award Availability, Hotel Currency Conversion Scams and More

    [ad_1]

    News Roundup

    You can stay in touch with us on Facebook/Twitter/Threads, or you can join the discussion in our Facebook Group. You can also subscribe to get all news/deals via one daily email, or choose instant notifications for time sensitive deals. As always, thank you for reading!

    News Roundup

    This is a roundup of news and other interesting pieces that I’ve come across over the last few days. I thought they are worth sharing so I hope you enjoy reading them.

     

    Why We’re Done With Spirit Airlines After One Flight

    “About a year or so ago, my family initiated our Spirit Airlines experiment, genuinely intrigued to see how it would go. Last year, and as it turns out, up until yesterday, my family and I had never flown on Spirit. We’ve come full circle in one year, with most of that circle completed in the last day. But our decision to give up on Spirit isn’t purely based on one experience. Even if yesterday’s flight was perfect, we would probably be done with them, anyway.” ➡️ Read more

     

    How to find Choice Preferred Hotel award availability

    An exciting recent development is that Choice Privileges points can now be used to book participating Preferred Hotels & Resorts online. One little “gotcha” is that you can’t easily view whether or not the hotel you want is available for the dates you want without having enough Choice Points for at least one night. That’s a problem if you’re thinking of transferring points to Choice or buying Choice points just for that stay. ➡️ Read more

     

    Hotel Currency Conversion Scams Gone Wild

    A Reddit user named Curtis shares how the Aloft Playa Del Carmen seems to be running what can only be described as a scam with currency conversion to increase revenue. Even worse, we’re not just talking about a spread of a couple of percent here. ➡️ Read more

     

    Larger Overhead Bins Coming to United’s Embraer E175 Aircraft

    One of today’s biggest challenges when flying is finding space to stow your carry-on — especially on regional jets like United’s Embraer E175s. United has taken note and has announced it will be installing more spacious overhead bins on 50 of its Skywest-operated 76-seater E175 jets by the end of 2024. “This is just the latest way we’re working to create an industry-leading experience for all our customers – whether they’re on an international or regional flight, said Linda Jojo, chief customer officer at United. ➡️ Read more

     

    Oceania Cruises Offers Free Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay on a Range of Sailings in 2024 and 2025

    Oceania Cruises has announced that it will offer guests a free pre-cruise hotel stay on a range of sailings throughout late 2024 and 2025. The offer means that curious travelers will have the convenience of arriving a day before their cruise embarkation as well as the opportunity to delve even further into the departure port on their itinerary before relaxing in the comfort of Oceania Cruises’ small, luxurious ships. ➡️ Read more

     

    The Best (And Most Affordable) Places To Live In America

    So what is the best city to live in America in 2024? Coming in at the top of the list is Naperville, Illinois—located an hour’s drive from Chicago. The city is home to an extensive parks and forest preserve network, and it performs well in several factors. ➡️ Read more

     

    Guru’s Wrap-up

    Let me know if you enjoyed these articles and comment with any opinions you might have. You can also share any other interesting articles about deals, travel, credit cards and more.

    Use the social media buttons below to share this article. Your support and engagement is always greatly appreciated.

    Rakuten $30 bonusRakuten $30 bonus

    [ad_2]

    DDG

    Source link

  • JetBlue scraps $3.8 billion deal to buy Spirit Airlines

    JetBlue scraps $3.8 billion deal to buy Spirit Airlines

    [ad_1]

    JetBlue Airways is ending its quest to buy Spirit Airlines more than a month after a federal judge blocked the $3.8 billion deal because of antitrust concerns.

    The carriers agreed to scrap the merger after determining they were unlikely to secure the mandatory legal and regulatory approvals in time proceed with the deal, JetBlue announced on Monday. It will pay Spirit $69 million to resolve any remaining matters related to their failed merger. 

    “Given the hurdles to closing that remain, we decided together that both airlines’ interests are better served by moving forward independently,” JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty said in a statement.

    Confirming the development in a separate news release, Spirit CEO Ted Christie said the airline continues to be “confident in our future as a successful independent airline.” 

    Shares of JetBlue edged higher in early Monday trading while Spirit shares plummeted nearly 14%. 


    JetBlue-Spirit merger blocked by Boston judge

    00:51

    The deal has been considered dicey after a federal judge in January ruled that JetBlue’s purchase of Spirit would weaken competition by eliminating a major discount airline, potentially resulting in higher airfares for travelers. In siding with the Biden administration in opposing the proposed takeover, Judge William Young found the deal would “harm cost-conscious travelers who rely on Spirit’s low fares.” 

    JetBlue and Spirit had argued their union would let the merger carrier offer low-cost fares in more markets around the country and help it compete with larger airlines. 

    The airlines agreed to a deal in July 2022 after JetBlue made an unsolicited offer for Spirit, weeks after it struck a deal with competing budget carrier Frontier. 

