After months of uncertainty, the long-struggling Spirit Airlines has permanently ceased operations. Now the low-cost U.S. carrier will begin liquidating its assets to repay its creditors as much as possible—a process that is expected to take months.
However, its customers have more immediate issues: figuring out what to do now if they had upcoming Spirit flights booked or had other ongoing dealings with the airline. Here’s what they need to know.
What’s happened?
On Saturday, May 2, Spirit Aviation Holdings, Inc., the company that owns Spirit Airlines, announced what it called “an orderly wind-down of operations,” which went into effect immediately.
In other words, the airline is going out of business.
While devastating to the airline’s employees and customers, the news was not wholly unexpected. For years, the low-cost airline struggled financially, especially after a failed merger with competitor JetBlue in 2024. That merger was blocked by a federal judge.
After the merger was denied, Spirit filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and was forced into bankruptcy again less than a year later due to rising debt levels.
For years, the company had struggled to compete against America’s air-travel giants like Southwest Airlines, which often offered similar low-cost fares and had wider route coverage.
But the final nail in Spirit’s coffin was sparked not by business but geopolitics.
Announcing its cessation of operations, Spirit blamed the recent surge in airline fuel prices resulting from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran as the primary driver behind its decision.
In the airline’s announcement, Spirit CEO Dave Davis said that the company had reached a restructuring agreement in March. Unfortunately, that agreement was reached around the same time that the Middle East conflict erupted, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important fuel shipping lanes.
As a result of its wind-down, Spirit abruptly canceled all of its remaining flights, leaving customers with bookings wondering what would happen next.
Will Spirit ticket holders get their canceled flights refunded?
If there’s any good news surrounding Spirit’s demise, it’s that most people who have had their Spirit bookings canceled by the airline will receive a full, automatic refund.
If you purchased your canceled Spirit flights with a debit or credit card directly through the airline, Spirit says it will refund the full price you paid to your original payment method.
However, those who booked their canceled Spirit flights through third-party travel providers should request a refund through the travel provider.
Refunds become a bit less certain for those who booked flights using methods such as Free Spirit points, vouchers, or credits. Spirit says refunds of bookings using those methods “will be determined at a later date through the bankruptcy court process.”
Will additional fees be refunded?
If you paid for checked baggage, Wi-Fi, or other add-ons with your flight, Spirit says those fees will also be refunded.
When will I get my Spirit refund?
Spirit Airlines says it has already issued refunds for those who purchased directly through the airline. However, refunds may take some time to show up on your original payment method.
If you purchased your tickets through a third party, you should contact that provider to see how long your refund will take.
What happens to my Free Spirit points?
Unfortunately, anyone with remaining Free Spirit points will find them unusable. This is because Spirit will no longer operate any flights, so the points cannot be redeemed for anything.
Free Spirit points are also not transferable to another airline’s points program.
Will Spirit rebook me on a flight with another airline?
Unfortunately, Spirit is not offering to rebook customers whose flights have been canceled.
That means if you still need to reach your canceled destination, you will need to book a new flight directly with another airline.
However, some airlines are offering concessions to Spirit passengers who have had their flights canceled.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), “America [sic] Airlines, United, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Allegiant, Frontier, Avelo, and Breeze have all agreed to support impacted Spirit passengers in different ways.”
Specifically, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United are capping ticket prices for Spirit passengers who need to rebook on similar routes.
Eligible Spirit customers will need to provide proof of payment and a Spirit confirmation number to receive capped fares, and capped fares will only be available for a short time:
- 72 hours for JetBlue and Southwest
- 5 days for Delta Air Lines
- 14 days for United Airlines
What if I have outstanding lost baggage with Spirit?
If you have any outstanding lost luggage or other items with Spirit Airlines, the defunct operator says you can check their status here.
I have more questions. Who can I contact?
All affected Spirit customers are encouraged to check out the company’s support page for guests. Affected individuals should also check out the U.S. Department of Transportation’s notice about the airline’s collapse.
Spirit says those with questions can contact the airline’s claims agent, Epiq, by phone at (855) 952-6606 or by email at SpiritAirlinesInfo@epiqglobal.com.