As students return from the holiday break, out-of-state students at the University say they faced financial pressures due to travel costs, complications and changing airline protocols.
Spirit Airlines, a notably affordable airline, discontinued all service at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport on Oct. 3, removing direct flights to Fort Lauderdale, Newark and Detroit. Other airlines still offer direct flights to these locations.
In a statement from Spirit Airlines, the airline said the move was an effort to “transform our business and position Spirit for long-term success.”
Stephanie Pedersen, a sophomore majoring in neuroscience and criminology from Solvang, California, said she typically flies with Southwest Airlines due to the airline’s former policy allowing two free checked bags. However, Southwest changed its policy on May 28, charging $35 for the first bag.
“I find it really frustrating that they are taking away these benefits without reducing costs, especially since they are the reason my mom and I chose Southwest when I first decided to go out-of-state,” she said.
Students have said travel costs inhibit their ability to travel home when they would like to.
“I’d love to go home during spring break, but I choose not to because of the insane ticket prices and the short break,” said Danii Mallette, a junior majoring in news media from Maryland. “I don’t think it’s worth it.”
The University has made recent changes to help lower the cost of transportation. It announced a partnership with the SGA and Starr Bus Charters and Tours in July to provide shuttles to and from the Birmingham and Atlanta airports.
Pedersen said she has to find other transportation since her flights often land late into the night after the buses stop running, and that she must factor in the possibility of a delayed flight.
“If I had been relying on the shuttle, I would have been scrambling to find a way to get back to Tuscaloosa when the flight got changed,” she said.
The University’s Transportation Services said it has not received direct feedback from students since introducing the shuttle service, but has seen ridership grow with each break.
“Based on that increased usage, we plan to continue the program and will be meeting with SGA before the end of the term to hear additional student requests and determine how the program can best support their travel needs going forward,” said James Knickrehm, associate director of Transportation Services.
Pedersen said she spends a full day traveling home for Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks.
“Adjusting to the time differences and the general exhaustion of spending days traveling makes it difficult to perform my best academically,” she said.
Flight costs and the lack of direct flights motivate some students to drive home rather than flying. Kathleen Dougherty, a sophomore majoring in nursing from St. Louis, Missouri, drives over 8 hours home because she believes it’s quicker than taking multiple connecting flights.
“The biggest consideration for me is the time it takes, like I can’t go home for a weekend. For the financial pressures, there are tolls on my car and gas money,” she said.
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