Spirit Airlines has ceased operations and all existing flights have been cancelled. In this post we will look at what you should do if you had flights booked with Spirit Airlines including what other airlines are offering in terms of rescue fares and if you should file a chargeback.
Contents
Rescue Fares
Most airlines are offering rescue fares if you had bookings with Spirit, although often these can be booked even if you didn’t have flights with Spirt.
- Allegiant. 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 steady on routes they competed with Spirit on.
- American Airlines. Reduced fares on routes that Spirit Airlines served, looking at adding additional capacity on those routes.
- Avelo Airlines. 75% off base fares with promo code TRYAVELO on select markets that Spirit served. Purchased by 5/31/26 for travel until 11/17/26. Blackout dates apply. Free status match to Avelo Plus.
- Avianca. Free airfare if you’ve already flown the outbound route on travel 5/2 – 5/16.
- Breeze Airways. Included in the original DOT statement but haven’t provided any detail on what they are actually doing to help.
- Delta Airlines. Reduced fares.
- Frontier. 50% off base fares with promo code SAVENOW, valid on travel through November 19.
- jetBlue Airways. $99 rescue fares (on travel through 5/6), capped fares and FLL will add 11 new cities to help backfill. Must call for the rescue fares on 1-800-JETBLUE
- Southwest Airlines. Rescue fares available through 5/6. Must book at airport.
- 1-500 miles: $200
- 501-1,000 miles: $300
- 1,000+ miles: $400
- United Airlines. Rescue fares until 5/16. Capped at $199 for non-stop fares and $299 for longer flights with connections.
Flights/Chargebacks
If you have an existing flight booked with Spirit they are saying they will automatically provide a refund if you booked directly with a credit or debit card. You can also file a chargeback with your card issuer directly and they will provide a refund. If you booked through a third party such as a travel agent then you need to contact them directly to get a refund issued.
If you booked via points, voucher or credit then these are all considered unsecured debt and what happens will depend on the bankruptcy court but in reality you won’t get anything. Any cash portion (e.g taxes and fees) would be refundable though and Spirit should automatically refund these fees or file a chargeback as above.
Spirit Points
At this stage Spirit points are worthless. The terms state:
What happens to my Free Spirit points/miles balance? Is there a deadline to use my Free Spirit points before they’re gone?
Given Spirit Airlines’ immediate wind-down of operations, Free Spirit points are no longer redeemable, and there are no flights 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 meaning that if the company liquidates the points will be forfeit (most likely scenario).
Credit Cards
- BILT has removed 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 incidental credit. I suspect American Express will allow you to repick your airline if you had chosen Spirit but this isn’t 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’re an existing cardholder you’re still responsible for paying your balance and the card will continue to work for purchases. Bank of America will most likely convert you to another Bank of America credit card product.
As you’re no longer able to use the benefits from the card, Bank of America should offer a prorated annual fee refund at minimum. Hopefully Bank of America is proactive in offering these refunds and offers a full annual fee refund to cardholders.
Spirit Airlines Debit Card
This debit card is issued by Cross River Bank, they have put a F.A.Q up that states the funds are safe but you’ll no longer earn points. If you have this card I’d recommend spending down the balance and cancelling it.
Our Verdict
This post and the comments are strictly for helping people that are affected by this shut down. I’d like to remind others that having travel cancelled or uncertainty around financial products being closed can be extremely stressful and this post and the comments are here to try to relieve some of this stress.
Please do not make general or political comments about the shut down itself, they will be removed. Again this is extremely stressful for some people and nobody wants to hear your shitty quips about how Spirit was a bad airline to fly with.
I’m sure there is a lot that I’ve missed, so if you have something helpful to add then please do so in the comments below. We are just focusing on the consumer side of things but most airlines listed above are also providing relief for Spirit staff that are affected.