    Kate Gibson

    Kate Gibson is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch in New York.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • JetBlue, Spirit ending $3.8B deal to combine after court ruling blocked their merger

    JetBlue, Spirit ending $3.8B deal to combine after court ruling blocked their merger

    [ad_1]

    NEW YORK — JetBlue and Spirit Airlines are ending their proposed $3.8 billion combination after a court ruling blocked their merger.

    JetBlue said Monday that even though both companies still believe in the benefits of a combination, they felt they were unlikely to meet the required closing conditions before the July 24 deadline and mutually agreed that terminating the deal was the best decision for both.

    “We are proud of the work we did with Spirit to lay out a vision to challenge the status quo, but given the hurdles to closing that remain, we decided together that both airlines’ interests are better served by moving forward independently,” JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty said in a statement.

    “We are disappointed we cannot move forward with a deal that would save hundreds of millions for consumers and create a real challenger to the dominant ‘Big 4’ U.S. airlines. However, we remain confident in our future as a successful independent airline,” Spirit CEO Ted Christie said in a statement.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: The video above is from a previous broadcast and will be updated.

    JetBlue will pay Spirit a $69 million termination fee.

    The Justice Department sued to block the merger last year, saying it would reduce competition and drive up fares, especially for travelers who depend on low-fare Spirit.

    In January, a federal district judge in Boston sided with the government and blocked the deal, saying it violated antitrust law.

    The airlines had appealed the ruling. The appeal hearing had been set for June.

    New York-based JetBlue had argued that the merger would help it compete more effectively against bigger airlines. But there were continuing losses and other problems at Spirit, which is based in Miramar, Florida. Last week JetBlue had previously warned that it might terminate the agreement.

    Shares of JetBlue Airways Corp. rose more than 5% before the market open, while Spirit’s stock slipped more than 13%.

    Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

    [ad_2]

    AP

    Source link

  • Spirit Airlines Launches Cancun Fare Sale with One-Way Flights from $79

    Spirit Airlines Launches Cancun Fare Sale with One-Way Flights from $79

    [ad_1]

    Spirit Airlines Cancun Fare Sale

    Spirit Airlines Cancun Fare Sale
    Spirit Airlines Cancun Fare Sale

    Spirit Airlines Cancun Fare Sale

    Spirit Airlines has launched a limited time promotion with discounts on flights to Cancun International Airport (CUN). You only have a couple of days to book your flights, and you can also earn bonus points. Check out the details below.

    The Offer

    Book one-way fares to Cancun for as low as $79. Offer is valid for travel to Cancun (CUN) from Feb. 7 – March 6, 2024. Here are the deals:

    Destination Frequency Anniversary Fare
    Baltimore (BWI) Daily Starting at $129
    Chicago (ORD) 2x Daily Starting at $79
    Dallas (DFW) 2x Daily Starting at $79
    Detroit (DTW) Daily Starting at $99
    Fort Lauderdale (FLL) 1-2x Daily Starting at $79
    Houston (IAH) Daily Starting at $79
    Orlando (MCO) 2x Daily Starting at $79
    New Orleans (MSY) 2x Weekly Starting at $79
    Philadelphia (PHL) Daily Starting at $89
    All fares are one-way (U.S. to Cancun), subject to 21-day advance purchase, valid for travel from 2/7/2024 – 3/6/2024 (no blackouts or day of week restrictions), and subject to availability

    The airline is also offering members of its Free Spirit® loyalty program 1,500 bonus points on roundtrip flights and 750 points on one-way flights to and from Cancun. Travel must be booked by March 15, 2024 at 11: 59 p.m. EST and flown by April 30, 2024.

    Guru’s Wrap-up

    Check prices and book now if you plan to travel to Cancun over the next couple of months.

    Spirit currently offers nonstop service from Cancun to nine cities in the United States: Baltimore (BWI), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Houston (IAH), Orlando (MCO), New Orleans (MSY) and Philadelphia (PHL). 

    Spirit will further grow its Mexico service this spring with nonstop service from Tulum (TQO) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Orlando (MCO) launching March 28.

    Rakuten $30 bonusRakuten $30 bonus

    [ad_2]

    DDG

    Source link

  • Legroom Lacking: Frontier And Spirit Claim Last Place in Latest Airlines Ranking Results

    Legroom Lacking: Frontier And Spirit Claim Last Place in Latest Airlines Ranking Results

    [ad_1]

    Roomies, if legroom is a major concern for you when flying, you’ll probably want to avoid traveling with Frontier or Spirit Airlines.

    According to a new study published by Upgraded Points, these two companies have ranked last in the amount of legroom they offer to economy customers.

    Spirit Airlines Has The Smallest Legroom, Researchers Claim

    Upgraded Points, an organization providing comprehensive data on airlines and their amenities, reportedly compared eight domestic airlines in their research.

    The lack of legroom on Spirit Airlines-operated flights has been a frequent point of criticism.

    However, this study has given customers a better insight into how much room they have to stretch their legs, particularly on long-haul flights.

    The study found that each seat on a Spirit flight has an average of 28 inches of seat pitch, described as “the distance between a point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front of it.”

    However, one also has to consider the fact that Spirit is a budget-friendly company, so it can be argued that the customer gets what they pay for.

