A Spirit Airlines flight attendant took to the PA system to let passengers know how nothing is free onboard, sparking laughter. Is this a new dispensation of the sort of humor first pioneered by flight attendants at Southwest Airlines or totally inappropriate banter than goes a step too far?
Watch Spirit Airlines Flight Attendant Mock Her Airline – Good Fun?
Onboard a flight to Los Angeles, a Spirit Airlines flight attendant tore into her carrier’s policy of charging for everything else.
No, we do not have sockets for you to plug up your phones, because if we did, we will charge you.
No, we do not have blankets for you, because if we did, this is Spirit, and we will charge you.
No, your seats do not recline. If they did, again, this is Spirit, and we will charge you!”
“And no, we do not have earplugs for you because if we did, y’all know this is Spirit, and we will do what?”
She then held out her PA phone toward the passengers, who all screamed out “Charge you!”
@cali.style.trucking gotta love the honesty. this shit is comedy!!! #spirit #spiritairlines #comedy #dfw #dfwairport #lol
Some commentators have viewed her behavior as a form of quiet quitting, a new term for me which means:
“You’re not outright quitting your job but you’re quitting the idea of going above and beyond. You’re still performing your duties but you’re no longer subscribing to the hustle culture mentality that work has to be your life. The reality is it’s not, and your worth as a person is not defined by your labor.”
Perhaps. I tend to think to think it was a legitimate attempt at humor. I wasn’t laughing, though. I do understand sometimes the best way to endear loyalty is to poke fun at yourself. Here, I’m willing to give the flight attendant the benefit of the doubt in terms of any discipline. Yet I do find the humor in poor taste and actually think the Spirit Airlines business model, providing its ancillary fees are properly disclosed, is a great thing for US consumers.
CONCLUSION
Whatever your thoughts on this flight attendant, you certainly should know what you are getting yourself into when you fly Spirit Airlines. Indeed, nothing is free beyond a seat onboard. Even so, I love the Spirit Airlines business model, which opens up flying to so many more people who might not otherwise be able to afford it and can pack carefully.
As for the flight attendant, I’d say nice try but try a different form of humor next time that does not come across as bitter…
image: @cali.style.trucking / TikTok
This is pretty harmless. It’s not like she said they charge extra to land safely or to use the emergency exits incase of a fire.
Spirit is stingy. Maybe she has gotten crap from passengers about some of these things and wants to diffuse it up front in a humorous way
I agree with you on this Matthew. There was a time years ago that Spirit encouraged flight attendants to be humorous and add personality to announcements…. which some got a little out of hand. Now most announcements are pre-recorded and I would say most of my flights on Spirit things are pretty consistent. Of any of the airlines, I think Spirit has done a great job of reinventing itself. Compare a flight from 10 years ago to today and it is night and day. Yes, they charge for everything. But they aren’t as crass about it as others like Frontier and make it easy to understand the model. I enjoy my $2 plus tax round trips that I buy a half dozen at a time at the airport. I enjoy my Gold status. You are right, they serve a segment of the population that wouldn’t otherwise fly but also a segment that wants to get from A to B without spending money. I hold elite status on two other carriers at mid-tier, but frequently for an hour or two flight it’s a no brainer to fly Spirit to save $100.
There are ways to be funny. I don’t think this crew member is being intentionally malicious but it certainly doesn’t come across very polished.
She’s a great ambassador for her brand. I can’t understand it for you, but I can explain it to you: you *want* to be known as cheap when you’re a discount brand.
Ryanair’s Twitter is sassy not for the sake of it, but because it works.
I agree. I’m thinking if the author has a problem with this, what kind of humor would be ok, she did not attack passengers like some of the attendants do in their banter, so I’m confused on why THIS one’s is crossing the line. Where is the line at this point. Lol
I’m not “offended” but I don’t view it as professional. But I acknowledge the counterpoints.
The ‘quiet quitting’ analogy is ridiculous. Jesus, you’re not that old that you don’t understand modern times, are you?
What?
How do I explain this.
Um, so say you see some kids and their Pokemon cards. Then you say ‘it’s that yoyo-craze’.
It isn’t, but to the elderly, they just name whatever fad they can think of.
This isn’t quiet quitting, but I’m sure it sounds fancy to the elderly.
I wasn’t sure what ‘quiet quitting’ was, so I asked two of my friends during lunch at the center. None of us knew, and between the three of us we have over two hundred years of experience. After some discussion, one of us thought it was just not showing up for work. But that didn’t sound right since the young lady was at work. And if she did quit after the speech, well, she wasn’t quiet, so that didn’t make sense either. So after lunch I took the shuttle to the library in town. I looked all over and I couldn’t find a dictionary. I asked an employee and they just pointed. So I went to where they pointed and it was just a desk with a couple of those typewriters connected to a TV. I looked all over that desk, behind the TV, under the desk, and no dictionary. No books at all. So I went back to the where the librarian station is and asked the employee again. They pointed to the TVs again. I told them I went there, searched all over, and couldn’t find the dictionary. They walked over to the TVs, waived me over, and then hit a button that made the TV turn on. I wanted to tell them I wasn’t there to watch TV, but they had already left. So I sat down and stared at that TV. After doing this for several minutes nothing came on. I looked at my watch and the shuttle was about to return, so it was time to leave. While on the shuttle I was thinking how that employee never said a word to me, never looked at me, and did the bare minimum. They were of no help, like they weren’t even there. I guess I’ll never find out what ‘quiet quitting’ is.
