cancel trip spirit airlines

We are an independent publisher. Our reporters create honest, accurate, and objective content to help you make decisions. To support our work, we are paid for providing advertising services. Many, but not all, of the offers and clickable hyperlinks (such as a “Next” button) that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact what ads and links appear on our site, and how, where, and in what order ads and links appear. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, our site does not include information about every product or service that may be available to you. We strive to keep our information accurate and up-to-date, but some information may not be current. So, your actual offer terms from an advertiser may be different than the offer terms on this site. And the advertised offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions of the advertiser. All information is presented without any warranty or guarantee to you.

This page may include: credit card ads that we may be paid for (“advertiser listing”); and general information about credit card products (“editorial content”). Many, but not all, of the offers and clickable hyperlinks (such as a “Apply Now” button or “Learn More” button) that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. When you click on that hyperlink or button, you may be directed to the credit card issuer’s website where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer. Each advertiser is responsible for the accuracy and availability of its ad offer details, but we attempt to verify those offer details. We have partnerships with advertisers such as Brex, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo and Discover. We also include editorial content to educate consumers about financial products and services. Some of that content may also contain ads, including links to advertisers’ sites, and we may be paid on those ads or links.

For more information, please see How we make money .

How to change or cancel a Spirit Airlines flight

Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money .

Booking flights during COVID can be tricky. Many travelers are on the fence about whether or not to take that trip and are paying extra attention to the various airlines’ cancellation policies.

Budget airlines, like Spirit Airlines, often have a bad reputation of nickel and dining their customers on things like checked bags and change fees. Canceling or modifying a flight can be a trying experience, which is why it is helpful to have a good understanding of how to cancel a flight on Spirit Airlines before you make your reservation. This way, you will be fully prepared if your plans suddenly change. 

Spirit Airlines COVID cancellation policies

In response to COVID, if you need to cancel your flight , Spirit Airlines is offering a credit equal to the full purchase price of your ticket for flights booked before February 28, 2021. They are also waiving change and cancellation fees. These changes can be made up to an hour before your flight is scheduled to depart, which should give confidence to those who are concerned that they might need to cancel at the last minute. Rest assured, if you do, you’ll still be able to apply the full value of your ticket to future travel on Spirit Airlines. 

Spirit Airlines 24-hour cancellation policy

Spirit Airlines’ standard cancellation policy is similar to many other airlines that you may already be familiar with. Regardless of the fare ticket type you’ve purchased, you have 24 hours to cancel a flight on Spirit Airlines without incurring any cancellation fees. During this window, Spirit will refund the full purchase of your fare as long as the flight that you purchased is more than seven days out from the departure date.

Spirit change policies by ticket type

Let’s say you’ve booked a flight to Tucson to see your aunt, but she’s suddenly unable to host you. Luckily, your friend in San Francisco has the weekend free, all you need to do is update your itinerary. If you are outside of the 24-hour window and wish to modify your ticket, Spirit Airlines has different change policies depending on the ticket type that you purchased.

Standard ticket

Much like the cancellation policy, if you’d like to make a change to your existing reservation you will need to pay the fee that ranges from $90 to $100 (depending on how and where you make these changes). You’ll also be responsible for paying the difference if your new fare is more expensive than the original one. 

Flight flex

The “flight flex” ticket is kind of flexible, but does not allow you to make unlimited changes, so that is important to point out. Adding flight flex to your ticket allows you to make one change to your itinerary without any fees. The nice thing about this option is that you can make changes up to 24 hours before your departure. If you want a little extra protection and flexibility, this might be a good option to consider. 

Award ticket

It costs a flat $110 to change a ticket that was booked with award miles if you’re outside of the 24-hour booking window. You will also need to pay any difference in fare. 

Spirit cancellation policies by ticket type

In the event that you need to cancel a flight, here is the breakdown of how that works and the associated fees for each class of ticket that Spirit offers. 

If looking to cancel a standard fare and you purchased the ticket more than 24 hour hours ago you’ll need to pay a cancellation fee. When you cancel a flight online through the Spirit Airlines website, the fee is $90. If you call customer support or go to the airport service counter to cancel your flight, the fee is $100. After the cancellation fee is deducted from the fare that you paid, the remainder of the balance will be issued as a credit that you can use toward future travel on Spirit. This credit must be used by the person who booked the ticket and can not be transferred to someone else. 

Although you can modify a flight flex ticket, cancellations still fall under the same category as Standard tickets. You can cancel a flight, pay a fee, and use the remainder of your fare towards future travel. 

For tickets that you have booked with your Spirit awards miles, the cancellation fee is $110 (unless you cancel within the first 24 hours of booking your reservation). Once you cancel your flight and pay the associated fee, the miles will be deposited back into your account so that you can use them when booking a future flight. You’ll need to call Spirit’s customer service line to cancel a flight that was booked with award miles, this can’t be done online. 

How to change or cancel your Spirit Airlines flight

Changing or canceling a flight on Spirit Airlines is really straightforward and can be done online at any time. In order to change or cancel a flight , follow these steps: 

Go to “ My Trips ” on the homepage of the Spirit Airlines website and enter your last name and flight confirmation code. Once you enter this information, you should see your flight details. 

On your flight summary page, select the flight that you want to modify and proceed through the prompts to change or cancel your reservation. Depending on when you are modifying your reservation, you will have the option to receive a refund or a credit towards a future travel reservation. 

Once you make these changes, you will see a final page that shows you the total amount of money that you will be credited or refunded and any fees that have been deducted from this amount. 

If you are unable to access your trips online or feel more comfortable speaking with someone, you can call Spirit Airlines’ customer service directly at 855-728-3555. You can also cancel or change a flight when you are at the airport by speaking with a Spirit Airlines Guest Services Agent. 

Bottom line

At a time when plans can change quickly, it’s important to understand your airline’s cancellation policy. Spirit Airlines is attempting to address their customer’s concerns about flexible travel by offering a straightforward process to change or cancel a flight in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But once this COVID response policy expires, it’s back to normal with Spirit’s relatively strict cancellation and change policy. 

Contributor

Erin Lizzo is a contributor for Million Mile Secrets where she covers points, miles, credit cards, airlines, hotels and general travel. Her work has also appeared in the Matador Network.

More Topics

Join the Discussion!

Comments are closed.

You May Also Like

BonusTracker: Best credit card bonus offers

June 14, 2021 4

Best Hilton credit cards: Improved weekend night certificates, earning rates and more

June 12, 2021 2

Our Favorite Partner Cards

Popular posts.

• Spirit Airlines Support

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

1. What if my date of travel has already passed or is coming up within the next 1-2 days?

• Don't worry. We will honor the request regardless if your travel date recently passed or is coming up and impacted by COVID-19.

2. How long will it take before I hear back on my submitted form?

• We try to process all forms as quickly as possible, however, you should receive your details within 7 days.

3. I submitted a form but not sure where I am at in the process.

• We understand your concern. Each form submitted is processed in the order received. There may be a slight delay due to increased volumes, however, we expect you should receive notification within 7 days.

