Spirit Airlines $9 Fare Club and Spirit Miles, Internet

11th of Nov, 2011 by User522390

I just noticed a $59.95 charge for my membership renewal to the $9 Fare Club. Evidently, when taking advantage of this "offer" to reduce airfare (and under a time constraint because you typically first join when you're making a reservation), part of your enrollment includes annual membership billing on the anniversary date. Of course, you can cancel at any time, but membership fees are not refunded and benefits are immediately cancelled. So, why would I cancel today? I need to watch the calendar and remember in a year's time that I need to cancel this. Never mind that I've only used it one time and have been an inactive "member" ever since. (Also, miles in their mile program expire after THREE MONTHS if you don't use them! What a joke!) Back to the automated billing of the $59.95 annual fee. Do members have a choice when they book that first flight to decline that term? No! You MUST accept the terms and conditions to receive the reduced fare. There is something inherently wrong here from an ethical and moral perspective. Clearly, the intent of Spirit Airlines is for their customers to not read the terms (customers would be distracted by booking the flight and trying to understand the myriad of fees, surcharges and taxes), to forget about the membership and to not cancel. What's the "benefit" for the member? None. In order for a contract to be legal, doesn't there have to be mutual benefit? So, I go to the definition of ripoff: "Exploitation, especially of those who cannot prevent or counter it." I wonder what kind of people are behind such a clearly devious scheme. And they get away with it!

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