With no announcement about what the breakthrough in negotiations was, Spirit Airlines and its pilots announced the end of the pilot strike and the resumption of flights on Friday, June 18th.
Here is the joint press release:
Spirit Airlines and its pilots, represented by the Airline Pilots Association, International (ALPA) announced today that they reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. The contract, which was unanimously recommended by the union’s leadership, is subject to ratification by the pilot membership which is planned for July.
Pending ratification, Spirit’s pilots are returning to work, and the airline will resume operations on Friday, June 18. Spirit recommends that customers reconfirm their flights at www.spiritair.com.
Spirit would like to thank the National Mediation Board, its pilots, employees and ALPA for their dedication throughout this process which has allowed the Company to reach a fair and equitable agreement that will ensure the long-term stability of the company, and allow Spirit to continue offering its customers ultra low fares.
“I am pleased that we were able to fashion a constructive solution to our differences that will allow us to resume serving our customers,” said Captain Sean Creed, head of the Spirit unit of ALPA.
“We are excited to be back flying with low fares for our customers,” said Ben Baldanza, President and CEO of Spirit. “Our pilots worked hard to get a mutually favorable deal that allows the Company to grow while improving their wages and benefits. We apologize to those of our customers whose travel was disrupted as a result of the strike and look forward to earning back their trust with ultra-low fares, great service, and the best pilots in the sky.”
To thank its customers for their support and loyalty, Spirit is offering customers a coupon for $50 off* their next flight and 5,000 FREE SPIRIT™ bonus miles**. Spirit is offering customers a coupon to save $50 off* their next round-trip purchase for travel from June 18, 2010 through November 17, 2010. Customers can visit http://www.spiritair.com/50off to accept their coupon and book their reservation by 11:59 PM ET on June 18, 2010, and http://www.spiritair.com/5kmiles for their 5,000 FREE SPIRIT™ bonus miles**.
Here is the fine print that goes with the asterisks.
*Coupon usage/booking must be made on spiritair.com by 11:59 PM ET on June 18, 2010. This offer is valid only on new, non-refundable roundtrip bookings at spiritair.com for travel between June 18, 2010 and November 17, 2010. This promotion is only available at spiritair.com and customers must enter the promotional code 50OFF to receive this offer. This offer cannot be combined with other promotional code offers. Spirit Airlines will not be responsible for late, undeliverable or misdirected e-mails. Promotional code discount cannot be applied to $9 Fare Club exclusive fares.
Travel within the United States
Quoted fare includes the base fare, any fuel surcharges and a 7.5% U.S. excise tax. The quoted fare does not include the following taxes and fees that may apply to your air travel:
– September 11th Security Fee: A September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 applies per enplanement originating at a U.S. airport up to $10 per roundtrip.
– Domestic Segment Tax: A segment tax of $3.70 per U.S. domestic flight segment (a flight segment is defined as one takeoff and landing).
– Passenger Facility Charges (PFC): Up to $18 per round trip per passenger in local airport charges.International Flights (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
– September 11th Security Fee: A September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 applies per enplanement originating at a U.S. airport up to $10 per roundtrip.
– Arrival in the U.S. inspection fees of up to $17.50.
– Passenger Facility Charges (PFC): Up to $18 per round trip per passenger in local airport charges.– Other governmental taxes and fees (including U.S. government excise tax) of up to $100.00 per round trip. Additionally, if sold in, or travel originates in a country outside of the U.S., additional taxes, fees and airport charges may apply (up to 22% of the fare value per country).
All Travel
– Passenger Usage Fee: Passenger Usage Fee of $8 per traveling customer per one way travel applies to all reservations with the exception of those bookings created directly at Spirit Airlines’ airport locations. All fares are subject to change until confirmed and purchased.
– Certain fares exclude Fuel Pass Through, including itineraries originating in Colombia where there is a mandated fuel surcharge that differs from the Fuel Pass Through**Miles will be posted to your FREE SPIRIT account within 45 days of registration. Each FREE SPIRIT account can only register and receive one 5,000 mile bonus and all registrations must be completed prior to 11:59PM ET on 6/30/2010. FREE SPIRIT program terms and conditions apply. Spirit Airlines reserves the right to modify or cancel this promotion at any time. Visit spiritair.com for more details, and to view your FREE SPIRIT account balance.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