4. Do I need to submit one form for each person on my reservation?

• No. The Reservation Credit applies to the value of the entire reservation regardless of the number of passengers.

5. When I submitted the form, I did not receive a confirmation email. Should I submit the request again?

• Confirmation of submission should be received via email. Check your spam/junk folders. If you still have not received a confirmation email, then you can submit a new request. Make sure Spirit.com is saved in your email contacts.

6. I would like a refund due to COVID-19 coronavirus.

• We are not issuing refunds at this time, however, we are providing full value of your reservation in the form of a Reservation Credit good for 6 months.

7. What if my doctor will not authorize me to travel based on COVID-19?

• Please click here to submit your medical documentation for review.

8. My travel is being impacted by an event that is now canceled.

• We understand that many events are being canceled or rescheduled at this time, so we are offering flexible travel options through a Reservation Credit. Click here to process your request for cancellation and credit for your flight.

9. Travel is being impacted by my child's school/university being canceled.

• We understand that many educational institutions are closing for an extended period of time, so we are offering flexible travel options through a Reservation Credit. Click here to process your request for cancellation and credit for your flight.

10. I don't know when I can travel again.

• We understand the uncertainty right now, so we are offering flexible travel options through a Reservation Credit which can be redeemed in the next 6 months for any future flights available in the system at the time of booking.

11. Can I change where I am traveling to/from?

• Absolutely! We are waiving all modification fees and only charging the difference in the fare. Please click here to request a Reservation Credit. Once received, you can follow the redemption process online and book your new flight.

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

How to Get a Spirit Airlines Refund

Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020. She previously wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.

Outside of work, she loves fitness, and she competes in both powerlifting and weightlifting (she can deadlift more than triple bodyweight). Naturally, her travels always involve a fitness component, including a week of cycling up the coastline of Vietnam and a camping trip to the Arctic Circle, where she biked over the sea ice. Other adventures have included hiking 25 miles in one day through Italy's Cinque Terre and climbing the 1,260 steps to Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi, Thailand.

She lives in San Francisco.

Megan Lee joined the travel rewards team at NerdWallet with over 12 years of SEO, writing and content development experience, primarily in international education and nonprofit work. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for websites like GoAbroad and Go Overseas. When not traveling, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

It’s no secret that Spirit Airlines has a tendency to add extra fees to your airfare. Even the in-flight Diet Coke will cost you $4, and you’ll owe $25 if you ask the airport agent to print your boarding pass.

Spirit beat out only one other airline, Frontier, in the fees category of NerdWallet’s annual Best Of’s awards for 2023 , meaning Spirit's rating on fees was second-to-worst of the nine airlines considered. Spirit walked away from those awards with a sad 1.2 stars out of 5 in the fees category.

The good news is that not every Spirit Airlines flight cancellation will incur a refund fee. If you cancel your flight early enough, you might be able to get a full refund to your original form of payment, without any added fees.

» Learn more: The guide to Spirit Airlines fees

Does Spirit give refunds?

Your ability to get a refund with Spirit hinges on a couple of factors:

How quickly after purchase you choose to cancel your flight.

Whether it's you or Spirit that's choosing to cancel the flight.

If you decide to cancel your Spirit flight within 24 hours of booking

According to the Spirit Airlines refund policy, all Spirit tickets can be canceled for a full refund to the original form of payment if your ticket was purchased within 24 hours of the cancelation request and the flight’s departure is seven or more days away.

For other Spirit flights

If you decide to cancel after the 24-hour window, you are generally no longer eligible to get money back to your original payment method.

However, you might be able to get a reservation credit to use toward future flights. Spirit used to charge fees to cancel or change flights, but now, you can cancel or change your flight up to one hour before scheduled departure and still receive a reservation credit valid for one year.

What happens if Spirit cancels your flight?

If Spirit cancels your flight, you can ask them to rebook you on a different flight. If the rescheduling options don't work for you and you prefer to book a new flight on a different airline or get a rental car or cancel the trip entirely, it doesn’t matter what type of airfare you bought; you’re entitled to a full refund if you decide not to travel with Spirit.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, travelers are entitled to a full refund if the airline calls off your flight, regardless of the reason, and you choose not to travel. The airline is required to make refunds within seven business days for purchases by credit card, or within 20 days if paid by cash or check.

» Learn more: Avoid airline cancellations: how to book better

How to change or cancel your Spirit reservation

Often, the easiest way to contact Spirit to change or cancel your flight is by visiting the My Trips page on Spirit’s website and following the steps on the screen. Have your name and confirmation number ready.

Other methods for getting in touch include:

Chatting online with a customer service rep.

Calling Spirit at 855-728-3555.

Texting spirit at 48763 or by using 855-728-3555 on WhatsApp.

Direct messaging Spirit on social media.

Speaking to a Spirit customer service employee at the airport.

Spirit Reservation Credits

Once you’ve cancelled your flight, you’ll receive Spirit Reservation Credits. These can be used to pay for future airfares or other fees like those you're charged for bags, seat selection and taxes. You must make your purchase on Spirit.com or by calling Spirit Reservations at 855-728-3555; you cannot use the credits for bookings through Spirit’s app.

There are some annoying aspects to Spirit Reservation Credits. They’re nontransferable, meaning you can’t use them to book a flight for someone else. And they have expiration dates one year out from issuance.

If you cancel your Spirit reservation and are issued credits, check the cancellation email you receive from Spirit for the expiration date and terms of your Spirit Reservation Credits.

To make a new booking with Spirit Reservation Credits, have on hand your reservation credit number, which is a 6-character alphanumeric code that can be found in your trip cancellation email.

Book a new flight as you usually would, but on the payment page, select “Redeem a Voucher or Credit.” You’ll see a few payment options, such as credit card or voucher. Scroll down to the line that says “Reservation Credit” and input your 6-character confirmation code in the box.

If your new flight is more expensive than the value of your voucher, you can pay the difference with another payment method, such as PayPal or credit card.

Steps to getting a refund from Spirit

Even if your Spirit flight is refundable, Spirit doesn’t make it easy to get that money back.

Unlike other airlines that provide easy-to-find refund request forms on their site, Spirit’s process can be a bit less intuitive. Spirit recommends you apply for a refund by doing one of the following:

Calling Spirit Guest Care at 855-728-3555.

Sending a message using the form on the Spirit “Complaint or Compliment” webpage .

Sending snail mail to Spirit’s offices. The address is: Corporate Guest Relations, Attention: Refunds, 2800 Executive Way, Miramar, FL 33025.

Other ways to get your money back

If your ticket isn’t eligible for a refund and you don't want a flight credit, you might have another option to get your money back: travel insurance .

Travel insurance is typically purchased from a travel insurance company or through a travel agent. Cost and coverage can vary by provider, but it typically amounts to 5%-10% of your total trip cost, according to insurance comparison site Squaremouth (a NerdWallet partner).

Though unless you’ve purchased a Cancel For Any Reason policy , which is usually more expensive than a basic policy, you’re entitled to a refund only if you cancel for a covered reason — and covered reasons can vary by insurer. Then again, you might not even need to pay for trip insurance . Many credit cards offer travel insurance as a built-in benefit to customers who pay for their trip on that card.

