Spirit Airlines Sends Plane To Rescue Family Stranded Due To Medical Diversion

The carbon footprint of that trip is insane, and what about all the other customers there has to indirectly pay for that insane trip (or taxpayers)? Maybe was the right thing to get them back, but then they could have paid for a rented car or something like that. Insane.

@Matthias

Rented a car?

It's an island. They had to leave an island.

Renting a car wasn't an option here - Turks & Caicos and Puerto Rico are both (different) islands in the Caribbean, separated by about 500 miles of water.

I am a little surprised they sent one of their own planes, instead of chartering a smaller aircraft from someone else, but I guess the marketing works better if they're on Spirit metal? Maybe it was actually cheaper to use their own metal, perhaps they were repositioning the jet otherwise?

Very interesting either way!

I think spirit did the right and kind thing here, that they milked it for PR is understandable.
Imagine the headlines “spirit dumps sick girl on deserted island during pandemic”

Kudos to spirit!

American citizens are subsidizing Spirit and and all other American airlines, so we helped pay for the flight and other things until October 1.

Matthias must be trolling because nobody is this damn stupid. Ooof... SMH

Great job Spirit Airlines and never thought I’d say that.

Pilots will be happy to get a few flight hours out of it.
Maintenance will be happy that the plane is being moved instead of rusting while resting.
Family will be happy to get home.
PR department will be happy to get a good story.
Viewers will be happy to read a good news during bad times.
T&C government will be happy that they do not have to take care of these poor people while they are stranded.

That's a classical WIN-WIN-situation for everyone involved.

@JN
Simple; just rent the Wet Nellie.

If a diesel DUCK vehicle can go about 6,800 nautical miles without refueling, then Matthias may be on to something since Providenciales and San Juan are less than 6,800 nautical miles away from each other. A shore-to-shore drive in a rental DUCK would probably be about 500 nautical miles. Such a drive would leave a lower carbon footprint and Josh Gates should pursue the feasibility of this drive on Expedition Unknown. Given the US is seeing a dramatic rise in RV rentals because of Corona, there may be a growing market for tourists who would rather drive, than fly, to a vacation in the Caribbean Islands. Driving to the Caribbean Islands would certainly be the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime experience.

You always think “no one can be that stupid” and then comes @Matthias

I'm thinking about going to the Maldives from New York. Thanks to this thread, it's great to know that I could potentially rent a car instead of flying! 🙂

Kudos to Spirit! I heard so many horror stories and then threw them a few times, I actually find it to be a decent airline, especially if you spring for the extra ~30 bucks for the Big Front Seat, cheapest first class in the sky!

To be honest, Turks & Caicos isn't a bad place to get stuck until the virus situation gets better.
If insurance is paying for it then it's even better.

@JN

How dare you!!!!!!
Not according to Greta. The can still sail back.
Greta will slice you into pieces and eat your guts because she can't eat beef and allergic to cow farts.

@CAROLYNNE
Even if they are stuck there, insurance will likely pay for it.
It's not American citizens subsidizing airlines, it's insurance and health care ripping Americans off with astronomical bills and expenses. Some treatment cost 1000x more in USA.

@Abey
Exactly, either Spirit rescues them or get headlines for abandoning a family.

I bet Spirit Air would get the same subsidy regardless whether or not they made this flight. At least someone is benefitting. I also wonder if Turks and Caicos government held Spirit partly responsible for resolution. In that case Spirit may realize greater cooperation and good will there in the future .

Had to be one person always is, in this case Matthias to turn such a nice story into a negative matter! Kudos to Spirit. Nice to hear something good about that company for a change.

Somehow I think Avis would frown on a rented Nissan Altima being driven through the Atlantic, but maybe I'm thinking about it the wrong way

Free all you can drink Buzzballs on the return

Greta is a ''has been ''.

That's a long drive and time to hold your breath. Maybe James Bond will loan them his underwater Lotus.....