It has paid off, for sure. In the past (07-08), they would run interviews right there @ the job fair, hire you on the spot sometimes.

If you don't have an internal recommendation, it is far and away the best way to get your resume into the short stack. If you already have a internal (or 3-5), you should already know this from your contacts - going shows you want to work here. Relying on the recommendation shows you are 'playing the field', just waiting for a bite, but Spirit isn't your first choice.

Think of it this way - if you REALLY want to make a career @ Spirit, you will find a way to get to a job fair, just like anything else that is important to you. Some guys might have 30+ years here. If you can't get your butt to a job fair, then, fortunately, there are plenty of other guys who will be happy to take your slot while you wait for whatever airline you REALLY want to work for (the line for Spirit is apparently HUGE, you have to make a reservation now to see the Spirit rep, fyi).

What are they looking for? Same as everyone else (good attitude, easy to get along with, a resume showing you can fly your way out of a paper bag, etc). Ideally, jet PIC, glass/fms time, or international experience will all help. We fly jets, Airbuses are the ultimate glass aircraft, 'managed', not flown, so you've got to be able to work the FMS (Airbus calls it a MCDU, know what it means - do a freaking google search), and we fly both domestic and international routes, so, if you know how to do a position report, good.

Rumor is we like to hire guys who live near our junior bases, ACY, DFW, and LAS.

Good luck.