See our list of the best travel rewards cards that provide travel insurance .

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market.  See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our  credit card rating methodology .

20 Frequently Asked Questions About Flying Spirit Airlines

James Larounis

Senior Content Contributor

561 Published Articles 1 Edited Article

Countries Visited: 30 U.S. States Visited: 35

Michael Y. Park

21 Published Articles 248 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 60+ U.S. States Visited: 50

Stella Shon

News Managing Editor

103 Published Articles 728 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 25 U.S. States Visited: 22

Table of Contents

Final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Spirit Airlines is one of several U.S. ultra-low-cost carriers, but with a restrictive fare model and no-frills planes, it’s not necessarily for everyone.

There are many complexities and restrictions that many travelers aren’t aware of when booking Spirit tickets, since its tickets only include the bare bones. So we’re here to look in depth at some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to flying Spirit Airlines. These include:

• How the airline operates
• How the ticketing process works
• Ticketing restrictions
• Ticketing fees and how to avoid them
• Seating options

Let’s dive right in.

1. What Is Spirit Airlines, and What Is Its Basic Business Model?

Spirit is an American ultra-low-cost airline that operates flights in the U.S., the Caribbean, Latin America, and South America.

The airline is headquartered in Miramar, Florida, with hubs in Atlanta (ATL), Atlantic City (ACY), Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Houston (IAH), Las Vegas (LAS), Miami (MIA), and Orlando (MCO).

It has a fleet size of about 200 aircraft that fly to more than 80 destinations worldwide, primarily within North America. The company slogan is “Less Money. More Go.”

As of 2023, Spirit Airlines has the following aircraft:

• Airbus A319-100
• Airbus A319neo (on order)
• Airbus A320-200
• Airbus A320neo
• Airbus A321-200
• Airbus A321neo (on order)

2. Why Is Spirit Airlines Considered Ultra-Low-Cost?

Spirit Airlines offers great deals and incredibly low-priced air tickets to its customers — there’s no secret about that. The base fare can be as low as $29 , sometimes even lower.

How does can it afford to sell fares for so low? In March 2007, Spirit changed its fare model by removing amenities (which inflate the base ticket price on other carriers). Spirit charges a low base fare, and customers must pay for carry-ons, drinks, food, seats with additional legroom, and baggage. The more amenities included, the more a ticket costs.

So, to capture its market, Spirit reduces the cost of a ticket and lets passengers buy all ancillary items, like seat selection or checked luggage , separately. This enables the carrier to earn extra revenue while posting fares much lower than traditional legacy carriers.

3. Do I Have to Purchase a Seat on Spirit Airlines?

You must purchase a ticket to fly on any of Spirit’s flights. The base fare is usually between $29 to $39 for cheaper tickets, though it could cost less or much more. Seats are assigned randomly at check-in — specific seat selection is not included in your ticket price unless you pay extra for it in advance.

That means there’s no guarantee that you’ll get to sit with family and friends unless you pay to choose seats. So if you are traveling with companions, take your time to read the Spirit Airlines policies, and purchase seats ahead of travel.

Bottom Line: Seat selection isn’t included with your ticket on Spirit, so you’ll need to pay more if you want to choose where to sit.

4. Can I Purchase a Seat Assignment While I Book My Ticket?

Yes, though Spirit considers this an á la carte option. To choose a seat you want, you have to pay for seat assignment, starting at $5.

You can also pick what’s known as a Big Front Seat, which is essentially a first-class-style seat, though with fewer perks. This upgrade starts at around $40. A Big Front Seat has 32% more legroom and no middle seat — prime real estate!

To view the seat prices for a specific flight, check the Seat page when booking online. You can also look under My Trips or the Online Check-in page within 24 hours of departure.

5. How Can I Book My Flight and Get My Boarding Pass?

Visit spirit.com for the quickest way to book your flight and get your boarding pass for free.

Start by signing in with your credentials. If you do not have an account, create one (it’s called a Free Spirit account). This only takes a few minutes; you can log in and print your pass at home.

Once you have created an account and signed in, select the Book tab. The page will display the following options:

• Round-trip, one-way, or multi-city
• Departure and return location
• Departure and return dates
• Number of adults and children

After you add the required details, click Search Flights.  You’ll see results on the page, where you can book your flight. If you have a promo code, the website lets you to enter it at checkout.

Once you finish the process, you can print your boarding pass. This is also a good time to buy a seat assignment, since these options are less expensive online than in person at the airport.

6. Can I Print My Boarding Pass at the Airport?

Yes, Spirit Airlines has simple self-service kiosks where you can purchase tickets and print boarding passes in minutes. (If you need assistance, there are customer service agents nearby.) You should complete your check-in or purchase of tickets at least 1 hour before departure .

Boarding passes are available at the check-in counter, but customers will be charged $10 to print a single boarding pass. So if you want to save, print your boarding pass at home.

Bottom Line: When it comes to Spirit bookings or boarding passes, avoid talking to a human if you don’t want to pay extra! At the airport, there are significant fees even to do simple tasks.

7. Who Can’t Check in Online To Fly With Spirit?

Here is a list of travelers who may not be able to complete check-in online:

• Unaccompanied minors
• Travelers with a lap infant
• Travelers with a military ID and no passport
• Non-U.S. citizens traveling from outside the U.S.
• Travelers who have purchased special items or extra seats
• Travelers who have made a group reservation of 10 or more
• Travelers with pets or service animals

These guests are required to check in at the airport counter. Unlike others who will be charged $10 when printing boarding passes at the airport, the guests listed above will have the $10 fee waived .

8. Can I Travel With an Infant on My Lap?

Yes, you are allowed to travel with an infant on your lap. Before departure, you should check in with Spirit staff . Spirit Airlines provides the following guidelines when it comes to traveling with an infant:

• Adult travelers (ages 15 and up) can carry 1 child per lap
• Infants under 7 days old or requiring life support systems like an incubator are not allowed to board (as is the case with most airlines)
• Car seats are not allowed in the emergency exit rows or any row close to the emergency exit
• Child car seats and lap children are not allowed to occupy seats with inflatable seatbelts
• You can add a lap child when booking online

Fees and taxes are applicable when an infant accompanies you . The amount charged depends on the destination.

9. Can Unaccompanied Minors Travel on Spirit Airlines?

Unaccompanied minors can travel alone, but only on domestic direct flights (within the U.S., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico). They cannot travel unaccompanied on international flights , domestic flights where an aircraft change is scheduled, or connecting flights.

During flights, unaccompanied minors are taken care of by the airline staff. They will be offered snacks and beverages for a fee, just like any passenger. Unlike most legacy carriers, Spirit will not help children with gate transfers in connecting cities .

