People mocking former Spirit staff are the worst of the worst
Posted by SirCatsworthTheThird@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 39 comments
My social media feed is now flooded with former Spirit staffers since I became interested in the topic. Apparently many former crew did not have their social media locked down so they went viral on Facebook and showed up on strangers feeds. This has provided a chance for people like me to write messages of appreciation and support. Unfortunately, it has also given people the opportunity to crack jokes. In at least one case, harassment was reported to the police.
I know this is the internet, but come on people. I can't believe that many people would want to crap on these poor folks who by and large were just trying to run a good discount airline. They are in truly dire straights, many of them. They have to start their seniority all over again. They might have to move or sell their house. They lose their work family. Why are people so darn cruel?
Wild-Hat6077@reddit
Spirit had some of the best crews in the industry. Anyone who is ripping on them right now is absolute trash.
Prinzlerr@reddit
It was fun to meme the company while it was afloat, but running for as long as they did without a fatal incident is absolutely impressive.
And as someone who never flew Spirit at all, I still feel a sadness that the company is now defunct. Lots of trash guests, yes, but also lots of people that got to see parts of the world that they likely never would have otherwise.
Myfooty94@reddit
I never flew on Tigerair Australia, and I was saddened when they went bankrupt during COVID.
EmotioneelKlootzak@reddit
Ops side was fantastic. Business side were total vampires. There are several reasons Spirit had such catastrophically bad customer retention rates, and precisely 0% of that was on the flight crews or anybody else involved in actually moving metal.
tardisatd@reddit
Worked in OPS, can confirm. We worked hard to get people where they needed to go. The stupid decision making was C suite.
SirCatsworthTheThird@reddit (OP)
I have no doubt.
SirCatsworthTheThird@reddit (OP)
The single biggest issue is people not reading the BIG statements about fees. Then they act surprised and lash out.
Rk_1138@reddit
Yeah, I feel like the big reason why Spirit had a bad reputation is because it was the most well known LCC
Octoclops8@reddit
They should have offered seats where they collect your blood plasma and semen during the flight for an extra $30 off your ticket price.
KirkieSB@reddit
🤦♂️
planefan001@reddit
I read somewhere that Spirits pilots were some of the best trained in the country.
Techhead7890@reddit
I mean with the schedules low cost carriers run, that's gonna be a lot of practice taking off, landing, briefing different airports and approaches. They're gonna rack up a lotta experience that way which is awesome.
NuclearPopTarts@reddit
If Spirit had been allowed to merge with Jet Blue, Spirit staff would still have jobs.
We're not allowed to discuss who blocked Spirit's merger with Jet Blue.
BenDover198o9@reddit
You say that every though it really isn’t the case. Both were (are) in incredibly shitty positions (tons of debt and no income for 7 years. The reality of it is they were both too far gone by the time the merger was attempted. Neither the merger blocking nor the gas prices spiking had and tangible effect on spirit. They were hemorrhaging money for years and had billions in debt. I would not be surprised if in the next 18-24 months we see news that jet blue goes bankrupt. He’ll even sooner wouldn’t surprise me g
SirCatsworthTheThird@reddit (OP)
I agree that was a mistake. One of several by leaders over time that caused this.
Gamblez13@reddit
As a recent former Spirit Pilot, can confirm it’s the best bunch of gals and guys I’ve ever worked with and I’ve resigned to the fact that I’ll never find anything as good as it was. Best job I’ve ever had.
People definitely don’t understand
DRYGEOLOG@reddit
I wish all you gals and guys the best. Hugs from LPPT.
SirCatsworthTheThird@reddit (OP)
I'm sorry for the loss, honestly. You folks helped alot of people travel affordably.
Loan-Pickle@reddit
We were talking about this over on r/flying the other day. This can happen to you no matter what airline you work for. Before COVID Spirit was the most profitable airline and had a great culture, it made a lot of sense to go work for them. Then the holes in the Swiss cheese lined up and they are out of business.
I see responses like this anytime there is a tragedy. People don’t like to think it could happen to them. So they paint victims as making poor decisions and it could never happen to you because you make good decisions. Really though it could happen to any of us, because there but for the grace of God, go I.
