Spirit’s Spirited Objection to JetBlue & United’s Budding Friendship

Spirit Airlines filed a very loud, very yellow objection to JetBlue and United’s proposed Blue Sky partnership, and hoo boy, it reads like an ex watching their former fling walk into prom with someone taller and richer who is from Chicago but keeps a house in Newark. It seems that in Spirit’s view, this isn’t a strategic alliance — it’s JetBlue agreeing to be United’s emotional support airline. It’s warning the DOT that JetBlue’s new situationship will kill competition, raise fares, and basically turn everyone’s quirky, minty fresh buddy into a corporate middle manager in a United polo.

Of course, Spirit isn’t exactly showing up out of pure civic duty here. Despite paying a team of very not low cost lawyers, Spirit’s filing reads less like a legal argument and more like “you said we were special!” But it does potentially have a point: if JetBlue starts handing over gates, schedules, and frequent flyer cuddles to United, it’s only a matter of time before we’re all paying $479 to fly from Boston to Newark while being told it’s a good deal. Basically, if legacy airlines are forming exclusive clubs, Spirit wants to make sure it’s not left outside banging on the gate with a bag fee in hand.

For more on this, see yesterday’s post on Cranky Flier.

Spirit Rebrands Fares (Again): Now with More Legroom and Branding Whiplash

Spirit rebranded its fare bundles again, just months after its big rollout of Go, Go Savvy, Go Comfy, and Go Big. Apparently realizing those sounded more like gym memberships than travel products, the airline is now going with Spirit First, Premium Economy, and Value—because if you rename things enough times, eventually people forget they’re still paying $78 to bring a backpack.

The star of the show, naturally, is Spirit First — not to be confused with the recently rolled-out Delta First — which includes the former Big Front Seat (RIP), a carry-on, a checked bag, booze, snacks, Wi-Fi, and basically everything short of a handwritten apology for flying Spirit.

Premium Economy replaces Go Comfy, offering extra legroom or a blocked middle seat, plus snacks, a carry-on, and no change fees. It’s basically Spirit saying, “We’ve seen how Delta does this, and we’re doing it… sort of.” Meanwhile, Value remains true to the brand: no frills, no flexibility, and no illusions, though you can build your own package of fun from this base level.

The whole rebrand is supposedly about streamlining the booking experience, at least that’s what the consultants who got paid millions told the airline to keep those invoices flowing. At the end of the day, this is something between putting yellow lipstick on a pig and the airline meeting its customers halfway as it looks to survive an evolving industry.

Porter Goes Full Snowbird: Free Beer, Now With a Side of SPF 50

Porter Airlines is expanding its winter beach strategy with new flights from Canada to sun destinations outside the U.S., including Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, Nassau, Grand Cayman, and Liberia (this one, not this one). But Porter isn’t just hopping on the sand-and-margarita bandwagon; it’s picking routes no one else touches: it’ll be the only carrier flying from Ottawa to Grand Cayman and Liberia, and from Hamilton to Puerto Vallarta and Nassau. Apparently, Porter has a magic eight ball that says there are people who actually want to fly those routes, but we remain unconvinced.

This is classic Porter: give passengers just enough comfort and exclusivity to feel superior to their WestJet-flying in-laws, without ever entering full-luxury territory. It’s also a power move that says, “Sure, we’re boutique… but we know Canadians are desperate for sun by January 2.” And also, it says, “we know you hate the U.S. right now, so let’s give you a different option.”

Delta to Alaska: We Brought Pasta, Paella, and a Lounge You Can’t Sit In

Delta is growing its Seattle presence yet again, announcing new summer seasonal flights to Rome/FCO and Barcelona starting next May. Rome will operate 4x weekly with Barcelona at 3x weekly, and it’s another example of Delta planting a flag — or more likely a SkyPriority Banner — in Seattle. With these additions, Delta’s SEA-Europe lineup is looking more like a curated wine list: Paris, Amsterdam, London, and now a little sangria and carbonara.

