Kudos: Southwest Surprises Spirit Pilot After He Misses Retirement Flight - Southwest

Kudos: Southwest Surprises Spirit Pilot After He Misses Retirement Flight

Ben Schlappig — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 23:53:28 +0000

Yesterday was an incredibly sad day for aviation in the United States, with Spirit Airlines ceasing operations. While the outcome was inevitable, that doesn’t make it any easier for the thousands of employees at the company who are now finding themselves without jobs.

Continue reading: Kudos: Southwest Surprises Spirit Pilot After He Misses Retirement Flight

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iamhere — Tue, 05 May 2026 05:02:08 +0000

A great story. I think the reason why the airline industry above the business competition is known for working together is because of how global the employees work together. Other industries are similar in this regard but tend to be specific within a city or area.

1990 — Mon, 04 May 2026 15:41:46 +0000

I feel for this pilot, and all the thousands of workers at Spirit. Bitter sweet for a retirement.

GLCTraveler — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:59:14 +0000

If costs go up, you gotta raise prices to stay in business..... It's as simple as that!! :-o Customers may not like it, but TS they got to accept it, or not fly. Spirit management F-up big time and their employees are paying for their stupidity! Great story Ben, thank you.

Tim Dunn — Mon, 04 May 2026 12:56:22 +0000

NK pilots were excellent aviators and well respected in the aviation community. As is often the case, pilots can separate themselves from the environment around them and do their job well.

AeroB13a — Mon, 04 May 2026 01:47:33 +0000

Good to note and record herein. Thank you for that information CB.

Cbchicago — Sun, 03 May 2026 23:40:31 +0000

One note about Spirit. In their over 30 years of flying they did not have one crash or fatalities.

JHS — Sun, 03 May 2026 23:23:58 +0000

As a passenger back in about 1990 (remember Rule 240, anybody?), I recall trying to fly home after a convention from LAS to BDL. Due to an IRROP, my delayed flight was going to miss the connection. At the ticket counter, the kindly agent literally said “Wait here a second”, and proceeded to walk down the line of other airline ticket counters until he found an airline, a flight and a seat. I got home the same day, barely inconvenienced. Impossible to replicate today.

Matt — Sun, 03 May 2026 22:07:26 +0000

They did a water cannon salute as well!

uldguy — Sun, 03 May 2026 19:54:04 +0000

The camaraderie between workers between airlines is so true. I spent 30 years at one of America’s major airlines in a variety of operations positions. If my carrier was dealing with a particular problem I would call one of my buddies at AA or UA who were in the same role as me, and together we would look for a solution. And if they had a problem, they’d call me. Chances were if one of us had a problem, then the others did too or would be shortly. I’ve had a couple carrier changes since retiring from the airline industry, and I have yet to find another industry with such a widespread camaraderie. It’s the one aspect of the career I dearly miss.