    Keri Stooksbury, editor-in-chief at Upgraded Points, sees things a little differently.

    The legroom issue could also be one of the reasons why Spirit, in particular, has gained its not-so-positive reputation over the years.

    “Legroom is a crucial aspect of passenger comfort, especially during longer flights,” Stooksbury said in a statement via the New York Post.

    “Our goal is to empower travelers with information that helps them make informed decisions while traveling. So, we’re happy to shed some light on which airlines prioritize more space for their passengers.”

    Airline With The Most Legroom Revealed

    JetBlue emerged as the clear champion in this contest, boasting an impressive average legroom of 32.3 inches.

    Following closely was Southwest Airlines, with 31.8 inches of room.

    Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines tied for the next spot with an average legroom of 31 inches.

    American Airlines wasn’t too far behind either, with a generous 30.2 inches of legroom.

    United Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines were at the bottom of the list, offering 30.1 inches and 29 inches of legroom, respectively.

    However, nobody could beat Spirit Airlines, tying with Frontier Airlines with a modest 28 inches of legroom.

    Over the years, airlines have reportedly been reducing the space between rows to accommodate more seats and increase revenues, per the LA Times.

    The publication claimed in its 2022 report that the “shrinking” trend may be nearing its end due to a combination of regulatory pressure, customer backlash, and plane design changes.

    But from the look of things, Spirit doesn’t seem to have any plans to increase legroom space for its economy-flying passengers anytime soon.

    RELATED: Whew! Spirit Airlines Sends 6-Year-Old Boy Flying Solo To The Wrong Airport

    [ad_2]

    Maurice Cassidy

    Source link

  • Here's what's next for Spirit after its blocked merger deal with JetBlue

    Here's what's next for Spirit after its blocked merger deal with JetBlue

    [ad_1]

    A federal judge’s ruling this week blocking JetBlue (JBLU) from acquiring Spirit Airlines (SAVE) has raised questions about what’s next for the carriers — particularly Spirit, whose clock is ticking with $1.1 billion in debt due in September 2025.

    On Thursday, Spirit stock sank as much as 20% after a WSJ report that the Miramar, Fla., company is exploring options to refinance its debt following the merger’s collapse.

    “We think they’re going to shop themselves around,” TD Cowen senior research analyst Helane Becker told Yahoo Finance on Thursday.

    The analyst thinks the ruling will dissuade other airlines from stepping up, forcing Spirit to restructure.

    “We think a Chapter 11 filing is more likely than unlikely,” said Becker.

    Becker said if the airline is unable to lower its aircraft lease costs and the company is forced to liquidate, JetBlue could acquire some of the assets.

    “For JetBlue, we think this is actually not a bad outcome because we think they’ll be able to get those assets in a liquidation of Spirit,” she said immediately following the ruling.

    Frontier had made a bid for Spirit almost two years ago but was later outbid when JetBlue came in with an all cash $3.8 billion offer.

    If Frontier were to emerge as a buyer again, Susquehanna analyst Christopher Stathoulopoulos says the airline would have a better shot at obtaining regulatory approval than JetBlue did.

    Spirit stock has dropped roughly 60% since Tuesday when a federal judge blocked its merger with JetBlue. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

    Spirit stock has dropped roughly 60% since Tuesday when a federal judge blocked its merger with JetBlue. (Charles Krupa/AP Photo, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

    “While the operating landscape for US airlines is clearly different today … a merger of two ultra-low-cost carriers could (in theory) have a less onerous regulatory approval process,” the analyst wrote in a note on Wednesday.

    Spirit is exploring the option to appeal this week’s ruling but hasn’t announced any formal next steps.

    On Thursday afternoon, a Spirit spokesperson told Yahoo Finance, “Spirit is not pursuing nor involved in a statutory restructuring.”

    In a separate statement the company spokesperson said,“While we are disappointed with this outcome, we are confident in our strengths and strategy…Spirit has been taking, and will continue to take, prudent steps to ensure the strength of its balance sheet and ongoing operations.”

    Several analysts downgraded the stock this week amid concerns over the company’s ability to turn itself around.

    Spirit’s market cap, which hovered at $6 billion in 2014, was sitting just below $600 million on Thursday.

    “We believe SAVE has a difficult path ahead to return to its historical level of growth and profitability,” Bank of America analyst Andrew Didora said earlier this week.

    Spirit shares have fallen about 60% since Tuesday’s decision.

    Ines Ferre is a senior business reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @ines_ferre.

    Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks

    Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Spirit Airlines shares lose altitude after judge blocks its purchase by JetBlue

    Spirit Airlines shares lose altitude after judge blocks its purchase by JetBlue

    [ad_1]

    JetBlue-Spirit merger blocked by Boston judge


    JetBlue-Spirit merger blocked by Boston judge

    00:51

    Spirit Airlines shares continued their descent after a federal judge this week blocked its acquisition by JetBlue Airways for $3.8 billion.

    The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Spirit is exploring its strategic options following the legal setback, including ways of dealing with a $1.1 billion debt pile coming due in 2025.

