I do recall a company memo saying we are getting out of the ULCC image.

Image, yes. Cost structure, no.

The cabins are getting a makeover as well.

How so? They could start by putting the recline back in the big front seats. These seats are not “prereclined” and are practically vertical without the recline function. I’d be pretty upset if I forked over the extra for that seat and had to sit vertical for six hours.

They have a bunch of “new seats” at HQ. they are putting in
More big front seats with power outlets. Not sure about reclining. The word is we are going to a business class big front with a new bulk head that separate the cabins.

Where do you guys get this stuff from? I heard six months ago the pilots were getting new uniforms and nothing has happened

Appendix H meetings... and we are getting new uniforms. It’s all at HQ, go see for yourself.

Those new seats have supposedly been sitting in HQ for the last year. I’ll believe it when I see it. Why would they do something that reduces the number of seats on the plane? Doesn’t make sense, I doubt we’ll see it.

Most of it came from RR, proir to being replaced. Now? It appears to be moving as slow as our new VP.

I agree. I do know they want to charge more for the “business class” seat. They are trying to make AirTran 2.0...

Longtime lurker here. Hello everyone!

These seats actually exist and there are many pictures floating around of them from many different sources, but the short answer is they are still acro seats and perhaps they intend to just charge slightly more for the new big front. Take a tour of headquarters and they show them off supposedly. The economy class ones are just our standard thin acro seat with a new cover on them that is black with a yellow S logo in the corner kinda like how delta and others have the logo on the seat. They actually look very nice, but there are three different variations to them that the company hasn't decided on. If I remember right one is solid black, one is black with yellow accents on the side, and the third option is different accents but also has a headrest cover thing that would presumably have to be replaced every flight.

The new big front seat appears to be the only seat that is completely different. Take a look at WOW airs front seat- ours looks very similar but different color if I'm remembering correctly. In fact I suspect they are literally the same seat but I dont trust my memory that well since its been months since I saw the pictures. It does have a socket but also has what appears to be a legrest and looks like it can recline but nobody could confirm that so I'm not sure. Pure rumor on the recline take it as it is.

I talked to MX about the new seats and the guy I talked to hadn't heard anything about them so these changes are probably a long way off. He did also confirm they aren't touching seats on any plane until the FAA decides what our minimum seat pitch has to be. It seems like much of the upcoming stuff from planes to seats is stalled out waiting on the government to move.

What’s an appendix H meeting? Forgive me if I’m supposed to know this. Also why does any pilot have need to go to HQ? The doors are locked anyway.

My apologies, it’s a training pilot meeting(check airman). I can confirm with what was said above. The black seat actually look really nice. Not sure about the Faa, wouldn’t doubt it though.

BTW, there is a receptionist at hq...she will let you in after they verify the ID. I agree tho, no reason to go to hq unless you want a tour.

Thanks for the education. As for the tour- I’ll pass, ha

Yea we are switching to black seats. That doesn’t mean we are getting out of the ULCC game when it’s made the company a mountain of cash.

Oh I agree! New seats, fresh paint, WiFi and the best on time/value carrier of the year. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it....just make is shiny.

Bare Fare is also off the engine cowlings on the new aircraft. I guess I should say the new NEOs.

And pay profit sharing

Black seats with all the window shades open (thought the FAs were supposed to ask to have them shut) in some very hot destinations = wicked swamp ass.....

Why would we want that? One of the only airlines that don’t have profit sharing.

Maybe next round, we can use a negiators that aren’t still flying the “9” in their mind and “know this management”.....
Because literally NONE of that management team is still here.

For sure recall action in 7 yrs.

Well there you go. Decision should be made by mid-year according to this article:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-22/spirit-airlines-sees-decision-by-mid-year-on-adding-smaller-jets?fbclid=IwAR2MTIBxJWBKsHvIRBxiK9Ndy-J1ACgNXBDOajE8xw8zbtN1NxeUx3ERKMc

This should give Boeing enough time to come up with a fleet-swap scenario for cheap... ;). No doubt the folks at Embraer are desperate to sell more E2 airframes.

I can definitely tell you the E2 is out....heard that from the man directly. As for the Boeing swap, get ready for Boeing butt! We are gonna fly that on 8 hour legs.

That seals it- E2 it is....

Here’s the deal I’d like to see:

100 A321 NEOs + 100 CS300s (A220-300)

I guess time will tell. No doubt Boeing and Embraer are sharpening their pencils.

Our current order goes to 2021, so this quote makes me think the upcoming order might actually be a small one targeting only smaller jets to service underserved markets.

Maybe despite the big man saying no E2 they have presented a crazy deal recently? Did he elaborate on why the E2 was out?

Is there a historical precedent of a fleet swap of this scale? How do we get rid of 177 airbus without hemoragging cash while also retraining literally all of inflight and MX? Seems farfetched.

He didn’t go into detail, but said look at B6.

B6? are you comparing them swapping the small part of their fleet (less than 30% of planes) for another type to us swapping our entire fleet of 177 for a different plane?


that's not even close to the same thing.

Now, if you wanna compare us and allegiant going from all md80s to airbuses, sure. but we were both very small airlines when the swap occurred

Slow down Francis, I never compared anything...this is what the boss said. Personally, any aircraft order, E2, Boeing or Bus is a win for us. The more growth the better.

Interesting that your new order is set for 2021. So is ours at Frontier. 134 aircraft beginning 2021. Let’s say you order another 100-150 aircraft. 177 in 2021 and 250-300 by 2026. So maybe a merger with Frontier in 2021 after your order is locked in. Frontier will have 121 in 2021 and by 2026 around 250. A merger would put us at 500 airframes at 2026. That’s impressive.

1: I don't disagree, 2: don't call me francis, you know your argument is absurd.

Whatever buddy, no one is arguing anything. I’m just telling you what was told to me.

I think a marriage is a lot closer then we think.

Why?

I know the written text is hard to decipher and I'm not being an A hole, mocking, or condescending. I'm genuinely curious as to why you think that.

This is just my personal opinion. RR email stating possible unplanned growth, aircraft orders in line th F9, almost matching contracts. Route structures very similar to ours, some over lap but not much. The future growth of both airlines is pretty impressive. So, my guess is Delta will buy us😁.

I've said this a hundred times, only the payscale and 401k matches (and rigs, sort of). everything is so wildly different between the contract people need to stop spreading misinformation.

Hence, almost.

They're not almost. Not even close to almost. That shows a gross misunderstanding of both contracts.

Ok, you are correct. I shouldn’t compare the two, my apologies.