Here are the guidelines guests should follow when booking flights for unaccompanied minors:

• Inform Spirit Airlines staff that you are booking an unaccompanied minor
• Check in at the gate together with the minor at least 1 hour before departure
• Request a gate pass when dropping off the child (available at the reservation counter)
• Guests must accompany the child to the gate and remain within the gate area until the flight takes off (about 15 minutes after boarding)
• Unaccompanied minors will be released to the person indicated on the unaccompanied minor form or to a Spirit Airlines employee

10. Can I Cancel or Change My Flight Reservation?

Yes, but you will be charged a fee if it’s too close to the flight date. Here are the current cancellation and change charges:

Customers who purchase Flight Flex can change their ticket for free up to 24 hours before departure.

Spirit Airlines allows changes or cancellation requests to be made up to 1 hour before departure. If you cancel your reservation 0 to 60 days before departure, any remaining balance is issued as credit. If you cancel via Spirit’s Airlines online portal, you will be issued a $10 voucher (one-way) applicable on future travels, provided the reservation charge is less than the cancellation fee.

To make changes or cancel yourself, sign in to your account and click My Trips . If you prefer not to do it yourself, you can text 48763 or 855-728-3555 on WhatsApp, direct message Spirit on social media, call 855-728-3555, or speak to a Spirit agent at the airport. You can also visit the reservations desk, but may be charged for this service.

You can learn more about canceling in this post: How To Cancel a Spirit Airlines Flight [Points or Cash Ticket] .

Bottom Line: Canceling or changing a ticket can cost you (at least $39 if you do it online). 

11. Can I Change My Name on a Spirit Reservation?

Yes, you’re allowed to change a name that’s misspelled by a few characters. Doing so is free of charge. To change your misspelled name, contact Spirit Airlines’ customer support team.

You can also request a change of your legal name, though you must provide reasons for the change and supporting documents (like a divorce decree, marriage license, or court order). You can request a name change online. Visit spirit.com/help — at the bottom, you should find an option to attach your documents.

If you need to change your contact information, date of birth, passport number, or gender, contact the Spirit’s reservations center or email the customer support team. Remember to have copies of your legal documents.

12. Can I Travel With My Mobility Aid or Wheelchair on Spirit?

Yes, Spirit Airlines accepts mobility aids and wheelchairs for travelers. You can carry these devices onto your flight at no charge . To check your mobility aid or wheelchair, visit the ticket or gate counter.

If you’re traveling with a battery-powered mobility aid or wheelchair, we recommend arriving at the airport 2 hours before departure to ensure it’s handled properly. Officials at the ticket counter will recommend that you carry any detachable items like footrests or seat cushions on board yourself. If this is not an option, they may be stowed in the cargo bin.

To make your check-in process fast and smooth, Spirit requests that guests provide the airport crew with written instructions on handling the wheelchair or mobility aid and recommends bringing your user manual. You can also fill in a mobility aid information form .

13. What Are Spirit’s Baggage Fees?

Spirit Airlines allows travelers to check in with 1 personal item the size of a small box (such as a small backpack, handbag, or purse). These items are included in your base fare, so you will not be charged extra. However, Spirit will charge for extra baggage and some personal items.

If you plan on carrying extra luggage, check in online before departure ! The charge for your extra items will be lower if you add them when booking your flight than if you wait and do it at the airport. Fees for carry-on bags start at $31.

Hot Tip: Prepay your bags when you purchase your trip to reduce expenses incurred at the airport.

Personal items allowed by Spirit’s airport crew at no charge include cameras, assistive devices, umbrellas, coats, wraps, hats, and books. Head and neck pillows are allowed, but they must fit inside your backpack or bag.

There’s a common misconception that true low-cost carriers such as Spirit don’t allow small personal items on board — which is why we’re so thorough in mentioning everything you can and cannot bring with you.

Bottom Line: If you’re carrying on a bag (non-personal item), you could pay north of $50.

14. Where Can I Check the Size and Weight Limits for Bags?

Spirit Airlines allows personal items or backpacks under 18 x 14 x 8 inches, including wheels and handles.

The maximum dimensions for a carry-on bag are 22 x 18 x 10 inches. If your carry-on is too big to be stowed safely in the cargo bin, you must check it (and pay extra).

For checked bags, it’s a maximum of 62 total linear inches (the sum of the height, width, and depth, in inches) and 40 pounds. Bags weighing over 40 pounds are charged more because they require special handling, and extra weight means the plane has to use more fuel during flight. Bags over 100 pounds cannot be accepted.

Certain regions, such as South America, have additional baggage restrictions, so be sure to check the Spirit website before you go to the airport.

Hot Tip: If you’re planning to travel with a checked or carry-on bag, make sure to check it online! Doing so at the airport will cost more.

15. Can I Carry My Personal Dialysis Machine, Insulin Device, or Other Medical Devices on Board?

Yes, Spirit Airlines allows you to carry a portable dialysis machine on board at no extra cost, and it doesn’t count toward your baggage allowance. Your device should not exceed 22 inches by 18 inches by 10 inches.

Although Spirit allows you to carry on these medical devices, it prohibits using the machine during the flight. The planes do not have compatible electrical plugs to charge or power medical devices.

Passengers are welcome to carry insulin on board, but it’s recommended that guests inform airline staff about the insulin before boarding. Insulin is normally stored in special bags aboard the flight for safekeeping.

Like other medical devices, insulin will not incur a fee during check-in. However, if your insulin is in a bag together with other personal items (like socks, electronics, and clothing), you might owe a fee for the other personal items if the weight exceeds the recommended limit.

For more information about traveling with insulin and other medical assistive devices, check the TSA website .

16. Can I Carry My Sports Equipment on Board?

It depends. You can carry some sports equipment on your flight. All checked sports equipment, such as hockey sticks, tennis racquets, and others, are charged just like a standard checked bag and stored in the hold. The sports equipment should be secured inside a bag. Spirit will charge you for a separate bag if they are not packed securely in the bag.

Spirit Airlines only permits non-battery-operated and non-motorized skateboards. Electric or battery-operated skateboards and other sports equipment cannot be checked (batteries can contain hazardous materials that can endanger other travelers and the plane).

Sports items not within the normal carry-on dimensions will be checked in the hold, and you will be charged a checked baggage fee .

17. Can I Fly With a Musical Instrument?

Musical instruments such as ukuleles, violins, guitars, cellos, accordions, saxophones, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars are considered fragile. To prevent damage, pack your musical instruments in a case.

Instruments are charged like any other checked bag, meaning you’ll have to pay the checked bag price and any overweight charges. You must also sign a release form before departure that relieves Spirit of liability for damage or loss of the musical instrument.

18. What Is the Spirit Saver$ Club? How Do I Join, and What Are the Benefits?

Distinct from the Free Spirit program, Spirit has a program called the Spirit Saver$ Club (formerly known as the $9 Fare Club). This club offers benefits, including discounted fares, baggage fees, seats, and time-saving options for a fee of $69.95 for 12 months, $99.90 for 18 months, or $129.90 for 24 months. You could offset the membership fee above in as little as 1 booking, so the savings are potentially significant!

