ROMULUS,
Mich. -- It
has been four days since Spirit Airlines pilots have been striking.
Passengers are going nowhere anytime soon. Some travelers have been
stuck at Detroit Metro Airport for days with no end in sight. All
flights have been canceled through Thursday and that may be extended
if a deal isn't reached.
Pilots
are on strike over several issues including pay, scheduling, benefits
and equal working conditions with other low-cost carriers. All of
the Spirit’s 440 active pilots have been on strike since Saturday.
None of their planes are going anywhere at this time. The
two sides are meeting at the negotiation table right now, however
no agreement has been reached.
The Air
Line Pilots Association represents the pilots. They rejected an
offer that equals a 29 percent pay increase, a signing bonus and
a 401k match by Spirit. Senior captains would have received more
than $200,000 per year if they would have accepted that offer.
“It
is surprising to me that ALPA would turn down this generous offer
that would have paid senior captains over $200,000 per year,”
says Spirit Airlines President and CEO Ben Baldanza in a press release.
“I am concerned that our employees are being used in a broader
political game that may not be in the interest of their careers
or their families. This deal should be about Spirit and Spirit only,
not about the pilots whose contracts are under negotiation at other
ALPA carriers, but it would appear other forces have intervened.”
Although
Spirit Airlines pilots are still on strike, none were seen picketing
today. They were unavailable to comment on this story.
Most passengers
were so upset that they refused to speak with us. However, we were
able to find one traveler from Windsor, Ont. who agreed to share
her story.
"I
actually came back today to receive a refund," said Nadia Barzotto,
a Spirit passenger who will be making alternate plans. "I read
online that you can receive either a refund or a credit with a voucher.
I'm not sure of the situation so I'd rather get my refund for security
reasons."
The big
question is does Spirit Airlines have a spirit? The airline is not
moving passengers to other airlines because it is a discounter and
it doesn’t have any agreements with other air carriers. Travelers
are stuck buying another plane ticket or just driving to reach their
destination.
Spirit says
customers who would like to get a refund can come to the airport
or call 1-800-772-7117, but the line is very busy at the moment.
Either way, travelers can get their money back or receive flight
credits plus an additional $100 to be used towards another flight.
"I
was going to Myrtle Beach and obviously been following the press
release," Barzotto added. "I did not receive an e-mail.
I found out just by speaking with friends, which worries me. I feel
like I probably would have showed up that day and probably would
have found out."
Spirit normally
carries 16,000 passengers on its flights each day. The airline is
based in Miramar, Florida. Its most popular destinations include
Atlantic City, New Jersey and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
It could
be several days before passengers reach their final destinations.
