flight attendant

scheduler

guest service agent

crew member

baggage handler

Spirit Airlines


Spirit Airlines incited my career as a Certified Flight Attendant by providing 4 weeks of scrupulous training, as well as instant employment at one of their designated bases. The initial year of duty proved cumbersome between constant energy-consuming commutes, critical on call commitments, and cabin crew contrarieties, & other consistent conflicts with upper management. 

First Year Flight Attendant issues entailed little or no authority electing: one's home base airport, working hours or destinations, accompanying crew members, nor delegating cabin positions. For some individuals without the discipline to study, the drills and examinations were rather rigorous so they didn't make it thus far. Others who practiced & passed the instruction courses found themselves struggling during Year 1. 

The few who remained reaped the advantages of quickly earning seniority, which permitted more of a work-life balance. We were able to select our schedules with more leniency without being subjected to intimidation from crew scheduling or more experienced FAs who looked down at newcomers. Sure, there were still times where we had to watch wearily for saavy saboteurs willing to jeopardize our jobs over trivial matters, collaborate with closed off coworker cliques, bypass the usual uneasiness that usurped us so that all our attention must be  present on the plane and onward, regardless of the personal problems persisted... After all those months of hardship, I felt as though I was being paid to vacation amid my vocation. (I was never homesick— I lived for this nomadic lifestyle).

Working at Spirit Airlines was finally worth it. I loved it, for a time.

Lamentably, my euphoria did not endure, as I was one of the thousands who were suddenly terminated due to the company's financial constraints. This odious act had only confirmed my fears that I was only a number in an environment that should be family-oriented.  In contrast to working tirelessly and yearning to travel elsewhere, being a Certified FA was the best profession I have since experienced. 

I could handle the flight delays, the unruly passengers, terrible turbulence, & being miles away from "Home" suffering standby seating for each day-long commute. (Seriously, sometimes it took a whole day to  get to work & back).  Even after working a four day trip to where Senior FAs denounced as an undesirable city, I would greatly accept being whisked away for another 4 days. I was just grateful to fly. Yes, Spirit is infamous for its imperfect customer service and exorbitant fees, but I have never felt safer on an aircraft. If the one thing training emphasized, it was definitely safety, & I took it seriously while on duty. Overall, I believe that my enthusiasm for being employed as a Flight Attendant outshined  the unfavorable aspects of my employer. 

5 Stars for Spirit initiating my aspired occupation; 1 Star for firing me while on medical leave and destroying the dream.

A typical day at work as a Spirit Airlines flight attendant was always busy, unpredictable, and full of teamwork. Every flight brought something new  safety checks, passenger care, quick turnarounds, and doing our best to create a positive experience even when the conditions weren’t ideal. Despite the challenges, I always took pride in what I did and in being part of a crew that looked out for each other.

Over time, I learned how to stay calm in stressful situations, adapt to constant changes, and communicate with all kinds of people. The experience definitely taught me resilience, patience, and how to make the best of tough circumstances.

The culture among flight attendants was one of the best parts we built a strong bond and supported each other like family. Unfortunately, that same support hasn’t been there from management during this furlough process. It feels like they’re treating it as just another business decision, with very little communication or understanding of what this actually means for us. Many of us are still coming to work every day, doing our jobs while carrying the stress of not knowing what’s next, and yet there’s been no real guidance or empathy.

We’re losing our health coverage 90 days after the furlough goes into effect on December 1st, and many of us still don’t fully understand what will happen with the benefits we’ve worked hard to earn. There’s been very little explanation, and it feels like management is just moving forward business as usual while we’re left to worry about how we’ll support our families and take care of ourselves.

The hardest part of this job right now is the uncertainty and lack of support. The most enjoyable part has always been the people my fellow crew members and the passengers who remind me why I loved flying in the first place.

I’m grateful for the experiences and friendships I’ve made here, but I wish the company showed more care and compassion for the employees who helped keep things running. Right now, it feels like we’re being forgotten.

Very exciting place to work where no two days are alike.

Spirit was my first airline job and it's easier to be hired by them than by any other airline. That makes it a great way to get airline experience on your resume, which is half the battle if you're trying to break in to the industry.

