JetBlue’s surprise $3.6 billion cash bid for Spirit is threatening the latter’s plan to merge with Frontier into a discount airline behemoth. It’s also threatening one of comedians’ favorite sources of material.
“It’s kind of a bummer for me. If there’s no Spirit anymore who are we going to make fun of?” Jimmy Kimmel quipped Wednesday in his “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” monologue. “Look out, Allegiant. You’re on deck.”
New York-based JetBlue wants to absorb Florida-headquartered Spirit and change Spirit’s bright-yellow planes, which feature seats that don’t recline, to match JetBlue’s jets, which offer roomier seating, seatback screens and free snacks.
Spirit’s rock-bottom airfare and fees for everything including seat selection and carry-on bags have provided comedians with years of fodder and become a go-to reference for the indignities of air travel. Major airlines have taken a cue from discounters with basic economy fares, which don’t include advance seat selection and force passengers to board last.