    Spirit didn’t respond to a request for comment. 

    U.S. District Judge William Young on Tuesday ruled in favor of federal antitrust enforcers who had sued to stop the deal on grounds that it would hurt airline industry competition and raise prices for budget-conscious travelers.

    JetBlue and Spirit contend a merger would allow the enlarged carrier to offer low-cost fares in more markets around the country and help it compete with the largest U.S. airlines. The companies said they they are assessing their legal options.

    Spirit’s stock price fell 19% in early afternoon Thursday to roughly $5 before rebounding slightly to $5.72. The shares have plunged roughly 68% since Young blocked the deal. 

    Spirit, based in Miramar, Florida, saw its revenues plunge in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic crippled air traffic, and continued to struggle the following year. Although the airline’s top-line results have rebounded since then as travelers returned to the skies, its financial losses have swelled. 

    For the company’s most recent quarter, Spirit in October reported a net loss of $157.6 million, extending a string of losses dating back to 2020.

    The downturn comes as bigger carriers like American Airlines, Delta and United increasingly compete with discount players in key markets.

    Spirit’s downbeat financial results have stirred speculation about its long-term prospects, with some Wall Street analysts saying the airline could be headed for bankruptcy. 

    Although Spirit could seek a deal with another buyer, “a more likely scenario is a Chapter 11 filing, followed by a liquidation,” Helane Becker, a veteran airline analyst with financial services firm Cowen, said in a report. “We recognize this sounds alarmist and harsh, but the reality is we believe there are limited scenarios that enable Spirit to restructure.”

    —The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Spirit Airlines Stock Gets a Downgrade. It’s the Least of the Carrier’s Problems.

    Spirit Airlines Stock Gets a Downgrade. It’s the Least of the Carrier’s Problems.

    [ad_1]

    Spirit Airlines stock was falling again Thursday as the ultra-low-cost carrier’s predicament worsened.

    Continue reading this article with a Barron’s subscription.

    View Options
    [ad_2]
    Source link

  • Spirit Airlines finds itself with few options after judge blocks deal with JetBlue

    Spirit Airlines finds itself with few options after judge blocks deal with JetBlue

    [ad_1]

    By Rajesh Kumar Singh

    CHICAGO (Reuters) – Spirit Airlines faces tough choices about its future including looking for another buyer and finding other ways to shore up its finances after a federal judge on Tuesday blocked its $3.8 billion merger deal with JetBlue Airways, industry experts said.

    The ultra low-cost carrier has been struggling to return to sustainable profitability amid rising operating costs and persistent supply-chain problems. That has raised concerns about the company’s ability to repay its debt that is due to mature next year.

    The airline this month completed a series of sale and leaseback transactions covering dozens of planes in a bid to repay about $465 million of debt on those jets.

    But with a recovery in earnings not in sight, some analysts said the company might consider a bankruptcy filing to clean up its balance sheet and reorganize into a financially stronger airline.

    Helane Becker, airline analyst at TD Cowen, said Spirit is likely to look for another buyer, but that a more likely scenario is a Chapter 11 filing, followed by a liquidation. She said the recent capital raise has given the company funds to self-finance a potential Chapter 11 filing.

    “We recognize this sounds alarmist and harsh,” Becker said. “But the reality is we believe there are limited scenarios that enable Spirit to restructure.”

    The airline is expected to burn cash over the next several years and will have to continue to raise capital to survive, said Conor Cunningham, an analyst at Melius Research.

    “The path forward for Spirit turns to survivability,” Cunningham said.

    Asked to comment, a Spirit spokesperson referred to the company’s recent capital raise but did not elaborate. The company had no other immediate comment.

    The airline has been among the carriers hardest hit by a snag with RTX’s Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines. It is the largest operator of GTF-powered aircraft in the United States.

    As a result, it had to ground a number of planes last year. The number of grounded planes is estimated to climb steadily in 2024, from 13 in January to 41 in December.

    Meanwhile, excess industry capacity in its key markets is hurting its pricing power, forcing the company to indulge in promotional activity with steep discounting to fill up its planes.

    After its third-quarter earnings last October, Florida-based Spirit said it was evaluating its growth profile as it faced softer demand.

    Analysts at Seaport Research Partners downgraded the company’s shares after the court’s ruling, citing “the lack of a credible path to profitability.”

    Spirit’s woes had led to a sell-off in its stock, raising worries about the impact on JetBlue’s balance sheet after the merger. With Spirit’s shares losing nearly half of their value since JetBlue won its takeover battle, some analysts wondered if that would prompt JetBlue to renegotiate the terms of the deal.

    Spirit’s shares plunged 47% on Tuesday after the court’s ruling, while JetBlue’s shares gained about 5%.

    Another option would be to find a way to placate the Justice Department’s competition concerns created by the JetBlue deal. The judge who presided over the case had at one point questioned whether further asset divestitures would allow the deal to pass muster. But a lawyer for the U.S. Justice Department said the only remedy was “a full-stop injunction that would restore competition.”

    Analysts also raised the possibility that rival Frontier Airlines, which had lost out in a fierce bidding war, could again make a bid.