The work is similar to any other airline customer service job: checking in people at the ticket counter and overseeing disembarkation and boarding at the gate. However, people seem to get angry much more easily when traveling, especially considering Spirit's "unbundled" business model where they charge for everything separately. This isn't a job for the faint of heart: you will be yelled at (this is mostly beyond the airline's control) and you will be expected to keep a positive and calm attitude throughout the transaction. If a flight gets delayed or cancelled, you may not be going home until all those passengers are taken care of. Your shift ending time is really more of a suggestion, but that's true of any airline.

I think it's worth it, though, because the high stress of the job means you form a close bond with your coworkers that I haven't really seen in other customer service industries. I had no issues with the management who, in my observation, treated all agents fairly. It was easy to pick up additional hours or give away shifts and you were free to work as many extra hours as you wanted. After 3 months, you get free standby travel privileges (you only pay taxes) on Spirit flights plus the ability to buy standby tickets at a discount on other airlines. With how full flights are going out nowadays, you have to plan very carefully to make sure you don't get stranded somewhere, so the utility there is limited.

The starting pay is only a dollar and a half over minimum wage, which is very difficult to live off of in South Florida. Furthermore, Spirit has outsourced all customer service agent positions except in Fort Lauderdale, and who knows how long before they outsource Fort Lauderdale, too. I don't think you can make a career out of being a customer service agent at Spirit, nor should you go in expecting one, but it definitely opens the door to other more lucrative and rewarding opportunities, whether you want to try to climb the corporate ladder or move on to another airline like I have.

I'm very thankful for my time at Spirit because I wouldn't be where I am now if they hadn't hired me basically fresh out of high school.

This would be an amazing job, and an amazing company, if management wasn’t so caddy and played favoritism.  It’s actually quite comical running my own business now and seeing just how badly ran this airline was and is today.  I no longer fly on or use this Airline for any purpose!!!!! I’ve seen things that really bothered me, safety wise, That’s just me. You also need to take into consideration that I was let go by the company. You decide. I’m just telling you like it is. The Union is a JOKE. I was a “Line Holder” coming in on a turn. A plane sat for hours. No crews. No supervisors. Just two ramp agents and a gate agent that was obviously messing with the ramp agent. Standing there telling you all that you have a flight. I said where is my supervisor. Where is anyone. Such urgency. I was later fired for trip refusal. My trip the day of Fire was yet another pickup trip while on a trip for an injured flight attendant. Scheduled trips are A134, when they change they go through the alphabet. Mine were AAA387 they had changed my trip and flight so many times in one day they had no idea where I was. I was fired while deplaning my PAX, by post it note. They said they contacted me. I didn’t have a cell phone that month. The crew never received a call. Supposedly only myself. Also the very next month. Same exact line. Same exact trip. Same exact flight. Same exact issues. A young Female Flight Attendant was fired. For the same exact thing.  She NOT BEING a Line Hold. At her hearing though, the same Union Rep got her her job back. Nothing against the union rep She was a friend. You decide. My job was made for someone like me. I held other titles within as well... I was asked by the Company to help Champion the Uniform committee and, I was also asked to fly as the face of the airline, liaison, also had done Charters for sports teams and DOD flights. Also I was on my way to supervisor and trying to “OUST” our current Union and replace with a union, another larger airline currently uses. Now you know why. I had seen enough. Security was breached on a daily. After I was let go, from a job where someone on welfare makes more than you do, but I loved it, I walked around security onto the tarmac and planes with badge in hand. Never stopped and handed my badge in. After hours. Wrote notes in the main offices and put them in v files.  I then left on my own. Not a family and it’s so drama filled and just about everyone is stabbing you in the back as soon as you turn.  Typical.