To join the Spirit Saver$ Club, you are required to register online and submit the following details:

• First, middle, and last name
• Date of birth
• Email address
• Contact information

You’ll also have to provide your billing information. Spirit Airlines accepts major credit cards and other popular payment systems, and your membership is renewed each year automatically unless canceled.

Benefits of joining the Spirit Saver$ Club include:

• Exclusive discounted fares for yourself and up to 8 additional guests
• Up to 50% off on checked and carry-on bags for you and up to 8 additional guests
• Your entire party will save on every seat, including the Big Front Seat and exit rows
• Save on elements like Shortcut Security, Shortcut Boarding, and Flight Flex
• Exclusive offers with Spirit partners
• Discounted seats, shortcut security, and shortcut boarding

19. What Is the Free Spirit Frequent Flyer Program?

Free Spirit is a free rewards program created by Spirit Airlines to reward its customers for flying Spirit on an ongoing basis. To join the program, you must fill out a membership form with the following details:

A welcome email with your account information is sent to your inbox if registration is successful. Alternatively, you can become a Free Spirit member when you book your first flight.

Benefits of the Free Spirit Program include:

• Earn points when you fly with Spirit Airlines and partners
• Buy or gift points to family members and friends (Gold and Silver elite members can also pool points)
• Use the points for travel
• Track the points earned
• Book and manage your reservations faster

You can book and manage your flight reservation using Spirit Airlines mobile app on Apple or Android. If you have questions about bookings and managing your reservations within the program, call Spirit Airlines at 801-401-2222.

20. How Can I Save by Booking a Spirit Ticket at the Airport?

Strangely enough, you can save upwards of $19 per ticket if you book at the airport . This is the opposite of most of Spirit’s policies, where speaking to someone at the airport incurs a fee.

Because airlines must pay a federal excise task on base fares, Spirit tries to avoid paying this tax by adding an $18.99 passenger usage fee to tickets booked over the phone or online. This fee is not a tax and is included in most online and phone booking scenarios. In this way, Spirit can increase what is essentially the fare of the ticket so it doesn’t incur the additional tax.

Because the fee is only applied to online or phone bookings, you can avoid this $18.99 charge by booking at the airport. When you arrive at the airport, speak to a customer service representative to get around paying this nuisance fee.

When you get to the counter, let them know your preferred travel dates and routing, and they’ll price out the itinerary for you, less the $18.99 fee. While this does save you money on your ticket cost, you need to weigh the cost of driving to the airport and getting this done, which could be more expensive than just paying the fee at home.

Bottom Line: It may sound counterintuitive, but booking a ticket at the airport can save you money.

There are many nuances to booking Spirit tickets, but with a little know-how, it’s easy to figure things out and save a few bucks. Spirit can save you a ton of money when you travel, and understanding its processes and policies will help you maximize the experience and not overpay.

The information regarding the Free Spirit ® Travel Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Free Spirit ® Travel More World Elite Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the spirit airlines baggage fees.

Spirit Airlines allows travelers to check in with 1 personal item the size of a small box (such as a small backpack, handbag, or purse). These items are included in your base fare, so you will not be charged extra fees.

However, Spirit will charge for extra baggage and some personal items. If you plan on carrying extra luggage, check in online before departure ! The charge for your extra items will be lower if you add them when booking your flight than if you wait and do it at the airport. Fees for carry-on bags run north of $25.

Do you have to choose a seat with Spirit?

You do not have to select a seat. If you choose not to, you will be assigned one at random. If you do want to select your seat, you’ll have to do it in advance and pay extra.

What is the Spirit Saver$ Club? What happened to the $9 Fare Club?

Distinct from the Free Spirit program, the Spirit Saver$ Club (formerly known as the $9 Fare Club), launched in 2021. This club offers benefits like discounted fares, baggage fees, seats, and time-saving options for a fee of $69.95 for 12 months, $99.90 for 18 months, or $129.90 for 24 months. The new benefits, compared to the $9 Fare Club, are the discounted seats and time-saving options.

Does Spirit Airlines have a credit card?

Spirit Airlines partners with Bank of America, the issuer of its co-branded credit cards. You will earn Spirit Airlines points directly with the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard® and Free Spirit® Travel Mastercard® .

Does Spirit have an awards chart?

Redemptions start at 2,500 points and are dynamically priced. When searching for your flight on spirit.com , select Points  as your payment type to see the total points required.

Was this page helpful?

About James Larounis

James (Jamie) started The Forward Cabin blog to educate readers about points, miles, and loyalty programs. He’s spoken at Princeton University and The New York Times Travel Show and has been quoted in dozens of travel publications.

Discover the exact steps we use to get into  1,400+ airport lounges worldwide, for free   (even if you’re flying economy!) .

We respect your privacy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's  privacy policy  and  terms of service  apply.

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

Ultimate guide to canceling a flight and getting a refund with major US airlines

Editor's Note

Most airlines now have favorable policies if you need to cancel your flight, especially if you booked using points or miles. If you book the right fare with an airline that has friendly cancellation policies, you may not be out hundreds of dollars — or be on the hook for astronomical fees — should your travel plans change.

However, with many different airlines and varying policies, it can be overwhelming to figure out each carrier's rules. To make it easier, we put together this guide about the cancellation and refund policies for the major U.S. airlines.

Can I cancel a flight and get a refund?

These days, all airlines allow you to cancel a flight, and most make it extremely easy to do so. You can usually cancel a flight online, and many carriers let you get a refund in some capacity.

For the most part, if you book a nonrefundable fare — the most common fare type — you'll receive a credit or voucher for a future flight. However, you'll find that some airlines charge a fee to cancel, and they might base the fee on how far in advance you cancel.

For example, Southwest Airlines has one of the most generous cancellation policies, regardless of the fare type. As long as you cancel at least 10 minutes before your flight's scheduled departure time, there is no fee to cancel your reservation, whether it is a paid fare or one booked on points. While you'll end up with a travel credit for the amount paid if you cancel a paid fare, Southwest won't deduct any fees from that voucher. Also, if you booked using Southwest points, the airline will immediately return them to your account with no fees.

Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and JetBlue Airways also have favorable cancellation policies — as long as you didn't book their least expensive basic economy fare .

On the other hand, Frontier Airlines will charge you a $75 fee when canceling a reservation booked on miles. Canceling a paid reservation will cost you even more.

Perhaps the least favorable airline is Allegiant Air , which requires you to cancel seven or more days in advance and charges a cancellation fee per segment (not round-trip).

So, when you wonder if you can cancel a flight and get a refund, the answer depends on many factors, including the airline, the fare type and how far in advance you cancel.

How to cancel a flight with major airlines

Many airlines allow you to cancel a flight without hefty fees. Since every airline operates slightly differently, we've compiled the policies for each major airline and the associated fees so you can figure out how to cancel a flight. This information is for a regular passenger (not one with status) on a standard reservation.

If you booked under special circumstances, we've linked to our full guide for each respective airline, which goes into more detail about each one's policy. These guides also include the policies for changing a flight instead of fully canceling.

Alaska Airlines' cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Alaska Airlines reservation

Alaska allows you to cancel all reservations within 24 hours of booking — for travel starting more than 24 hours from the time of purchase.

