Most college students have flown in their lives, whether they have had to book a flight home from school each term or have gone on vacations during spring break. In general, airline tickets can be expensive and finding a cheap option is necessary for these students who have to pay off their college loans. One company in particular, Spirit Airlines, is not only known for their bright yellow planes, but also the very affordable options when it comes to traveling. Unfortunately for me, and many others who were planning to travel in the upcoming future, this cheap resource is no longer available.
As of last week Spirit Airlines has ceased operations permanently due to bankruptcy. The main reason for the company going under was the major rise in jet fuel prices due to the war in Iran, along with their ultra-low-cost model. They have cancelled all of their future flights, including my own ticket home, and those intensely yellow planes will never take off ever again. Not only is it frustrating that I will have to find another ticket which will most likely cost a lot more, but it is also just super ironic to me that after I book my first flight in eight years the whole airline shuts down.
This frustration has led many people to wish for change and a “Spirit 2.0”. A website, letsbuyspiritair.com, was launched not even two days later and has raised more than $132 million dollars to make a Spirit owned by the people. Experts speculate that this campaign will not result in anything beneficial for the airline though, as the company is already going through the formal liquidation process. Even if “Spirit 2.0” doesn’t work out, the devotion of the people and how upset they are about the airline closing remains prominent.
This opinion is not lost to the students at Union College either. Isa Gonzalez ‘28 told me, “I am sad about it because now everything is going to be more expensive.” Having the option to purchase cheaper airline tickets is something that benefits many people across the world, especially us young adults who are still studying or just beginning our future careers. Now with Spirit gone, traveling anywhere is likely going to cost a lot more.
As people, like me, wait impatiently for their refunds and seek to find new flights, we have to appreciate the inexpensive prices on tickets that Spirit offered us. Spirit Airlines is definitely going to be missed by many, broke college students and frugal travelers alike.
