Spirit Airlines Has A New Way To Nickel & Dime You, Even During A Pandemic

by joeheg

One storyline that has developed over the coronavirus pandemic is the U.S. airlines’ approach to face masks. While the airlines were slow to adopt mandatory mask rules for passengers, all of them are now mandating that passengers bring a face covering and wear it at the airport, on the jet bridge and onboard the aircraft.

If you only bring your mask but refuse to wear it onboard, airlines had been hesitant to cause a scene. Delta’s CEO said in an interview that a passenger would not be removed from a plane for not wearing a mask.

Just over the last two weeks, airlines have started to enforce the mask rule by preventing rule-breakers from flying in the future. American Airlines says that it would take several infractions to be banned from flying and Alaska Airlines is now handing out cards that warn passengers that this is their final notice about not wearing a mask before possibly getting suspended from future flights on the airline.

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United has taken a strong stance on passengers wearing masks with CEO Scott Kirby now warning passengers to wear a mask or risk getting banned from the airline for the duration of the pandemic.

So what is Spirit Airlines policy on face masks?

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Like all of the other airlines, Spirit requires face coverings for all guests and team members.

Effective May 11, Guests will be required to wear appropriate face coverings (over the nose and mouth) when traveling with Spirit. Young children are exempt from this requirement. Click here to view the CDC’s face cover guidelines that include directions on how to make your own.

I love Spirit’s answer to those who say, “I can’t wear a mask because of….”

Guests with a medical condition that prohibits a face covering directly over the mouth and nose must wear a face shield during travel.

But what if you make it all the way through the airport and get to the gate and still don’t have a face mask/covering/shield? Don’t worry, Spirit has your back.

*Should you need a face covering, Spirit will provide one for $3.
Spirit will donate the proceeds of the purchase price of each face mask sold between May 11, 2020 and June 30, 2020. This purchase is not tax deductible.
So what about now that it’s July??????
And should we really be surprised that Spirit found a way to charge passengers a few extra bucks during the pandemic, even if they donated the proceeds to charity for a month and a half?

#stayhealthy #staysafe #washyourhands

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary

11 comments

ColRebSez July 3, 2020 - 11:11 am

Why isn’t it tax deductible? If traveling on business all expenses are tax deductible. The airline doesn’t get to decide this.

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joeheg July 4, 2020 - 5:41 pm

Since you’re receiving something for your money, it’s a purchase and not deductible. If Spirit decided to donate that money, it’s a tax deduction for them but not for you.

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Paulette Blais July 5, 2020 - 12:27 pm

While it’s not deductible as a charitable expense, it is deductible as a business expense, if it’s a business trip.

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Tamikia K Jones July 4, 2020 - 6:23 pm

In order to get into the airport and passed TSA and board the plane you must have on a mask. Why are people complying but take off their masks once they’re on the plane, its dangerous to the others on board. Please stop making as if Spirit is the problem.

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Frank July 5, 2020 - 9:35 am

Why shouldn’t Spirit charge for the masks??? You KNOW the mask requirements when you show up for the flight. I think a face shield for $3 at the gate is a steal. Water is $6! Let’s not come down on Spirit. They’re kind enough to offer it as a last resort. They should just eject the person at the gate and be done with it.

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Brian July 5, 2020 - 11:39 am

This article is so silly because people are always trying to make it seem like Spirit airlines is such a bad airline yet they continue to grow and flourish on the very principles of capitalism. ALL airlines charge for various things, and even stores and restaurants are charging for face masks if you don’t have them…so why is Spirit being singled out to make it seem like they’re doing something wrong to where a whole entire article had to be written about them only?

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Tom July 9, 2020 - 9:43 am

Spirit is a huge competition for all other airlines and their employees bc spirit can still profit on such small numbers which the others can not do. Spirit sells cheaper tickets and if people have a problem with their cheap ticket and al a carte ( Pay for what you want) then let them pay the big price on the other airlines for the same or less experience. Spirit is a great company and a huge threat specially with everything going on.

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Josh DeFelice July 5, 2020 - 6:28 pm

Everyone knows they need a mask. Why should the airline have to provide one for the people who ignore the rule?

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Anna July 10, 2020 - 2:10 am

This is the most ridiculous post. The passengers have obviously been warned before hand that a mask is required. The passengers who still overlook this requirement are given a last chance to be allowed on their flight by buying a mask as a last resort. You made this article sound like it’s just Spirit who’s doing this in the title, even though you wrote in the beginning how all other airlines are doing the same thing. Spirit is a great airline, who’s been working on bettering themselves for the past 7 years and people like you are making it harder for them to overcome what the old CEO did to the name of this company. Stop whining and bring your own mask so that, God forbid, you don’t have to pay three whole dollars for a mask.

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Rae July 13, 2020 - 4:55 am

You’re an idiot if you just realize you need a mask boarding the plane after seeing EVERYONE around you with one on, Also to enter any store! $3 is a bargain! They shouldn’t even let you on the plane at that point!

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ARP August 17, 2020 - 6:38 pm

I flew from BWI Marshall airport to Cancun on 8/17 and the agents at the gate refused to let customers on the plane who were wearing face masks! Select customers were told that the face mask wasn’t strong enough! The agent said that Spirit has a three ply face mask policy!! Customers face and nose were covered, but the male agent pulled people out of line to go see his female gate agent to purchase spirits mask for adults and children today!! This happened during the first flight from BWI to FLL on 8/17 with connecting flights!! FLL was not applying the same policy to customers before getting on there flights!

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