[hospitalhusband]

Some folks in front of me had a mifi hotspot light on fire at the airport while in line to board. I saw the smoke and thought they were trying to get one last vape in, and told them it was bold of them. They said they didn't vape, after which I said their backpack was smoking. Gate lady made them throw it in the (blastproof, I guess) trash can. They eventually got to board but had to toss the backpack.

That said they got to keep the contents. They sat across from us where we got to breathe in residual lithium smoke the whole flight, and allegiant still wanted to charge us for water.

[miles]

> allegiant still wanted to charge us for water.

I'd be surprised if they didn't have to charge for water with flights from Memphis to Vegas for $38[0] and Cincinnati to Fort Myers for $44[1].

[0] https://www.allegiantair.com/low-cost-las-vegas-flights

[1] https://www.allegiantair.com/deals

[techsupporter]

The behavior of ultra low cost airlines is often inexcusable, but understandable, and why I don't fly them. Their employees are usually not allowed to make "good reason" exceptions because exceptions are nebulous and passengers may argue why the next time isn't a "good reason" and airlines want that money. It's like a flying cruise ship; the fare gets you a chair and nothing else because the everything else is where the profit comes from.

(This business model is why we are seeing a rise in junk fees and "surcharges". Airlines and cable companies and hotels got away with it for so long with no major pushback that everyone else feels emboldened in light of this economic slowdown.)

[grepfru_it]

I watched someone pretend to fall asleep after getting their bottle of water. Then pretended to be asleep until they landed. They got off the plan with a free bottle of water.

[poo-yie]

Good grief! Sad when someone needs to play games for a bottle of water.

[whitemary]

A good example of the future we have to look forward to

[asdff]

What airline? Most will just bill to the card used to buy the ticket.

[aaomidi]

That’s not really an authorized transaction

[DangitBobby]

Neither is walking off without paying for the water.

[grepfru_it]

Spirit. It was the first and only time I flew with them. I’m too old for that nonsense

[hospitalhusband]

The lithium smoke was free.