Spirit Airline/ Twitter
A TikTok video of a Spirit Airlines flight attendant went viral after she joked about the airline industry skeptically ripping off its customers.
As of reporting, the video, dating back on March 23 at a Dallas-Fort Washington airport, has amassed more than 278,000 views, and the flight attendant’s words struck a chord with passengers and users online when she said the following: “No, we do not have sockets for you to plug up your phones, because if we did, we will charge you.”
@cali.style.trucking gotta love the honesty. this shit is comedy!!! #spirit #spiritairlines #comedy #dfw #dfwairport #lol ♬ original sound – Erick
“No, we do not have blankets for you because if we did, this is Spirit, and we will charge you. No, your seats do not recline. If they did, again, this is Spirit, and we will charge you.”
“And no, we do not have earplugs for you because if we did, y’all know this is Spirit, and we will do what,” asked the flight attendant.
Jokes aside, users found some truth, saying it was refreshing to see a Black flight attendant be so outspoken.
“Gotta love the honesty. This s–t is comedy,” one user said in response to the video’s text.
“She needs a promotion immediately,” said one user on TikTok another.
“Omfg. Spirit employee is the s–t,” reads the video caption.
Airlines “charge for everything” because it allows them to keep their base ticket prices low while generating additional revenue. In recent years, airlines have adopted a strategy of “unbundling,” or separating different components of the travel experience and charging for them separately, Insider reported.
For example, airlines may charge extra for checked baggage, seat selection, in-flight meals and snacks, priority boarding, and more. This allows them to offer a lower base ticket price and appeal to budget-conscious travelers while still making money on the various add-ons.
In addition, airlines have many operating costs, including fuel, maintenance, labor, and more. They can offset some of these expenses by charging for extras and maintaining profitability.
It’s worth noting that not all airlines follow this strategy, and some may include certain services in their base ticket price. However, the unbundling approach has become a standard business method for many low-cost carriers.