Good afternoon. RT here. I just about creamed in my pants when I read this in yesterday's paper:
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AIRLINES Spirit wants to add Peru flights Nonstops would leave daily from Fort Lauderdale By Glenn Singer
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
February 24, 2007
Miramar-based Spirit Airlines wants to fly to Peru from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport with daily nonstops to Lima and Chiclayo. Service could begin as early as May if U.S. and Peruvian officials approve the plan.
Spirit also has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation for permission to serve Trinidad and Tobago in the southern Caribbean with nonstops from Fort Lauderdale -- an extension of the airline's goal to serve much of the region at lower fares than its competitors.
"We've been considering Peru for about two years. Looking at the passenger traffic alone, this is one of the largest potential markets we don't serve," said Barry Biffle, Spirit's chief marketing officer.
While three airlines fly from Miami to Lima, fares are high and seats sometimes hard to get, Biffle said, noting there are some 20,000 Peruvians in Broward County who might use the proposed route.
"We've found that providing lower-priced seats encourages a lot of people to fly, many for the first time," Biffle said. He said that could be the case with Peruvian residents who otherwise could not afford to travel between their country and the United States.
Spirit envisions daily, low-fare service to Lima, using one of its new Airbus A319 aircraft with 144 seats, according to its application. The company will not specify fares until it receives at least U.S. approval.
The decision to fly to Chiclayo on the northern coastal plain of Peru is a bit of a gamble because there are no direct flights between that city and South Florida and no firm way to determine what passenger traffic would be. Now, fliers headed to Chiclayo must stop in Lima first.
Chiclayo, which is Peru's fourth-largest city, has 2 million people within a three-hour drive, and that holds great potential for nonstop service to the United States, Biffle said. Initially, flights would be once or twice a week and would begin in June or July.
Spirit received U.S. approval in November to fly to Caracas, Venezuela, as its first South American destination. Approval by Venezuelan authorities is pending, and the airline has not set a start date for service from Fort Lauderdale.
The airline's plan to fly to Trinidad and Tobago projects one flight a day during the summer and perhaps a flight on three or four days a week during other times of the year. If approved, service could begin in mid-May, Biffle said.
Glenn Singer can be reached at [Solo usuarios registrados pueden ver
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More seats on a route is always good news and a low cost carrier is even better. Could bring everyones fares down. I can get cheap flights to Fll form DFW so could work for me too when those airmiles run out.rbc100
I am happy to hear that spirit airlines will be flying into Chiclayo Peru.
I had an apartment at Pimentel Beach (grest surfing in the north of Peru). BUt what is even better and cheaper are the prostitutes. StarLight on the panamerican highway has some beautiful Colombia Girls and Girls from the Selva (Amazon). But there is a place a few miles offroad from Starlight. They have a motel like setup (Motel 6), there are girls that can be had for $7.00 for 15 minutes. I had me a Brazilian an Peruvian for $50.00 for an hour. I may move to Chiclayo again Permanently. Rented a beach house for $270.00 per month (3) bedroom on the beach.. Stepped out on the sand at my front door. Great surfing and the weather is warm all year around.
I know I am looking to book this trip from Atl as well. This will be my first Monger trip to Peru and am looking forward to it. I have spent the last few days reading everything I can.I cant wait to post my first trip report to you guys for all of your help.
I flew Spirit recently down to Lima. They are an absolute clusterf*ck of an airline and I cannot possibly recommend them. If you have to travel on them I would suggest the following rules if you wish to stay (relatively) sane:
1) Do NOT check any bags and ensure your bag is right above your head;
2) Try and only do a straight flight, avoid Spirit connections like the plague;
3) If you cannot avoid a connection do not connect with less than 90 minutes between flights;
4) You must check in at the minumum time they describe or you WILL be bumped. The computer will not allow them any discretion;
5) Check and double check fares and taxes. They are not always the cheapest unless you get one of their "deals". For instance Lima has a departure tax of $32 which American has in their ticket but Spirit does not;
6) If you want to eat take your own food. They do not serve any food. Only snacks which they charge for. $4 Pringles anyone on a 5 hour flight? They also charge for any liquid other than water;
7) When they start calling the zones for boarding just go straight on, everyone else does;
8) If you want any semblance of customer service, fly someone else.
I have a flight booked on spirit from lauderdale to lima august 7th...
I booked it because it is a non-stop to lima...
I am supposed to have the "BIG FRONT SEAT" reserved and paid for both ways but the websight would only allow me to reserve a seat on the return flight...
I will post a report if I get the ambition..
hopefully the lima chicas will make me forget about a bad flight upon my arrival..
I plan on being at tequilla rock about midnight august 7th looking for a date..
JB, Just a tip but I would highly recommend calling the airline to try to get a seat assigned. I had a similar a month or so ago on my last Lima trip with Delta from Dallas through Atlanta. Had an unassigned seat on the Atlanta-Lima leg and flight was 35 seats overbooked. I got bumped and my 10 hour trip turned into and 18 hour trip arriving in Lima at 5 AM with no luggage frezzing my ass off. I am due to recieve a $400 voucher from Delta but yet to see it.
I had anouther Delta trip to San Jose,CR last weekend but called Delta ahead and they were glad to assign me a exit row seat which was not open for assignment on line. I got here with no problems outher than storms in Atlanta delaying outbound filght. Good luck and RT has a good point.rbc100
