@tsarstepan,
There is usually some level of truth which underlies the joke - that is what makes a good joke - in a sense - good. Because you understand and experienced the situation.
How many times have you called - and been told just that --- it seems that the "theys" are not really there thus the spirit part of the joke.
Funny when I first looked at the initial post - I could not view the picture (pulled it up on my phone as I suspected the pix was where the true story was) --- any way my first thought was you were calling spirit airlines --- and got just such a message and was frustrated --- So to me with the pandemic and people re-booking flights and so forth really does fit where roger is going with this.
I fully appreciate what Roger is saying because trying to reach help with any business - when there is an issue/long wait on the phone/package not arriving when it is supposed, etc. Yep the excuse currently is always "covid-related."