Oh, and about that lounge. Delta opened its new Delta One Lounge at SEA — a 24,000-square-foot temple of exclusivity featuring cocktails, showers, and furniture that probably costs more than the Horizon Q400 headed to Bend. Meanwhile, Alaska’s Board Room remains… present. Friendly. Functional. Pancake-forward. Delta isn’t trying to win Seattle, it swears. It’s just here to gently remind you that if you’d like to sip an aperitivo before flying to Rome in a bed, Delta is ready when you are.

American ExpAAnds Winter: Ski and Wine Lovers Rejoice

American Airlines is feeling festive, AAnnouncing new seasonal routes from Phoenix to Santa Maria, CA (SMX) starting October 16 and from PHX and Chicago/ORD to Sun Valley — starting December 18 for the winter. PHX – SMX will operate 2x daily while everything else will operate 1x daily.

AA wants to fly you straight to your overpriced charcuterie board this winter, whether it’s après-ski in Idaho or sipping Pinot in Central California. Forget budget airlines—this is American, so you can enjoy the crisp mountain air knowing your flight was only delayed slightly and your bag probably made it.

The new routes will be operated by CRJs, because nothing says “exclusive ski destination” like being crammed into a 65-seater with limited overhead space and passive-aggressive elbow battles. Still, American’s betting that if it gets you close enough to a mountain or vineyard, you’ll forgive the rest. — or at least drink enough to forget. After all, why drive hours from a major airport when you can be personally deposited by a legacy carrier directly into vacation Instagram territory? Just don’t expect a pre-flight mimosa unless you brought your own…and it fits in a quart-sized bag.

Other winter seasonal service being AAdded includes Phoenix to Fort Myers around the holidays, ORD to Missoula with a seasonal extension of service beginning December 18, and daily service to Santa Fe from both ORD (holidays only), and Los Angeles (year-round, beginning October 6).

• Air Canada is adding codeshares on DB trains in Germany.
• Air France is adding 3x weekly seasonal service to Punta Cana.
• Air Peace secured slots to fly to London/Heathrow.
• Air Premia added an 8th airplane.
• Air New Zealand is adding flights for its summer season.
• Avianca is bringing business class back within the Americas.
• BermudAir will begin flying from Baltimore and Boston to Anguilla. Even more fun than the flights is that it will brand itself as AnguillAir for the flights. No really, that’s true.
• Breeze wants to trade three of its weekly EAS frequencies from Ogdensburg, NY (OGS) from Washington/Dulles to Raleigh/Durham.
• Garuda Indonesia scored a cool $405 million cash infusion.
• JetBlue is moving into 2025 when it comes to tracking bags. It’s also bringing Mint to Orlando with winter service between MCO and Las Vegas.
• LOT plans to fly a lot of people between Gdańsk and Istanbul when it begins 4x weekly flights in January.
• Mýflug Air ended operating this week. Well, it said it would stop operating charter flights, scheduled flights, and sightseeing flights. Other than that, it’s still cookin’. We understand if you’ll need a moment.
• Qantas is replacing its F100 fleet in Western Australia with E190s.
• SAS is adding year-round Copenhagen – Mumbai service next June, marking a return to India for the carrier for the first time in 17 years.
• Seaborne Airlines needs a new senior leadership team.
• Silver Airways routes are being taken over by three different airlines. Mýflug Air is not one of them.
• Southwest pilots were winners in a Texas court.
• SWISS showed off its new Wanderlust livery on an A350-900.
• TAP will tap into year-round service to LAX now.
• Tassili Airlines was absorbed by Air Algérie as the bully of northwest Africa strikes again.
• Transavia received a brand refresh.
• Turkish has reached the talking stage with Air Europa.
• Virgin Australia‘s IPO went well.

Customer On Phone: “Does it hurt to get a tattoo?”

Tattoo Artist: “Depends on where you get it.”

Customer: “I’m in Oklahoma.”