    Bill Franke, whose airline-focused private equity firm Indigo Partners owns 82% of Frontier, had not ruled out making a fresh bid for Spirit if the transaction with JetBlue failed to close. Frontier declined to comment.

    “Spirit has to figure out its Plan C,” said Henry Harteveldt, founder of travel consultancy Atmosphere Research Group. “Plan A was to merge with Frontier, Plan B became a merger with JetBlue.”

    (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Editing by Chris Sanders and Matthew Lewis)

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Judge Blocks JetBlue-Spirit Merger, Says It Would Reduce Competition

    Judge Blocks JetBlue-Spirit Merger, Says It Would Reduce Competition

    [ad_1]

    Judge Blocks JetBlue-Spirit Merger

    A federal judge has blocked JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit Airlines after the Justice Department sued to stop the merger. The judge agreed with the DOJ that the $3.8 billion deal would reduce competition.

    JetBlue had argued that the deal would help consumers by making JetBlue a stronger competitor against bigger rivals that dominate the U.S. air-travel market.

    In a court filing Tuesday, U.S. District Judge William Young said the acquisition, which would have made JetBlue the fifth-largest airline, would “substantially lessen competition” in violation of the Clayton Act, which “was designed to prevent anticompetitive harms for consumers.”

    The judge noted that while the merger might make JetBlue more competitive against other major domestic airlines, it would also eliminate JetBlue’s toughest competition Spirit. The latter is the country’s biggest low-cost airline.

    Years of previous consolidation in the industry have put United, Delta, American and Southwest in control of about three-quarters of domestic market.

    This is the second major setback for JetBlue in federal court in less than a year. Another judge in the same Boston courthouse ended a partnership in the Northeast between JetBlue and American Airlines.

    Rakuten $30 bonusRakuten $30 bonus

    [ad_2]

    DDG

    Source link

  • Ripping the Headlines Today – Paul Lander, Humor Times

    Ripping the Headlines Today – Paul Lander, Humor Times

    [ad_1]

    Making fun of the headlines today, so you don’t have to

    The news, even that about Taylor Swift fans (aka “Swifties”), doesn’t need to be complicated or confusing; that’s what any new release from Microsoft is for. And, as in the case with anything from Microsoft, to keep the news from worrying our pretty little heads over, remember something new and equally indecipherable will come out soon: 

    Really all you need to do is follow one simple rule: barely pay attention and jump to conclusions. So, here are some headlines today and my first thoughts:

    Swifties

    Ted Nugent sends a harsh message about Taylor Swift’s music — and Swifties clap back

    … So, it’s the Swifties vs. the not so swift …

    Something stinks: Why #TrumpSmells is trending on X

    Can’t believe no judge has pounded the gavel and proclaimed “Odor in the court, odor in the court,” when Trump enters.

    Tesla owner says he had to cancel Christmas plans because car would not charge in freezing weather

    On the upside his Model 3 didn’t back over his kids.

    The ‘why’ behind the effort to recruit Romney for president in 2024

    Joe Biden shrugs it off and says “kids, today…”

    Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka split after 7 years together, day after Christmas

    Her new Holiday classic ‘All I Want for Christmas is You (To Get Lost).’

    Ozempic overdose? Poison control experts explain why thousands OD’d this year

    And looked great while doing so.

    Kim Guilfoyle to Alina Habba: “If you could please get my fiancée and his brother off, I’d really appreciate it’

    Oh, there’s a good chance she’s getting them off, all right.

    Spirit Airlines put a 6-year-old on the wrong flight and flew him 160 miles away from his family

    On the bright side, their luggage arrived okay.

    Lindsey Graham clucks at New York officials over Chick-Fil-A bill

    You’d think he’d be more a Dairy Queen guy.

    Jessa Duggar welcomes baby No. 5 with husband Ben Seewald

    This woman doesn’t have a uterus, she has a Gymboree …

    Biggest Christmas shopping season ever

    Beware, if stuff was missing under your tree, you might have been visited by ‘Santos’ Claus.

    Happy 75th birthday to Samuel L. Jackson

    F#$k yeah, motherf#$er.

    Teacher lived with over 300 cats, chickens and ducks in mobile home, Florida sheriff says

    Cats and chickens and ducks, oh my.

    You are the father!’ Maury Povich declares to Denver Zoo orangutan

    … So, that lets 45. and Gary Busey off the hook for Eric Trump …

    Paul LanderPaul Lander
    Latest posts by Paul Lander (see all)
    ShareShare

    [ad_2]

    Paul Lander

    Source link

  • Spirit Airlines employee fired after 6-year-old placed on wrong flight

    Spirit Airlines employee fired after 6-year-old placed on wrong flight

    [ad_1]

    Spirit Airlines employee fired after 6-year-old placed on wrong flight – CBS News


    Watch CBS News



    A Spirit Airlines employee has been fired after a 6-year-old boy who was traveling alone from Philadelphia to Fort Myers, Florida, last week was instead mistakenly placed on a flight to Orlando.