SirCatsworthTheThird@reddit (OP)
Good points. Spirit really is a loss. Passengers got a very safe and often on-time airline for a steep discount, that was certified just like the big boys. The pilots invited my daughter up to the flight deck. Crew was always pleasant.
Dinosaur_Wrangler@reddit
We see this in the CIRP community. Most people (pilots included) need to believe they could change it/see things coming/prevent the tragedy.
The truth is virtually no one goes to work wanting to bankrupt their employer or cause an accident, much less a tragedy. But when you start talking “there but for the grace of god go I”, type A’s typically clam up and get weird.
ArctycDev@reddit
People are shit. People online are more shit. My advice is to stop caring. Social media is like 80% bots anyway.
jhwkr542@reddit
"I wish you bad luck, again, from time to time so that you will be conscious of the role of chance in life and understand that your success is not completely deserved and that the failure of others is not completely deserved either."
DosEquisVirus@reddit
Never flew Spirit, but understanding the frequency of tensions the crews have experienced with the passengers, I'd think those crews had some good self-control and the nerves of steel.
I couldn't do that job. My respect to them all!
planefan001@reddit
I’ve flown Spirit a few times from ORD and I’ve honestly never had a bad experience. Most of the hate comes from people booking the cheapest fare and not reading about their baggage allowance until they get to the gate. Or watching the viral Spirit “fight” videos
cat_prophecy@reddit
People talk shit about Spirit because they want to feel fancy because they "only" fly on Delta, American, whatever legacy carrier.
They're just sad little turds who need to try and dunk on people to feel better.
I only flew on Spirit a handful of times and it was always good.
Carribean-Diver@reddit
I don't think anyone serious thinks the staff were the problem.
Happy-Table-9515@reddit
People love to piss on the less fortunate. Makes them feel better about their issues.
SirCatsworthTheThird@reddit (OP)
You are right, but these are real people, with pictures of their family. I understand it is easy to talk trash to anonymous strangers, but this feels more personal. It is beyond lame.
Happy-Table-9515@reddit
I’m totally with you. It’s horrible, and I personally don’t understand it. I wish them all the best.
SirCatsworthTheThird@reddit (OP)
Assuming you are in the industry, do you think they will all find homes in the aviation industry? How genuine is the desire in the industry to help these folks? I personally feel like most are quite professional and I had nothing but good experiences with them. I was laughing all the way to the bank with my backpack and knowing that I was getting a fully certified professional top tier airline (OTP and Safety) for a huge discount. I don't get the hate, except that some people don't read the BIG print that tells them about the fees, which can be avoided if you pack lightly.
Happy-Table-9515@reddit
I am in fact in the industry, with more than a handful of personal friends affected by this. So you’re correct. All the “thoughts and prayers” stuff is BS. It always has been. Having said that. They were a top tier airline in every aspect, and having time with them on your resume is a good thing. I suspect the pilots will have no issues being picked up by othercairlines, mechanics and dispatchers as well. It’s the ground and gate people who might have a slightly more difficult time. Either way, I wish them all the best.
SirCatsworthTheThird@reddit (OP)
I'm surprised to hear about the ground people. I worked at UPS loading trucks for a month. That was HARD work. Anyone at Spirit who handled bags and did that ramp life for a long period would seem to be golden, because you know they are able to take the pressure. I guess there is something I am missing in this equation. Maybe it is the cut rate contractors that are causing this, meaning maybe most airlines outsource ground stuff. I'm not sure, maybe you can enlighten me.
Happy-Table-9515@reddit
It’s basically licensed vs. unlicensed. Although both ground and gate personnel do not require any special education (other than OTJ) they are the hardest positions to staff. It’s super hard work, and the pay is meh, at best. They also can be legally replaced overnight. Licensed personnel can’t be replaced overnight. That’s the biggest difference.
As a pilot, not only wouldn’t I want to do either gate/ground, I probably couldn’t. They’re a special breed.
SirCatsworthTheThird@reddit (OP)
No joke. Special breed indeed.
SatisfactionVisual86@reddit
Unfortunately for many people out there, until it happens to them they will never understand the feeling of losing your job. It’s a shame the amount of people mocking those who just lost their jobs like it’s remotely even funny.
SnooPeppers3755@reddit
Sadly no more Spirit in the Sky
Hope their employees find work in the industry
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
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