When you get hired by a company, regardless of the experience you bring to them AND ESPECIALLY IN commercial aviation,you're going to work the graveyard shift. That said, for newbies in commercial aviation learning the A320 IF you don't have any experience on the Airbus, the graveyard shift is where you need to be. IN FACT, if you want to actually WORK on commercial aircraft and do all the other fun stuff that comes along WITH that privilege, like run ups and taxi and so forth, when you learn the 3rd shift life style,this is actually THE shift to be on! >>>UNFORTUNATELY<<< and through my personal experience, THE LAST PLACE you'd want to "do" the graveyard shift is actually at the airport many want a career, AT ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT! (MCO) The very pathetic agenda, of your co-workers, across the board, is a narcissistic troubling one that makes an employer bad enough, let alone on a shift where most are NOT accustomed to in the first place and where the NORMAL STRESS is already at it's peak due to the fact that the aircraft MUST depart on-time in the morning.BUT, connect this fact with a group of mechanics, lead mechanics, QA inspections, supervisors,ESPECIALLY supervisors and an entire "other shift" AND  a station maintenance manager that will embrace the of baring false witness against others and do so "just because" DOES NOT make for work environment conducive to longevity. And, isn't that fact, the name of the game?

To THAT END, when co-workers attitudes revolve around child-like tactics to pull off these serious night after night after night very suspicious agendas & irregularities, there will be episodes of serious but needless consequences to follow. BUT, if the likes of THIS is EXACTLY what YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,THAN BY ALL MEANS, SPIRIT AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE AT ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS THE PLACE FOR YOU!

To sum it up, Spirit Airlines is an airline just CHOCK full of either the employee with not enough savvy or experience to get obtain a career with a the real and better paying airlines OR, an entire inventory of employees unable to maintain their respective careers AT the real and better paying airlines or other aviation related venues.

At the initial orientation, Herb Sklar will inform you that Spirit must be the first priority in your life (literal and actual statement). They mean it. Not one tardy, sick day, bereavement day- No exceptions, no matter the circumstances within the 6 month probation period. Not much better after probation. My original FLL class began with 12 trainees. After 3 months there were 3 of us left. You are expendable and Herb and Sonia will reward your countless hours of effort by letting you and all co-workers know it. All  seats are over sold. This is done intentionally because it is still legal. What this means is that in the absence of "no shows" the latest check-ins WILL be bumped. Also, as an employee, you'll have little chance in enjoying your Stand-By flight benefits; even if you're able to board, there's no guarantee of return date. If you miss your shift, you're fired. Vacations are difficult enough to plan- at Spirit you get 2 days off/week. Arrangement for shift coverage- good luck. Planes are utilized round the clock. Expect PLENTY of  mechanical delays and angry passengers (*Note- if ATC can detect weather, Spirit will cite weather over mechanics as reason for delay/cancellation. Passengers receive no accommodations) You will be prisoner until passenger issues are resolved- several times weekly. Volatile encounters and environment. Supervisors- anyone whose willing to shoulder additional liability in exchange for a $4 pay hike; often times not the most "qualified" or "professional" candidates. There is nothing redeemable about Spirit's entry-level jobs, compensation or benefits. The trade off for their lousy pay is simply not worth it.
Bottom line: If you want a career in airline/aviation and don't have to depend on this job to survive, get in and get your feet wet for about 6 months. Give notice while you can still use them as a reference and wait for an opening with a better airline. If you're young/inexperienced or older with professional experience but struggling with the job market, there are far healthier 'disposable job' options.

There is never a typical day in the airline industry. Today I am starting a 4 day trip tonight I will be in Boston tomorrow, Atlanta, then 2 nights in Seattle. I am so excited about Seattle to see an old friend. I get to the airport and huge computer issue with ATC tons of aircraft rerouted. Now I am going from a 4 day trip to a 3 day trip with 2 nights in FTL. I have a suitcase of sweaters for Seattle and I go to FTL all the time I didn't want to go again. you never know what can happen at work it will have nothing to do with your aircraft your trip or even your base. Crew Scheduling has you to do whatever they want with you when you are on reserve. (new fight attendant) its a lot of fun but in the same sentence its a lot of sitting alone in a hotel room. going to dinner alone. I had a 36 hour layover in San Diego one time. It would have been nice to have my partner join me because it was great I loved the city I didn't love it alone. yes, my crew was there but its different and a lot of times senior momma and poppas that have been there since the door of aviation opened have seen everything done everything they are called slam clickers they get the to hote; get their room key as we walk to our rooms you hear the slamming of the door and the click of the lock and you won't see them until its time to be in the lobby for the van to the airport. I learned it's a great job and I wouldn't trade it for anything but it's not for me anymore. one big lesson I learned is you and your partner need to have their own jobs not work and live together. That metal tube is too close for all that. the hardest part of the job the time away from family if I knew what I knew now I may have never took the job but that's a good thing we don't know the future. The time away is the hardest. I have seen a lot in just a short amount of time. waking up on west coast and sleeping in NYC is pretty amazing 