    Be the first to know

    Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.


    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Unaccompanied 6-year-old boy put on wrong Spirit Airlines flight:

    Unaccompanied 6-year-old boy put on wrong Spirit Airlines flight:

    [ad_1]

    An unaccompanied child traveling from Philadelphia to Fort Myers was “incorrectly boarded” onto a plane to Orlando, a Spirit Airlines spokesman said Sunday. The two cities in Florida are about 160 miles apart. 

    Spirit did not provide additional details about the child or how the mistake on Thursday was made, but the airline’s spokesperson did say an internal investigation was underway.

    “The child was always under the care and supervision of a Spirit Team Member, and as soon as we discovered the error, we took immediate steps to communicate with the family and reconnect them,” the airline spokesperson said. 

    CBS affiliate WINK-TV identified the child as a 6-year-old boy visiting his grandmother, Maria Ramos. The flight was his first time on a plane, Ramos told WINK-TV. 

    “They told me, ‘No, he’s not on this flight. He missed his flight.’ I said, ‘No, he could not miss his flight because I have the check-in tag,'” Ramos said. “I ran inside the plane to the flight attendant and, I asked her, ‘Where’s my grandson? He was handed over to you at Philadelphia?’ She said, ‘No, I had no kids with me.'”

    Ramos later got a call from her grandson, saying he’d landed several hours away from Fort Myers, WINK-TV reported. While the boy landed in Orlando, his luggage made it to Fort Myers. 

    A Spirit Airlines spokesperson said the company apologized to the family, but Ramos said she wants answers.

    “I want them to call me,” she told WINK-TV. “Let me know how my grandson ended up in Orlando. How did that happen? Did they get him off the plane? The flight attendant – after mom handed him with paperwork – did she let him go by himself? He jumped in the wrong plane by himself?”

    Unaccompanied minors have traveled on incorrect flights in the past. In 2019, a boy was put on a United Airlines flight to Germany when he was supposed to be headed to Sweden. In 2009, two different unaccompanied girls — ages 8 and 10 —  were placed on wrong Continental Express flights. The airline blamed “miscommunication among staff.”

    The list of misdirected passengers goes beyond children. United Airlines mistakenly flew a Kansas-bound German shepherd to Japan in 2018. The airline also diverted a 2018 flight from Newark to St. Louis after crew members realized they had loaded a dog into the cargo who was meant to be going to Akron, Ohio.

    Aliza Chasan

    Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • “Travel Tuesday” emerges as a prime day for holiday and winter travel deals

    “Travel Tuesday” emerges as a prime day for holiday and winter travel deals

    [ad_1]

    As the holiday shopping frenzy grips the nation, with over 180 million Americans poised to shop from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, the travel industry is carving out its niche with “Travel Tuesday.” Travel experts call it the best opportunity to snag holiday travel and winter getaway deals.

    Travel deals extend beyond Black Friday, continuing into Cyber Monday and culminating in “Travel Tuesday.” The day after Thanksgiving promises a broader range of discounts, especially for those flexible with their travel dates and destinations. 

    Major players in the industry like Royal Caribbean are offering significant discounts, including an extra $750 off on top of up to 30% discounts, with a booking deadline set for Tuesday.

    Frontier Airlines is enticing travelers with a year-long “all you can fly” pass for under $500. Spirit Airlines is not far behind, offering flights as low as $20 to destinations like Vegas, Miami and Chicago. Additionally, Priority Pass is cutting prices for airport lounge access by up to 30%.

    Brett Keller, Priceline’s CEO, said that the holiday shopping season is becoming a time for travel deals.

    “What’s nice about this timeframe is it really opens up inventory, now is a really compelling time to take advantage of a number of deep discounts and credits that the cruise lines will offer. There’s a lot more hotel inventory looking into, into the winter and spring of next year,” said Keller.

    Hayley Berg, travel app Hopper’s lead economist, said that this time often catches people off guard since they are just finishing up celebrating Thanksgiving.

    “Most folks aren’t thinking about booking their next trip. They’ve just booked Thanksgiving, thinking about the holidays, gifts.
    So for airlines hotels in the travel industry, that’s typically a low week in terms of bookings,” said Berg.

    However, Berg cautions that flexibility might be key to securing these deals.

    “You might not get the time of day or the airline that you’re looking for. But last year, we saw travelers save upwards of 80% off of their Christmas travel booking on Travel Deal Tuesday,” she said. 

    Kris Van Cleave


    krisvancleavepromo.jpg

    Kris Van Cleave is CBS News’ senior transportation and national correspondent based in Phoenix.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Spirit Airlines Settlement Over Carry-On Fees, Check If You Are Eligible

    Spirit Airlines Settlement Over Carry-On Fees, Check If You Are Eligible

    [ad_1]

    Spirit Airlines has agreed to a proposed $8.25 million settlement that has been reached in a class action concerning the carry-on fees it charged United States passengers who booked their first Spirit flight through certain online travel agents.

    The settlement was reached in Cox, et al., v. Spirit Airlines, Inc., Civil Action No. 17-CV-5172 (EK)(VMS), which is pending in federal court in Brooklyn, New York and is subject to approval by that Court.

