General Info

[QUOTE=Jaosousa; 1262805]Does Spirit charge extra for a carry-on bag and for all checked luggage? Does Spirit charge extra if you want an aisle seat?

I have read that seating is very tight on Spirit.[/QUOTE]If you don't select a seat, they will assign one to you at no charge, and if you are a single male and speak English, you have a good chance of getting an exit row seat. In exchange you have to be prepared to operate the escape hatch if the plane ditches in the ocean. So far I have not had to do this extra duty as the Spirit planes have comfortably cleared any water that was crossed. The seats are made of leather or something similar. They are not very wide, but then AA isn't either. Both are similar to traveling in a carro publico in the DR, because the row is just not wide enough for the number of shoulders involved. You could ask to be seated next to a child, but, on second thoughts, maybe not.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1262888]and if you are a single male and speak English, you have a good chance of getting an exit row seat.[/QUOTE]Yes, yes it's true. LOL

[QUOTE=Manizales911; 1262864]Yes, they charge for both. $30. For carry on and $33. For checked bag if you check in online, if you check in at the airport it is $35. And $38. Keep in mind that this is per leg of your flight so in my case if I fly out of BOS double that and you have $252. In bag fees roundtrip! Yes, there is a charge for requesting ANY seat, I don't recall the charge though. The only way to avoid a seat fee is to let them pick your seat.

Frannie I can't believe that you find the seats and legroom better on Spirit vs. AA but to each his own.

MHL, I guess if I was flying out of FLL and the flight was an hour and a half and their price was the lowest I would consider putting up with their bullshit because you are correct in that a flight that short it really shouldn't matter what airline one flew on but I don't and also I was referring to my general preferences in airlines and to not just flying to the DR and truthfully most of my flying is to my namesake Manizales, Colombia these days, I haven't been to the DR in almost six months I enjoy Colombia so much more. Flying Spirit from BOS or JFK to Bogota is out of the question for me, besides they aren't the least expensive on these routes anyway.[/QUOTE]I used to fly Spirit, but never again. It is about as "no frills" as you can get. At least AA throws you a bone every now and then. Last but not least, if for some reason you miss your flight or it gets cancelled, other options are few and far between, unless you want to pay a one-way fare back to the states. Since they have so few flights, odds of going standby are non-existent.

[QUOTE=Manizales911;1262793]Uncomfortable seating on it's airplanes, by far the worst customer service, rude flight attendants and because I always bring both a checked bag and a carry on the price difference is minimal and in some cases their price is higher. I no longer travel for business, all my travel is for pleasure and I don't need to start my trip off with an uncomfortable, inconvenient flight just to save a few pesos. I have flown AA more than any other airline with the exception of maybe Avianca and I have had very few bad experiences with them.[/QUOTE]Talking about uncomfortable seating. Now Avianca has uncomfortable seating. They use European style hard ass Recaros and the head rest sticks out way too far and gives me chicken neck. I always have to take it off and put it under my seat. And as far a shoulders go it is way better sitting in the middle between two women than sitting on the end next to a man.

[QUOTE=Frannie;1262774]Depends how much is in your account, but their ATM in Sosua allows 10, 000 peso withdrawals. If this is less than the daily maximum from your home bank, you can make more than one withdrawal, but you will pay another 112 pesos ATM fee.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the info.

[QUOTE=Nixonbd;1262953]I used to fly Spirit, but never again. It is about as "no frills" as you can get. At least AA throws you a bone every now and then. Last but not least, if for some reason you miss your flight or it gets cancelled, other options are few and far between, unless you want to pay a one-way fare back to the states. Since they have so few flights, odds of going standby are non-existent.[/QUOTE]My mother took Spirit to Vegas and they charge for overhead storage for your carry-on. If you put it under the seat it's free.