After the 24-hour mark, there are no cancellation fees, and all fare types are now eligible for some sort of credit. For Main and First Class fares, you'll receive the full amount paid as a certificate to use toward a future flight. For flights purchased on or after July 19, 2023, even Saver fares are eligible for a credit. However, you'll only receive a 50% credit of the ticket value, and the flight must be canceled at least 14 days prior to departure of the first flight on the ticket. (For flights purchased prior to this date, Saver fares will not receive any credit if canceled in advance.)

All certificates received when canceling a flight are valid for 12 months from the issue date of your original ticket or 30 days from the date of cancellation — whichever is greater.

The only way to receive a full refund is by purchasing a fully refundable fare during the booking process.

Canceling an Alaska reservation booked with miles

Passengers can cancel an award reservation by calling Alaska's reservation center. The airline will deposit the miles back into your account once you cancel your award flight, and you'll receive a refund for any taxes paid.

Allegiant Air's cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Allegiant reservation

Allegiant has one of the more strict policies when canceling a flight: You must cancel seven days before departure and will still have to pay a fee. Typically, the fee is $75 per segment (not for the entire reservation), but for a while now, Allegiant has reduced the fee to $25 per segment. When canceling, you'll receive a voucher for the amount paid (minus the total cancellation fee), valid for up to one year from the original booking date.

When canceling a flight within seven days, the airline won't issue a credit, and you'll lose the entire ticket value.

Canceling an Allegiant reservation booked with miles

Allegiant offers a unique policy regarding canceling an award booked with miles. You'll be charged the same fee per segment, and the flight must be canceled at least seven days in advance. The points redeemed will not be redeposited back into your account; you'll instead receive a voucher for the value of the ticket.

Related: How to change or cancel an Allegiant Air flight

American Airlines' cancellation policy

Canceling a paid American reservation

You can now cancel all American reservations, except American's basic economy fares, without a fee. However, some flights originating outside North and South America have slightly different policies.

With basic economy fares, you'll be charged a $99 fee, which is taken out of the value of your ticket. This policy only applies to AAdvantage members for flights within the 50 states.

When canceling a reservation, AAdvantage members will receive a trip credit that expires one year from the date of issue of the original ticket. For trip credits issued on or after March 11, 2024, nonmembers, unfortunately, only have six months to use the credit. But since membership is free, this is a solid reason to enroll in the AAdvantage program.

Canceling an American reservation booked with miles

American allows you to cancel award flights for free. There are no redeposit fees, and your miles will immediately return to your account. Since you can't book a basic economy fare with miles, there's no need to worry about this more restrictive fare type. However, from personal experience, you'll want to make sure that the taxes and fees paid are refunded back to the form of payment (such as a credit card) and do not get issued as a trip credit.

Related: How to change or cancel an American Airlines flight

Delta Air Lines' cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Delta reservation

Most Delta fare types for flights originating in the U.S. and Canada (except Delta basic economy tickets) will allow you to cancel your flight without a fee. Flights originating outside of these two destinations carry different rules and up to $400 in fees.

When canceling a basic economy fare for travel originating in the U.S. or Canada for travel to the Caribbean, Central America or Mexico, the fee is $99. For all other routes, the cancellation fee is twice the amount, at $199. Unfortunately, basic economy flights originating in Mexico cannot be canceled.

Canceling a nonrefundable fare will result in an e-credit for the full amount paid (minus any cancellation fees, depending on fare type and route). However, if you cancel a refundable ticket, you'll get the amount paid refunded back to your original form of payment. Currently, e-credits expire a year from the original ticketing date; that is just the book by date, and you don't have to actually travel by the expiration date.

Canceling a Delta reservation booked with miles

Similar to a paid reservation, as long as you book a fare type other than basic economy, you can cancel your flight, and Delta will redeposit the miles back into your account with no fee. Additionally, Delta will refund any taxes and fees to the original form of payment.

For reservations booked as basic economy (for domestic travel within the U.S. and Canada), you can still cancel your flight. However, Delta will deduct between 9,900 and 19,900 miles from the amount it redeposits into your account when you cancel.

Related: How to change or cancel a Delta Air Lines flight

Frontier Airlines' cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Frontier reservation

Frontier Airlines is unfortunately no longer as customer-friendly as it used to be. If you cancel your flight, you'll be charged a $99 fee per direction. When cancelling a flight, you'll receive a credit for the price paid minus the cancellation fee, and you'll need to use this credit within 90 days of receiving it. Again, this is a "book by" date, and you can travel post the expiration date.

One way around the fee is by changing your flight instead of canceling. This only comes in handy if you know of another Frontier flight you're looking to book. This is because there's no change fee when making a change on a Frontier reservation 60 days or more before your flight. However, within the 60-day window, you'll be charged a fee (per direction): $49 for flights 59 to seven days prior to departure and $99 for flights six days or less prior to departure.

Canceling a Frontier reservation booked with miles

Unlike many other airlines, Frontier charges a cancellation fee even if you booked with miles. Regardless of how far in advance you cancel, you'll need to pay a $75 redeposit fee.

Related: How to change or cancel a Frontier Airlines flight

Hawaiian Airlines' cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Hawaiian reservation

Similar to most other airlines, you can cancel a Hawaiian Airlines flight within 24 hours of booking for a full refund — as long as the flight was booked at least seven days in advance.

After 24 hours have lapsed, you can cancel main cabin, first-class and business-class fares on Hawaiian without a fee — but there's a catch. While you'll receive a flight credit for the amount paid, you'll lose any remaining value associated with your credit when you book a new flight if the new flight is less expensive than the previous flight. Main cabin basic fares can be canceled, but you will not receive any credit back.

Additionally, fully refundable fares are slightly deceiving. To receive the refund back to your original form of payment, Hawaiian charges a $25 to $100 fee — depending on the route. You can always avoid this fee by taking a travel credit instead, but it negates the concept of purchasing a refundable fare.

Credits received from canceling a flight can be booked up to one year from the date the credit is issued.

Canceling a Hawaiian reservation booked with miles

For tickets purchased with HawaiianMiles, there's no fee to cancel and redeposit your miles.

Related: How to change or cancel a Hawaiian Airlines flight

JetBlue Airways' cancellation policy

Canceling a paid JetBlue reservation

For all fare types, except for Blue Basic fares, there's no fee to cancel your reservation before departure.

For all nonrefundable fares, you'll receive the entire amount paid back as a JetBlue Travel Bank credit, which expires 12 months from the original booking date. These credits are nontransferable, but you can use a credit to book for another passenger from within your JetBlue account.

For Blue Basic fares, the cancellation fee is either $100 or $200, depending on the route. For routes in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, the fee is $100 per person. For all other routes, the fee is $200 per person. You'll still receive a travel credit (minus the fee) for these reservations.

Canceling a JetBlue reservation booked with miles

You can cancel any JetBlue flight booked with points without a fee. When canceling, the points redeemed will go back into your account. However, the taxes and fees paid will go into your JetBlue Travel Bank credit — not back to your original form of payment (which is the policy for most other airlines). Again, the credits received expire 12 months from the original booking date.