    In August 2017, a class action lawsuit was filed against Spirit Airlines in which the Plaintiffs alleged that they entered into a contract with Spirit Airlines through certain online travel agents to fly on Spirit and that the price they paid for the Spirit flight included their right to bring a carry-on bag on the plane for no additional charge. Plaintiffs allege that Spirit Airlines breached that contract when they were later required to pay a fee to Spirit Airlines to bring a carry-on bag on the plane. In July 2023, the parties reached an agreement to settle the case, which means they have reached an agreement to resolve the lawsuit.

    Check out all the details below and file a claim on or before January 10, 2024.

    Who is Eligible for the Spirit Airlines Settlement?

    You are part of the settlement class if you:

    • booked a flight on Spirit Airlines through Expedia, Kiwi, CheapOair, CheapTickets, Travelocity, or Bookit between August 31, 2011 and May 3, 2017, and paid a carry-on bag fee;
    • were a resident of the United States or a U.S. Territory at the time you booked your flight; and
    • that flight was your first flight on Spirit after August 1, 2010, you are a member of the class and will be entitled to money, unless the statute of limitations for contract claims in your State or Territory precludes you from recovering.

    Click here to determine if the statute of limitations for the State or Territory in which you resided when you booked your first Spirit flight during the period August 31, 2011, to May 3, 2017, has any impact on your ability to receive a settlement share.

    Related: See All Settlement Rebates Here

    Settlement Payout

    If approved by the Court, Spirit will pay up to $8.25 million to settle this lawsuit.  If you submit a Claim Form establishing you are entitled to a settlement share, and the Court approves the settlement, you will receive up to 75% of the carry-on bag fee you paid for your first flight on Spirit during the relevant period. 

    The actual percentage of the carry-on fee you paid that you will receive will depend on the amount of court approved payments for attorneys’ fees and for reimbursement of expenses and for service awards to the named plaintiffs, and the number of timely and valid Claims submitted.

    Filing a Claim

    To qualify for payment, you must submit a Claim Form to the Settlement Administrator:

    1. On this website, by clicking here and completing the entire form, by January 10, 2024;
    2. If mailed, have it completed (including your signature) and postmarked or delivered to the Settlement Administrator by January 10, 2024.

    To be valid, your Claim Form must contain all the requested information and must be signed (by hand or electronically) by you.

    By signing and submitting a claim form, you swear under penalty of perjury that the information provided is true and correct.

    [ad_2]

    DDG

    Source link

  • Flight Attendant’s Intercom Rant about Extra Fees Goes Viral | Entrepreneur

    Flight Attendant’s Intercom Rant about Extra Fees Goes Viral | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Discount airlines can provide an affordable way for travelers to get to their destinations for a low price, but with so many additional fees on features (carrying on a bag, choosing a seat ahead of the flight), it can end up making the trip just as expensive as pricier airlines.

    Now, one Spirit Airlines flight attendant is going viral for mocking the company’s fee policies over the plane’s intercom. A passenger named Erick, who was on a Spirit Airlines flight from Dallas Fort Worth airport to Los Angeles, posted the video of the flight attendant’s monologue, which has since garnered more than 292,000 views.

    @cali.style.trucking gotta love the honesty. this shit is comedy!!! #spirit #spiritairlines #comedy #dfw #dfwairport #lol ♬ original sound – Erick

    “We do not have sockets for you to plug up your phones, because if we did, guess what? This is spirit and we will charge you,” she said over the intercom, noting the same thing about not having blankets or earplugs available for passengers. “I wish I did, I wish I could give it to you all but unfortunately we do not have it.”

    She then joked that the airline does not take cash payments but encouraged passengers to give her cash to help pay her bills.

    “I work too much,” she finished.

    Commenters were in stitches over her performance.

    “This is quiet quitting lol,” one user joked.

    “Spirit is simply a way to get from Point A to Point B without all the bells and whistles,” another said.

    According to Spirit’s website, bringing bags in addition to one free personal item (which must be smaller than 18″x14″x8″) can range in price from $65-$100. Choosing a seat in advance can range from $1-$200, or upwards of $750 for Big Front Seats.

    Other extraneous fees include $25 to have a gate agent print your boarding pass, $150 charge for each unaccompanied minor, $125 per pet, WiFi streaming ranging from $6.99-$14.99, and drinks and snacks ranging from $1-$15.

    In summer 2022, Spirit Airlines agreed to be purchased by JetBlue Airways in what would have been an estimated $3.8 billion deal. However, last month, the U.S. Department of Justice sued to block the merger to crackdown on mega-mergers in the industry.

    As of Wednesday, Spirit Airlines was down just shy of 31% in a one-year period.

    [ad_2]

    Emily Rella

    Source link

  • Justice Department set to block JetBlue’s $3.8 billion deal for Spirit Airlines

    Justice Department set to block JetBlue’s $3.8 billion deal for Spirit Airlines

    [ad_1]

    Federal antitrust enforcers are preparing to file a lawsuit seeking to block JetBlue Airways’ proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines.

