Free Spirit Airlines

[kalboy]

Flying Between Melbourne and Burnie Tasmania (a REX route).

Has anyone flown with these new guys on the block, my wife stumbled upon them in a Tassie newspaper, introductory price of $70 odd bucks across the strait.
Can't see REX being very impressed. Also using the name " Spirit " may be a problem for them.
They seem to be operating a Raytheon Beechcraft 1900 similar i believe to a Metroliner.
Anyway my wifey is very keen to try them out, so booking for the end of this month, added bonus of not having to pay for airport parking in LST and similar price to VA or JQ. About a third of the price out of DPO on QF.. Im not sure but there fare seems to be the equivalent of a Flexi ??

 

[Revolio]

Flying Between Melbourne and Burnie Tasmania (a REX route).

Has anyone flown with these new guys on the block, my wife stumbled upon them in a Tassie newspaper, introductory price of $70 odd bucks across the strait.
Can't see REX being very impressed. Also using the name " Spirit " may be a problem for them.
They seem to be operating a Raytheon Beechcraft 1900 similar i believe to a Metroliner.
Anyway my wifey is very keen to try them out, so booking for the end of this month, added bonus of not having to pay for airport parking in LST and similar price to VA or JQ. About a third of the price out of DPO on QF.. Im not sure but there fare seems to be the equivalent of a Flexi ??

They are just about to start Merimbula to Essendon (sometime in June) in competition with Rex. Rex are pathetic; won't take much to give them a serious challenge.

 

[kalboy]

We didn't end up booking unfortunately. As it turned out that LST to Western Australia is considerably cheaper than MEL to the West on QF. Go figure.?

 

[jackthomas]

I've also been looking into FSA as Merimbula was a favourite holiday destination growing up ( in fact I took my very first steps there) but I refuse to book REX fares, will be good to see some competition on these routes.

 

[robd]

I've also been looking into FSA as Merimbula was a favourite holiday destination growing up ( in fact I took my very first steps there) but I refuse to book REX fares, will be good to see some competition on these routes.

FSA currently has a sale MEL-Merimbula, although it appears the flights are loaded yet.

Free Spirit Airlines

 

[Virgin Bart]

I may bite. We shall see once loaded.

 

[jackthomas]

FYI: Just spotted this... 'Poached' crew delays Merimbula's new airline | Merimbula News Weekly

 

[Revolio]

I've also been looking into FSA as Merimbula was a favourite holiday destination growing up ( in fact I took my very first steps there) but I refuse to book REX fares, will be good to see some competition on these routes.

looks like you might have to wait another month Jack. They are reported in the Merimbula News as having their staff poached and they are back a month (to July 1.) I've booked a couple of flights MER-MEL in Sept ,Oct at their introductory $ 99 price ($159reverse direction)...... hopefully they won't go broke before then.

 

[Revolio]

FYI: Just spotted this... 'Poached' crew delays Merimbula's new airline | Merimbula News Weekly

whoops...just noticed

 

[Virgin Bart]

Maybe it's too late... http://www.freespiritairlines.com.au/

 

[Revolio]

Maybe it's too late... http://www.freespiritairlines.com.au/

done a runner with my $198!

 

[Virgin Bart]

Still offline.. That's a little concerning..

 

[Revolio]

Still offline.. That's a little concerning..

upgraded site re-opened this arvo. taking bookings from july 6.

 

[Virgin Bart]

upgraded site re-opened this arvo. taking bookings from july 6.

Really? Still getting error message here.

 

[robd]

I had to use chrome to get to it, even though I cleared the cache in Safari from last lookup.

 

[Revolio]

All fine with IE 11 on this Windows Tablet. Site in the same place; still looks the same except they've removed the $99 specials, expanded their map a little and colour coded the seat availability legend on the home page. Still looks tons better than the coughbersome Rex rubbish.

 

[Virgin Bart]

All fine with IE 11 on this Windows Tablet. Site in the same place; still looks the same except they've removed the $99 specials, expanded their map a little and colour coded the seat availability legend on the home page. Still looks tons better than the coughbersome Rex rubbish.

Cleared cache and now it opens to home page. Problem is I can't get it to give any seats to Merimbula.

Revolio, I respectfully strongly disagree. Give me the ZL website any day!

 

[Revolio]

Cleared cache and now it opens to home page. Problem is I can't get it to give any seats to Merimbula.

Revolio, I respectfully strongly disagree. Give me the ZL website any day!

VB:are you selecting before July 6? I just put in a Mel-Mer July 6, and it came up fine 1000-1115 for $159.(and they don't fly every day)

 

[Virgin Bart]

No! I'm selecting dates in August. Very strange.

 

[eastwest101]

Revolio, I respectfully strongly disagree. Give me the ZL website any day!

The Rex website has not changed in quite a few years, its also one of the most reliable and stable airline web sites with information all there (not hidden away). Its asthetically ugly as buggery, has not changed in years, and always works when I need it to. Co-incidence?