From the AAI message board blast email / message to airtran pilots:
Tonight several members of the MEC were informed by line pilots that Flt. 1941 was added to todays flight schedule. The flight had several former Spirit ticket holders. Thanks for keeping your eyes and ears open and informing your MEC immediately.
Within 20 minutes of the first phone call your MEC accomplished the following.
1. Had ALPA attorneys contact senior AirTran management to confirm the nature of the new flight segment and any financial connection to Spirit.
2. Contacted the Spirit MEC to confirm flight 1941 did not meet any definition of struck work, and obtained approval from the Spirit MEC that the flight segment would not be seen as struck work.
3. Instructed line pilots the flight was O.K. to fly.
It was quickly determined that the extra section of flying was added as some Spirit passengers received refunds from Spirit for cancelled flights. In addition, some passengers reported receiving $100 extra from Spirit as an accommodation for their trouble. Those passengers then bought tickets on AirTran. Spirit did not received any revenue from flight 1941.
And so it begins. Looks as if AirTran management plans to steal some customer loyalty and make some money in the process.
I hope this is a wakeup call for Spirit management. Act fast, or other airlines will.