Spirit Airlines has ceased operations and all existing flights were cancelled. In this post we’ll look at what to do if you’ve had flights booked with Spirit Airlines, including what other airlines offer in terms of bailout fees and whether you need to do a chargeback.
Salvage prices
Most airlines offer saver fares if you’ve had reservations with Spirit, although these can often be booked even if you haven’t flown with Spirit.
- They claim. 50% back in points when you use promo code ALLWAYSTHERE. Good on flights booked through 5/12/26 and travel 5/2 – 7/20 and select routes. Prices will also remain stable on routes where they compete with Spirit.
- American Airlines. Reducing fares on routes served by Spirit Airlines, requiring the addition of additional capacity on those routes.
- Avelo Airlines. 75% off base fares with promo code TRYAVELO in select markets served by Spirit. Purchased from 31.5.26 for travel until 17.11.26. Blackout dates apply. Free status matching with Avelo Plus.
- Aviation. Free airfare if you have already flown the outbound route on the 5/2 – 5/16 trip.
- Breeze Airways. Included in the DOT’s original statement, but they haven’t given any details on what they’re actually doing to help.
- Delta Airlines. Reduced fees.
- border. 50% off base fares with promo code SAVENOW, valid for travel until November 19.
- jetBlue Airways. $99 lifeline fares (traveling through 5/6), cap fares, and FLL will add 11 new cities to help fill it out. You must call for rescue rates at 1-800-JETBLUE
- Southwest Airlines. Salvage fees are available through 5/6. You must book at the airport.
- 1-500 miles: $200
- 501-1000 miles: $300
- 1,000+ miles: $400
- United Airlines. Salvage fees until 5/16. It’s capped at $199 for nonstop fares and $299 for longer connecting flights.
Flights/Fare Union
If you have an existing flight booked with Spirit, they say they’ll automatically offer a refund if you booked directly with a credit or debit card. You can also file a chargeback directly with your card issuer and they will issue a refund. If you booked through a third party, such as a travel agent, then you should contact them directly to get a refund.
If you booked with points, coupons or credit, then these are all considered unsecured debt and what happens will be up to the bankruptcy court, but in reality you will get nothing. However, any portion of cash (eg taxes and fees) will be refundable and Spirit must automatically refund such fees or submit a refund as above.
Spiritual points
At this stage, spirit points are worthless. The terms say:
What happens to my Free Spirit points/miles balance? Is there a time limit to use my Free Spirit points before they expire?
Due to the immediate cessation of Spirit Airlines operations, Free Spirit Points are no longer redeemable and no flights are available for purchase. Plans for the loyalty program will be determined at a later date through the bankruptcy process.
Loyalty points are considered unsecured debt which means that if the company liquidates the points will be confiscated (the most likely scenario).
Credit Cards
- BILT has dropped Spirit Airlines as a transfer partner. Unclear if they will offer any relief for recent transfers.
- American Express is still allowing you to select Spirit as your choice for casual credit. I suspect American Express will let you reselect your airline if you chose Spirit, but that’s not currently an option.
Bank of America Spirit Airlines Credit Card
Bank of America is the issuer of the Spirit Airlines credit card, they have already pulled the application page. If you are an existing cardholder, you are still responsible for paying the balance and the card will still work for purchases. Bank of America will most likely convert you to another Bank of America credit card product.
Since you are no longer able to use the benefits of the card, Bank of America must offer at least a prorated refund of the annual fee. We hope that Bank of America will be proactive in providing these refunds and provide a full annual fee refund to cardholders.
Spirit Airlines Debit Card
This debit card is issued by Cross River Bank, they have placed a Page up which means the funds are safe, but you won’t earn any more points. If you have this card, I would recommend spending down the balance and canceling it.
Our verdict
This post and comments are strictly to help people affected by this shutdown. I would like to remind others that travel cancellations or uncertainty about closing financial products can be extremely stressful and this post and comments are here to try to alleviate some of that stress.
Please do not make general or political comments about the shutdown itself, they will be removed. Again this is extremely stressful for some people and no one wants to hear your dirty rants about how Spirit was a bad airline to fly.
I’m sure there are many I’ve missed, so if you have anything useful to add, then please do so in the comments below. We’re only focusing on the consumer side of things, but most of the airlines listed above are also providing relief to Spirit staff who have been affected.
