JetBlue Spirit Airlines Merger
The travel and airlines world was kind of shook up this week with JetBlue’s out of left field bid for Spirit Airlines. A few months back the news came out of a Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines merger, which makes a lot of sense. At the time I said I wasn’t a fan of that proposed merger because it takes competition off the board. If they have done nothing else, Frontier and Spirit have played a role in bringing down the cost of airfare in the US. They were a big reason that basic economy was rolled out by the big three (Delta, United, American) so there is that though.
It is true, the proposed JetBlue merger, which is a 33% higher offer than Frontier’s bid, would do the same thing, take a competitor off the board. So overall I don’t think it is good for us but I still much prefer this pairing for ME.
It isn’t because the two airlines match up well, they don’t. A Frontier & Spirit Airlines merger makes way more sense. The fact that JetBlue wants to rebrand Spirit to JetBlue and retrofit all of the planes seems like a task destined for failure too. The overlap in routes isn’t as bad as the proposed Frontier merger (11% for JetBlue vs 18% for Frontier) so that is something good I guess.
No, the reason I prefer this merger is because it would mean more JetBlue coverage for me, a Detroit based flyer. Spirit has a very large prescience around here while JetBlue has practically none. That would mean a superior service, and product, would be featured at my local airport. In due time at least.
I have long said I don’t mind Spirit Airlines and shared why I have had good experiences with them. Even showed you a way to save big on their tickets. The problem flying Spirit has always been if (when) things go wrong they don’t have the ability to correct it quickly. Sometimes it could take days to get you where you need to go depending on the routes. Frontier is much the same in terms of service and product. Although I like them less overall compared to Spirit. That comes totally from my personal experience with them. With the Frontier and Spirit merger I would end up with more of the same, but worse.
While I think an Alaska Airlines & JetBlue merger makes a ton more sense than a JetBlue & Spirit merger I still prefer it to a Frontier & Spirit merger. I don’t want more of the same in these parts. Bring me something new, something better, instead. The merger would bring another valuable transfer partner to my airport and a new award currency I can play around with. Because we all know Spirit and Frontier’s award programs are non existent. I have to think others are in this same boat. Even JetBlue loyalists have to like the chance at more routes available to them.
What do you think about the merger? Would you like more JetBlue over more Frontier like me?
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Same here, not much from Jet Blue @ MSP……….I think B6 would add fights ta MSP in addition to the Spirit flights
MCO is my home airport, a B6 focus city. I favor jetBlue-Spirit for the same reason as you, further route coverage. I often play Delta against jetBlue when I need to reach BOS, JFK, LGA or PWM. In fact, I just saved a bundle on MCO-ORH with Delta and only would have thought to use that option to New England because B6 has restored service there after the height of the pandemic.
I’m in so cal. With jetblue pulling out of long beach and spirit moving into orange county a merger would bring a jet blue presence to orange county. I would also welcome that.