Spirit left me stranded and essentially stole $220.
 

I was stranded in Vegas when the pilots went on strike. My flight there had me a little nervous because of the confusion with seating (several passengers had the same confirmed seat #). Spirit refuses to reimburse me for the return flight (total round trip ticket was $440 so $220 should have been reimbursed. I didn't even try to ask for the $530 one way red-eye I had to buy last minute to get home with United! I was told by the attendant from Spirit when I got back to my home airport in Orlando that a voucher would be sent to me, but after several unanswered emails and phone calls they finally told me in an email I was out of luck and they were not going to pay me back for the return flight I never took, BUT PAID FOR!!! After watching the news for several days after my unfortunate situation I felt a little better because many others lost thousands of dollars trying to get flights back home.

The PILOTS dropped the ball on this one, I think you should try to recoup your money from the thieves that are ALPA. They are the ones who selfishly went on strike and screwed the rest of their company and passengers in the process.

Spirit are in the same category as the likes of Delta and Ryanair and have nothing but contempt for their customers. They are an airline to be avoided even when there is not a strike. The management are abrasive and aggressive towards their customers, so who knows what they were like to their staff.

Regardless of whether the strike had merit or not, in Europe you would be fully entitled to a refund for the sector not flown. I am not sure what the US law is in relation to this, but it is no doubt heavily in favour of the airlines. It seems odd to me that a company can charge for a service that they failed to deliver, regardless of the reason.

However, I gather Spirit is offering all passengers who had a flight cancelled 20,000 miles which, they claim, is enough for a round trip via a form which you complete online at their website. (Although no doubt there will be a load of dodgy T&C's and fees). At best, just claim you miles, use them one more time and then never fly them again. That is your only realistic option.

thanks justme
 

I'll give their website another try and follow your advice on redeeming unclaimed miles. If it works I will still be very hesitant to fly with them again.

Oops, I should have titled this thread "thanks jimworks"

I'm not sure it's legal for any airline to keep money for a cancelled flight. Due to "force majeur" (strike) they may not have to accommodate you on another airline, but, I believe, they do have to refund your unused transportation. You can sue in small claims court for the refund, plus court costs, plus the cost of your United Airlines transportation. Spirit will fail to send a representative, of course, and you'll win by default.

BIG FAT Agree !!
 

Go Civil, that way you can sue for P & S and contact your local/national media. They are more powerful than any court it seems.