Um, I linked to an article on it…
Hello Old Guy,
Send me your fax number, and I can send typewriter with TV instructions…. the short form is:
A) Give it the 3 fingered salute – hit the ConTRoLl, ALT and DELete keys together
B) Invent a name and password – “OldGuy” (one word using something called CammelCase) and “Mysecretpassword#1” should work
C) Wait a while (you would have found the answer in an encyclopedia by now)
D) Open Chrome (nothing to do with the metal)
E) Type in google.com – it will take you to something called a web site (there are no spiders luckly)
F) Type in quiet quitting – you will now see a variety of answers……. (and annoying adverts)
G) Pick the one you like most !
In dry humour PlaneSailing
Agree with Sara. Quiet quitting analogy is out of touch. Definitely not that in this case.
Yeah, the quiet quitting analogy doesn’t seem to apply here.
I like it, not sure what your problem is with this, Matthew. Many Spirit customers are too ignorant about their business model (hence leading to spats, fracas, brouhahas) and these need to be drilled into their customers heads.
This doesn’t sound bitter and it most definitely doesn’t sound like “quiet quitting.”
Yeah, the quiet quitting is so off. Then again, we can’t expect business management observations from a credit / travel blog, so I guess fair’s fair.
Quiet quitting would be the FAs that do the safety demo, maybe pass out a snack, then retreat to the galley for the remainder of the flight
It’s a little drawn out. Once or twice would have been funny. It feels like it goes on forever.
@Hmm. Yes a bit too far for fun. Also mocking your employer can go into cringe worthy humor quickly.
@Maryland true, I agree. I’ve not flown Spirit so maybe it’s appropriate but the comedic timing seems off
For what little a Spirit FA is paid, no harm done. As alluded to in a prior post, everything on Spirit has a corresponding fee or not ever offered.
If you’re really want to poke fun at Spirit, just call their Customer Support line…….now that a real joke!!!!!
If this bothers anyone (Matthew) you are way to easily upset by little things. Humor is humor and is much needed in otherwise stressful situations.
I love it and I disagree on the quiet quitting as well. She is using a humorous way to explain the deal to anyone who didn’t do their research. And the passengers seem to enjoy it by finishing it for her.
Unfortunately too many consumers don’t educate themselves on what is included when they buy a cheap ticket on Spirit, Allegiant, Frontier, etc and then are upset when they see what they actually bought. As you said, just a seat.
It’s not quiet quitting and it isn’t distasteful, rude etc.
Spirit is a disaster and some.of their practices should be illegal. Non reclining seats? What’s next, standing flights?
??? If people are willing to pay for non-reclining seats (and knows all the ala carte pricing) for a low fare then leave Spirit alone. Nothing about it is illegal.
Non-reclining seats?
So the guy in front of me can’t bang his seat into my knees. How will I ever survive?
Over the few times I’ve flown Spirit (maybe 5?), I’ve found the crews to actually be great. They’re usually friendly, efficient, and seem happy to be there. I think a lot of Spirit passengers know you have to pay for everything. Even on legacy carriers, it’s been a really long time since you got anything other than a drink and a snack for free. People are going to get outraged over everything, but I think this FA was just having fun. No harm, no foul.
AGREE!!
Quiet quitting is everywhere and as far as I’m concerned it’s nothing new. Anyone who has had to deal with customer service or a receptionist or person that is standing around supposed to be directing or informative or helpful is frequently (not 100% of the time, but frequently) met with a blank stare, silence (as on phones), total non-caring about any problem, withholding of information or direction, outright lying or vindictive behavior to make life miserable for the unsuspecting customer – that is quiet quitting – passive or non-existent involvement.
Though this may not specifically be the case with this flight attendant, it’s just another wannabee actress, attention-getting employee (funny or not). Please, we don’t need anymore Southwest employee silliness.
Another brainwashing technique as airlines “train customers” to expect less while increasing prices.
Did she say one thing that was not Fact? Do you know how many times FA get asked for these items?
People that don’t fly often think every airline is the same, if they had a headphone on UA and a outlet on AA last year they will get on asking for these items. I think it was a cute way to let pax know not to ask for these items because they don’t have them
Get a sense of humor!
Quiet quitting is more akin to what most legacy US carrier FAs do. Safety demo, dole out a cup of soda and bag of pretzels, then sit in the galley for the remainder of the flight reading, gossiping, or trashing their employer for all in the near vicinity to hear. This is NOT that.
Totally agree!!
Not even safety demo. It is on the screen on many aircrafts.
Dole out a cup of water? Hmm…if they could, they would throw it at you.
She us simply advertising company policy.
Give her a raise.