Coming and Going

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ODDITIES

Spirit-ed Debate

Passengers on some Spirit Airlines flights have told CoGo that they've been ordered to remain seated for the first hour after departing Reagan National Airport and the last hour before landing there. We first heard about it from participants in the Travel section's weekly online chat, and recently a CoGo reader said it happened on both legs of her round trip last month to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"It was an error," probably made by a crew member who was referring to an old training manual, Spirit Airlines spokeswoman Misty Pinson told CoGo. The crew member probably was referring (with liberties) to a now-defunct rule of the Transportation Security Administration that went into effect after Sept. 11, 2001. It required passengers to stay seated for the 30-minute period when the plane was nearest to Washington. The TSA lifted the rule in July 2005.

Following CoGo's inquiry, Spirit reminded crews via e-mail and during pre-flight briefings that the policy is outdated, Pinson said. "It's been addressed to the crews, and it's not going to happen again," she said.

If it does, there's not much you can do in flight, besides politely reminding a flight attendant that the rule is kaput. When you get home, inform the airline through its Web site ( http://www.spiritair.com), Pinson suggested. You may also want to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Aviation Consumer Protection Division (202-366-2220, http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov).

BARGAIN OF THE WEEK

Bavaria Bound?

United is holding a Summer in Europe Calendar Sale to Amsterdam, London, Munich, Paris, Rome, Zurich and Frankfurt, Germany. Sale fares are limited to specific travel dates, depending on destination, and prices vary. For example, a round-trip nonstop ticket from Washington to Munich starts at $856, including taxes; fare on other airlines starts at $1,161. Purchase by June 11. A five-night minimum stay is required. To view applicable travel dates and to book, go to http://www.united.com.

Reporting: Elissa Leibowitz Poma, Cindy Loose.

Help feed CoGo. Send travel news, road reports and juicy tattles to: cogo@washpost.com. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.