I'm a Continental (United man) , if I'm not getting mileage or points I'm not flying. I've been gold for 3 years straight now (last year almost made platinum) , always get first class upgrades in over 50 RT flights.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1262999]Talking about uncomfortable seating. Now Avianca has uncomfortable seating. They use European style hard ass Recaros and the head rest sticks out way too far and gives me chicken neck. I always have to take it off and put it under my seat. And as far a shoulders go it is way better sitting in the middle between two women than sitting on the end next to a man.[/QUOTE]I would agree with you in regards to their in country Colombian flights but these are usually an hour or less. The JFK-BOG flights are flown with brand new Airbus a330's and are very comfortable in my opinion.

[QUOTE=Cagep1967;1263253]My mother took Spirit to Vegas and they charge for overhead storage for your carry-on. If you put it under the seat it's free.[/QUOTE]I don't know when she flew, but their policy now is that you pay $30 for a carry-on bag if it is above a certain size, but you are also allowed an additional small item that is small enough to go under the seat for free, for example a woman's handbag, or a small canvas tool bag that I use to carry passports, money, personal electronics, phones, Kindle, camera, etc. So for $30 you can take both. I have not heard of charging for overhead space per se and if I wanted I could also place my smaller bag overhead. Of course things are always changing.

[QUOTE=Manizales911;1263495]I would agree with you in regards to their in country Colombian flights but these are usually an hour or less. The JFK-BOG flights are flown with brand new Airbus a330's and are very comfortable in my opinion.[/QUOTE]Everything in the planes is custom ordered to how the customer wants them. With Avianca I'm usually on the A320 from Miami which is the one I find uncomfortable. When I'm on the B767 from Lima to Bogota or the MDs within Colombia it is just fine though because they have a different type of seat.

FYI, I've come across several banks that do not charge the 112 peso surcharge to take out money. Banco La Nacional, Banco Cibao there are several others, they seem like them might be like credit unions. I was able to take out 20k from each with no surcharge. Banco Cibao paid out in 500 peso notes.

When I get the names of the other ones I will post.

[QUOTE=Cagep1967; 1264718]FYI, I've come across several banks that do not charge the 112 peso surcharge to take out money. Banco La Nacional, Banco Cibao there are several others, they seem like them might be like credit unions. I was able to take out 20k from each with no surcharge. Banco Cibao paid out in 500 peso notes.

When I get the names of the other ones I will post.[/QUOTE]Good to know. I do not believe any of these are in Sosua

Headed down in May and can save about $300US by getting an apartment without A / C. Will staying in Sosua, for a month and a half, be doable without a / see?

So that would be all of May and half of June.

I have been in Brazil, during November and December, which would correspond with May and June in the DR, and survived with no A / C. In fact, I have not used an A / C in Brazil in over 5 years, so I am acclimated to warm spots.

SS

You can cut a good deal and get Air for about 350 a month. Give some details I am sure something could be worked out.

[QUOTE=Sunset Strip; 1266816]Headed down in May and can save about $300US by getting an apartment without A / C. Will staying in Sosua, for a month and a half, be doable without a / see?

So that would be all of May and half of June.

I have been in Brazil, during November and December, which would correspond with May and June in the DR, and survived with no A / C. In fact, I have not used an A / C in Brazil in over 5 years, so I am acclimated to warm spots.

SS[/QUOTE]

OldKool,

I have a hotel in Sosua for $800 with a /C wifi, etc.

But I was thinking of saving a few hundred, so I can take a few more trips to Santo Domingo, etc, in case I get tired of Sosua.

The apartment is in TradeWinds Condos and is real nice. Small, but it has a terrace.

It rents for $440 / month, but they state there is no a / C.

I have seen some apartments in The Palms that state 500-600, no a / C can be cut on at a fee. A $350 fee would make the apartment about as expensive as getting a hotel room.

I am not complaining, just trying to figure out how to save a bit more so I can travel around if need be. Can't complain, I mean where else can you get all of this for $800 / month tops!

SS

Anyone ever use golden key mangement to book a villa? Just want to know if they are trustworthy and reputable. Thanks