Working on the ramp at Spirit was an extremely physical position, the culture at Ft. Lauderdale was very segregated with various ethnic groups requesting to work together.  In the airline business it's all senority based.  Managers, Supervisors and other leaders all came and went quickly, therefore leads to hiring underqualified agents to replace leader positions with no understanding of the operation, nor the education or problem solving skills needed.  The ramp is a very dangerous work environment not for the weak mental or physical, everyone must work as a team in order to accomplish such tasks asked of everyday.  The key to a good fair work day are the ramp coordinators, they assign your flights accordingly, they play favorites with longer tenured agents, and friends, it was a horrible unfair experience for me and my crew.  The company allows some very questionable behavior, so unless you damage an aircraft, you'll always have a job.  The Union has gotten a lot better, the pay took years to jump up but now it's at fair starting rate.  

I Learned a ton about the airline business and loved the job, everyday was different, I became a leader quickly there and was proud of my position.  It's very easy to advance, with in just 1 year I've seen agents become supervisors.  If you show good character and reliability the company moves you up quickly.  Opportunities were endless.  Flying perks are okay but flying standby can be very tricky.  I loved my schedule, and also liked the constant rotation of schedules, after 2 or 3 months you must bid by seniority.  It's very easy to make deals and shift swap.  Some agents I had never seen report to work for months and were still listed on the roster working.   

As I see yet another job posting for Customer Service Supervisor for Ghetto Spirit Airbus of an airline I just cringe.....

In all of my years in the airline industry this is by far was the WORST place I ever worked.  Not only dont they not care for their customers, but the employees are treated even worse.... the management team in FLL promotes setting up  employees for failure....there is little to no encouragement to succeed.

I actually got to witness and hear management discussing how to set up employees to  be ultimately be terminated.   Most were employees that have been there for a while.  There was always the threat of getting written up looming over them.

I actually was given a performance review and the manager stated.."YES u do a great job but you dont write enough employees up".  They had me do these idiotic performance evalutions on agents to find their weaknesses and write them up for it, instead if encouraging and mentoring to do better.

And don't let start how many employees I saw get fired that did not deserve to be..and .the backstabbing between managers and supervisors alike was horrible.

In the short time I employed in this place...I would come home completely drained physically...because the "title" of Supervisor in this company means you take the brunt of everything that come from passengers, from employees and management.

Its really is a shame how this company gets away with these tactics.  No incentives for the employees, bad treatment of customers. Overall not a positive environment. 

So with that being said, you want to get beat up everyday, stressed to max and badly treated apply for the job....but my suggestion...go work for a REAL airline!!!!!

Ats been a long time since things have been happening and now it seems like things are falling apart. There are no real benefits and what is there can be turned off on you at a moment. I and other employees saw that happen to use last fall. The hours are up and down so if you truly want 40 hours you’ve got to ask your co-workers if they’re willing to give you some hours. Management seems to be a bit heartless now a days. Many of the experienced workers are jumping ship so at the moment they are short staffed. 

Not really an interesting job the pay is a bit better than other airlines but after that there are no interesting perks. We don’t have any relationships with other airlines so you’ll have to pay full price. The only thing you can look forward to is the paycheck every two weeks. That’s about it. Supervisors are watching what staff they do have left like a hawk would. Your left alone a lot especially being short staffed. 

I gave the rating a two star mainly because of the pay but not a job to go to if you want to advance in the airline industry. It’s more of a starter job if you want to get your foot into the airline industry and then it’s better after you have your experience to go and work for the big three airlines or even international.

This is the kind of job to have if you have another one that has good pay every week, good benefits, possibilities of growth. Then you have this one to make some extra money because that’s really all they have as you will be part time.  

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Flight attendant 64 salaries reported	$34.95 per hour
Scheduler 10 salaries reported	$46,700 per year
Guest service agent 5 salaries reported	$16.60 per hour
Crew member 3 salaries reported	$45,667 per year
Baggage handler 6 salaries reported	$16.08 per hour

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