Spirit Airlines Shutdown
Spirit Airlines is no more. The low-cost carrier officially ceased all operations on Saturday, cancelling all flights and telling passengers not to go to the airport. Spirit was in its second round of bankruptcy in less than two years, and after a $500 billion rescue package from the federal government fell apart, the airline's collapse was only a matter of time.
The shut down has left travelers who were planning to fly Spirit on the ropes, with some travelers who boarded a Spirit plane this week potentially stuck in a destination with no way home. Other U.S. airlines including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines are stepping to help passengers book new flights. Here's everything you need to know.
Capped Ticket Prices For Rebooked Flights
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United are capping ticket prices for Spirit passengers looking to rebook their cancelled flights for a limited time. To get the special rates, you'll need to provide a Spirit flight confirmation number and proof of payment.
These capped fares are only available for a select time period, which varies by airline:
JetBlue: Available through Wednesday, May 6.
Southwest: Available through Wednesday, May 6, but only in person at an airport ticket counter
Delta: Available for 5 days
United: Available for two weeks online
Airlines Are Offering Reduced Fares On Spirit Routes
Whether or not you ever flew Spirit, losing Spirit Airlines is a big blow for price-conscious travelers. The airline's low fares forced other carriers to lower their prices on the same routes to compete. And with the price of jet fuel rising, travelers are right to be concerned about the effect losing Spirit will have on flight prices.
But there's some hope if you act fast: Airlines like American, Delta and Southwest are offering reduced—or “rescue”—fares on high-volume Spirit routes for a limited time. Allegiant is temporarily freezing fare prices on routes that overlap with Spirit and Frontier is offering 50% off base fares across its network until May 10.
How To Get A Refund From Spirit Airlines
Spirit is offering travelers refunds for any flights purchased through Spirit with a credit or debit card, according to the airline's website. The refund will be to the original form of payment. Guests who booked flights through a third-party travel agency are being told to contact the their booking agent directly to request a refund.
Spirit says compensation for passengers who booked flights with a voucher, flight credit or Free Spirit Points “determined at a later date through the bankruptcy court process.”
But the DOT is advising travelers explore all their options for getting their money back:
- Travelers who purchased their flight with a credit card should contact their credit card company, as they may be protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act. You can request a “chargeback” for services not rendered.
- If you have travel insurance, whether through your credit card or purchased on your own, contact your provider to see if your policy covers “insolvency” or “service cessation.”
- Or, file a bankruptcy claim. You can file a formal “proof of claim” with the bankruptcy court, but the process can be lengthy and may only result in a partial refund.
Spirit Airlines Shutdown: ToP Thoughts
We all knew it was coming, but Spirit Airlines has officially gone out of business. It's really a loss for us all, as Spirit's cheap fares were good for competition—and it's collapse could spell trouble for other carriers also following the low-cost model. At least the airline is claiming to offer refunds and travelers who booked with Spirit or planned to fly a Spirit-operated route won't be penalized with higher fare for the time being.