    The deal, announced in July of 2022 after JetBlue topped a rival bid for Spirit from Frontier Airlines, would create the fifth-largest carrier in the U.S. 

    Lawyers for the U.S. Department of Justice could move to halt the transaction as early as Tuesday, CBS News confirmed. 

    A spokesperson for the agency declined to comment.

    Robin Hayes, CEO of New York-based JetBlue, said the airline is disappointed, but not surprised, by the government’s potential lawsuit. 

    “We said when we got the offer approved by the Spirit shareholders last year that we didn’t think we would close ’til the first half of 2024, you know, expecting a trial,” he told “CBS Mornings” on Tuesday.

    JetBlue is expected to fight a Justice Department suit in court.

    If the deal closes, it would be the largest airline industry merger since Alaska Air bought Virgin America in 2016 for $2.6 billion.

    Hayes has said that combining JetBlue and Spirit, a Florida-based discount carrier, would spur competition in the airline industry. In defending the merger, JetBlue said Monday that the two airlines mostly compete with other major carriers, notably American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. JetBlue and Spirit overlap on no more than 11% of their respective nonstop routes, according to JetBlue.


    How the Spirit Airlines and JetBlue’s $3.8 billion merger could affect budget travel

    05:02

    The combined airline would have a fleet of roughly 460 aircraft and would add more than 1,700 daily flights to more than 125 destinations in 30 countries, JetBlue said last year. Together, the companies would have 9% of the market, compared with the 16% to 24% share held by each of the four largest airlines, JetBlue added. 

    “This is not Pepsi buying Coke,” Hayes said, adding that “JetBlue and Spirit together will be 8% or 9%” of the market for air travel in the U.S. “Most people are still going to be flying on the other airlines. That’s where you’re going to save the really big dollars — by having a bigger JetBlue.”

    JetBlue’s Spirit purchase has also faced opposition from other quarters. A coalition of consumers and flight attendants in November sued to stop the deal on grounds it would let the combined carrier dominate certain routes, according to Bloomberg Law.

    The Justice Department, along with six states and the District of Columbia, in 2021 also sued to block JetBlue and American from consolidating their operations in Boston and New York City, arguing that it would harm competition.

    Although the government is expected to challenge the JetBlue-Spirit deal, some Wall Street analysts think the airlines would prevail in court.

    “While we expect the merger to be challenged, we do not expect it to be stopped, due to JetBlue and Spirit’s low market shares and the entrance of new passenger airlines into the market,” Benjamin Salisbury of Height Securities told investors in a research note.

    Securing regulatory clearance to compete the transaction could require JetBlue to divest some of its operations in New York, Boston, and Florida, as well potentially end its codeshare agreement with American, he added.

    CBS News’ Jeff Pegues and Analisa Novak contributed to this report.

    Alain Sherter

    Alain Sherter covers business and economic affairs for CBSNews.com.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Justice Department set to block JetBlue’s $3.8 billion deal for Spirit Airlines

    Justice Department set to block JetBlue’s $3.8 billion deal for Spirit Airlines

    [ad_1]

    Federal antitrust enforcers are preparing to file a lawsuit seeking to block JetBlue Airways’ proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines.

    The deal, announced in July of 2022 after JetBlue topped a rival bid for Spirit from Frontier Airlines, would create the fifth-largest carrier in the U.S. 

    Lawyers for the U.S. Department of Justice could move to halt the transaction as early as Tuesday, CBS News confirmed. 

    A spokesperson for the agency declined to comment.

    Robin Hayes, CEO of New York-based JetBlue, told the Wall Street Journal on Monday that he expected the Justice Department to file suit to stop its deal for Spirit this week, saying that antitrust officials “came to the table with their minds made up.” JetBlue would fight such a government suit in court, he told the paper.

    Hayes has said that combining JetBlue and Spirit, a discount carrier, would spur competition in the airline industry. In defending the merger, JetBlue said Monday that the two airlines mostly compete with other major carriers, notably American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. JetBlue and Spirit overlap on no more than 11% of their respective nonstop routes, according to JetBlue.


    How the Spirit Airlines and JetBlue’s $3.8 billion merger could affect budget travel

    05:02

    The combined airline would have a fleet of roughly 460 aircraft and would add more than 1,700 daily flights to more than 125 destinations in 30 countries, JetBlue said last year. Together, the companies would have 9% of the market, compared with the 16% to 24% share held by each of the four largest airlines, JetBlue added. 

    JetBlue’s Spirit purchase has also faced opposition from other quarters. A coalition of consumers and flight attendants in November sued to stop the deal on grounds it would let the combined carrier dominate certain routes, according to Bloomberg Law.

    The Justice Department, along with six states and the District of Columbia, in 2021 also sued to block JetBlue and American from consolidating their operations in Boston and New York City, arguing that it would harm competition.

    —CBS News’ Jeff Pegues contributed to this report.

    Alain Sherter

    Alain Sherter covers business and economic affairs for CBSNews.com.

    [ad_2]

    Source link