Related: How to change or cancel a JetBlue flight

Southwest Airlines' cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Southwest reservation

Southwest is one of the best airlines if you need to cancel your flight. You can cancel a Southwest flight for free if you do so at least 10 minutes before departure.

For Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares — the two least expensive fare types — you'll receive a credit for the amount paid. For Wanna Get Away fares, the credit isn't transferable, and only the original passenger can use the credit. If you booked a Wanna Get Away Plus fare, any individual can use the credit.

Anytime and Business Select fares, however, are fully refundable. If you need to cancel one of these fares, you'll receive a full refund for the amount paid back to your original form of payment.

Canceling a Southwest reservation booked with miles

Similar to a paid reservation, when you cancel a flight booked with miles at least 10 minutes before departure, Southwest will return the points to the account used to book the award without charging any fees. The taxes and fees paid for the award will return to the original payment form.

Related: How to change or cancel a Southwest Airlines flight

Spirit Airlines' cancellation policy

Canceling a paid Spirit reservation

Spirit allows you to cancel a flight but charges a fee based on when you cancel the flight. If you cancel, you'll receive a credit for the amount paid minus the fee. However, the credit isn't transferable and expires 90 days from when you receive it.

Here's what you can expect to pay in fees when you cancel a paid Spirit reservation:

Canceling a Spirit reservation booked with miles

When canceling a Spirit flight you reserved with miles, the same cancellation policy applies as if it were a paid reservation. Spirit will charge you a $69-$119 fee to redeposit your miles if you cancel within 59 days of your flight. It won't charge a fee if you cancel 60 days or more before your flight.

Related: How to change or cancel a Spirit Airlines flight

United Airlines' cancellation policy

Canceling a paid United reservation

For almost all United flights, except those booked in basic economy, you can cancel for free if you are traveling within the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Mexico or on an international flight that originates in the U.S. For United basic economy tickets, if your plans change, you'll ultimately lose the value of the ticket entirely.

Unless you book a refundable fare (or a basic economy fare), you'll receive a flight credit for the value of the price paid when you cancel. These credits expire one year from the date the credit was issued.

Canceling a United reservation booked with miles

United no longer charges fees for canceling award flights; your miles will be redeposited after you cancel your flights. However, United charges a $125 fee, regardless of status, for redepositing miles if you're a no-show to your award flight.

Related: How to change or cancel a United Airlines flight

Can you cancel plane tickets?

Many people book flights a year in advance and hope their vacation plans stay intact. However, plans can change. Fortunately, many airlines offer more friendly cancellation policies than we once saw, so you don't have to wonder whether you can cancel a plane ticket.

Whether you book with miles or as a paid reservation, you can always cancel a plane ticket, but the refund policy varies from one airline to the next. You must be comfortable with how you'll receive your money or miles back. For the most part, you'll receive the money back as a credit and the miles back into your account. For lower-cost airlines, though, there's typically an associated fee.

Related: Complete guide to changing and canceling award tickets

Can you refund plane tickets?

Whether you can get a refund for plane tickets depends on the fare type purchased and what you are looking for in terms of a refund. No airline offers full refunds back to the form of payment for every ticket purchased. Instead, you must purchase a more flexible fare type or a refundable ticket if you want this privilege.

While not all airlines offer refundable fare options, some airlines allow you to purchase an add-on to your ticket. This add-on may make your reservation fully refundable if you need to cancel.

For example, Frontier offers "The Works" package , where one of the benefits is that your fare is fully refundable.

Some airlines do not allow refunds on their most basic fare types. For instance, if you purchase a basic economy fare on United, you can't get a refund on a plane ticket. If your plans change and you must cancel, you'll lose your entire ticket value.

Related: Why you should wait to change or cancel your flight if you want your money back

Bottom line

Before purchasing your next plane ticket, it's smart to be well-versed in the airline's policy. You always hope that your intended travel plans go off without a hitch. However, life happens, and there are times when you might need to cancel a flight.

If you're not confident of your plans when booking your flight, booking with a more favorable airline or purchasing a fare class with more flexibility may be your best bet.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without

What Does Spirit Travel Insurance Cover? A Complete Guide

Booking a trip with Spirit Airlines? Getting travel insurance can protect you against financial losses if something unexpected happens before or during your travels. But what exactly does Spirit’s offered travel insurance through TravelGuard cover? This comprehensive guide will explain all the key benefits and coverage details.

Overview of Spirit Travel Insurance

Spirit Airlines provides travelers the option to purchase travel insurance through TravelGuard when booking on their website. There are two main plans offered:

Travel Guard Basic Policy: This is a more affordable plan that provides basic trip cancellation/interruption coverage plus some extras.

Travel Guard Deluxe Policy: The deluxe plan is more comprehensive with additional benefits like emergency medical coverage, baggage delay, and more.

Both policies are underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh. You can get a quote for the exact rate during booking based on your trip details like destination, length of travel, and age of travelers.

What Does the Basic Spirit Travel Insurance Plan Include?

Here are the key benefits and coverage included in the Travel Guard basic policy offered by Spirit Airlines:

Trip Cancellation: Get reimbursed for 100% of your insured prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses if you need to cancel for a covered reason such as illness, injury, or death of you, a traveling companion or family member.

Trip Interruption: Get reimbursed for 100% of covered costs if you need to cut a trip short for a covered reason. Also includes reimbursement for additional transportation costs to return home.

Travel Delay: Provides benefit of $200 per person ($600 max) if your common carrier transportation is delayed for 5+ hours for a covered reason.

Missed Connection: Get reimbursed for unused, non-refundable expenses as well as additional transportation to join your trip if you miss a connection due to a delay of 3+ hours for a covered reason.

Baggage Delay: Receive $100 per day ($300 max) to cover purchase of essential items if your baggage is delayed by a common carrier for 12+ hours.

24 Hour AD&D: Pays $10,000 for accidental death and dismemberment that occurs during your trip.

Key Exclusions: Pre-existing medical conditions, mental/nervous disorders, pregnancy, and extreme/hazardous sports are excluded.

What’s Included in the Deluxe Travel Insurance Plan?

In addition to all of the basic plan benefits above, here are the key additions covered by the Travel Guard deluxe policy:

Emergency Medical/Dental: Covers emergency medical treatment if you become sick or injured on your trip. Pays up to $25,000. Dental care for relief of sudden pain is covered up to $500.

Emergency Medical Evacuation: Provides coverage up to $100,000 if you need to be transported to the nearest adequate medical facility for treatment during your trip.

Baggage & Personal Effects: Reimburses you up to $500 if your luggage or personal effects are lost, damaged or stolen during your trip.

Baggage Delay Increased Benefit: Baggage delay coverage increased to up to $200 per day ($600 max).

Accident Sickness Medical Expense: Provides an additional $25,000 coverage for medical treatment of an injury or illness that occurs during your trip.

Travel Medical Assistance: Gives you access to 24/7 travel medical assistance services during your travels.

Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Waiver: For an extra cost, this waiver can be added to cover cancellation/interruption/medical claims related to pre-existing medical conditions.

What’s Not Covered by Spirit Travel Insurance?

As with any travel insurance policy, there are exclusions. Some key things that are not covered include:

• Pre-existing medical conditions (unless waiver is purchased)
• Mental health disorders, pregnancy, and childbirth
• High risk/extreme sports like skydiving, hang-gliding, rock climbing, etc.
• Self-inflicted injuries or suicide
• Drug/alcohol related injuries or illnesses
• Anything illegal or criminal acts
• War, civil disorder, unrest
• Care provided by a family member
• Normal pregnancy or childbirth

It’s important to understand exclusions before buying a policy. Also note that Spirit’s offered plans do not include coverage like:

• Cancel for any reason
• Rental car damage
• Trip cancellation due to work reasons or obligations

When Should I Buy Spirit Travel Insurance?

Spirit recommends purchasing travel insurance at the time of your initial trip booking for maximum coverage. However, you can add it up until the final payment due date for your reservation to still get cancellation/interruption protections.

Just keep in mind that pre-existing conditions that arise after the policy is purchased will not be covered. Buying earlier ensures you’re covered for any issues that may come up leading up to your travels.

Does Spirit Travel Insurance Cover COVID?

Unfortunately, Spirit’s offered travel insurance plans do not cover claims related to COVID-19 or other pandemics .

Cancellations due to you or a family member testing positive for COVID would not be covered. However, if you need to cancel for another covered reason defined in the policy like an injury or illness unrelated to COVID, you’d still be covered.

Interruption claims due to an unexpected positive COVID test during travel would also not be covered.

What Does Travel Insurance Cost on Spirit Airlines?

Travel insurance rates when booking with Spirit will vary based on the cost of your trip, length of travel, ages of travelers, and specific plan selected. The deluxe plan costs more than the basic plan.

Here are some sample rates for a $500 roundtrip flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for 2 adults ages 30-34:

• Basic Plan: $28
• Deluxe Plan: $52

For a 10-day $3,000 trip to Europe for a 50 year old:

• Basic Plan: $144
• Deluxe Plan: $252

The best way to see actual pricing is to get a free personalized quote during the online booking process. Rates are presented before you complete a purchase.

Do I Get Travel Insurance from Spirit Airlines?

Spirit Airlines only offers TravelGuard insurance plans during the booking process online. Travel insurance is optional – you are not required to purchase it.

Some key factors to consider:

• Review what is and isn’t covered and exclusions.
• Evaluate the total trip cost and how much potential financial risk you want to take on.
• Consider your personal health and family medical history.
• Determine if you have coverage from other sources like credit cards, existing insurance plans, etc.

For expensive or international trips, travel insurance can provide valuable financial protections. But for domestic economy flights, the extra expense may not be worth it depending on your situation. Assess your specific needs.

Can I Buy Travel Insurance Separately?

Yes, you can certainly buy travel insurance for your Spirit flight or vacation from a source other than Spirit Airlines directly. Some options include:

Directly through another insurer like TravelGuard, Allianz, Travelex, etc.

Using an online insurance comparison site like SquareMouth or InsureMyTrip to get quotes from multiple providers.

From a travel agent or third party booking site.

Shopping around is wise to compare plans and pricing. Just make sure to purchase shortly after booking to get maximum pre-departure benefits.

Key Tips for Spirit Travel Insurance

Read the full policy document to understand coverage details and exclusions.

Consider travel medical coverage for international trips or if you have health concerns.

Look into “cancel for any reason” upgrade if you want the most flexibility.

Compare Spirit’s plans to other insurer rates for potential savings.

Purchase insurance right after booking your flight and hotel for optimal coverage.

Understand COVID-19 is not covered before buying a policy.

Getting travel insurance for Spirit Airlines reservations can provide valuable financial protection. Just make sure to evaluate your specific needs and compare all available options before purchasing a plan.

Do Not Buy Spirit Travel Insurance – AARDY

Does Spirit insurance cover cancellation?

What is usually covered by travel insurance?

What does insurance cover on a plane ticket?

What insurance does Spirit Airlines use?

Related posts:

• Are Retaining Walls Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
• How to Cancel National General Insurance
• Understanding Travelers Insurance Company’s NAIC Number
• Driving Without Insurance in Florida: Penalties, Risks, and What to Do

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

Get us in your inbox

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest and greatest from your city and beyond

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Awesome, you're subscribed!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Los Angeles

Is it safe to travel to the Caribbean right now? Latest advice amid Hurricane Beryl flight cancellations

The category four storm has now swept through Jamaica – here is everything you need to know if you have a trip booked

With its tropical temperatures, palm tree-lined beaches and unbelievably blue waters, the  Caribbean  is a paradise for travellers. However, the region is currently experiencing an extraordinarily intense hurricane season, with conditions made more extreme by the climate emergency.

Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Monday July 1 on Carriacou, an island part of Grenada, and has caused significant destruction and led to the deaths of at least seven people so far. Colin McCarthy, an extreme weather scientist, posted on X (fka Twitter): ‘Hurricane Beryl has just become the first June category four Atlantic hurricane in history. We have never seen such a strong hurricane this early in the season.’

A category four storm means that ‘catastrophic’ levels of damage are predicted, including severe damage to buildings and trees alongside power outages which could last for weeks. 

So, if you have a trip booked to the Caribbean, here is everything you need to know about how the hurricane might affect your trip. 

Where is Hurricane Beryl right now? 

As of 7am on Thursday July 4, the hurricane is moving towards the Cayman Islands after causing significant damage in Jamaica , Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, destroying buildings and cutting off power and water supplies. The death toll of the storm is now at seven people.

Where is Hurricane Beryl’s path heading? 

Hurricane Beryl is hurtling towards the Cayman Islands and should make landfall there this evening. While the storm will weaken to a category three, conditions are expected to be treacherous, with potentially ‘life-threatening’ winds and heavy rainfall and flash flooding predicted by weather experts. 

The storm is expected to swindle to category one by the time it reaches the coast of southeast Mexico by the end of this week.  You can look at a live tracker of the storm on Zoom Earth   here . 

Is it safe to travel to the Caribbean? 

The storm has proved highly destructive so far, with winds of up to 155 mph recorded on Grenada. On Tuesday, Jamaica was declared a ‘disaster zone’ and will remain so for until July 10.

Multiple airports in the region have closed, including all three of Jamaica’s major airports. It’s best to contact your travel provider if you have a trip booked to the Caribbean.

What flights have been cancelled? 

Multiple airlines have been cancelling flights. On Sunday, both the shuttle flight between Barbados and St Vincent and the London Heathrow-Barbados St Vincent round trip were cancelled. A Virgin Atlantic plane departed from Barbados five hours early on Sunday morning to avoid the hurricane. 

British Airways cancelled its flight from Gatwick to St Luca and Georgetown in Guyana on Monday, and says it will continue to monitor the situation. 

Virgin Atlantic has released a statement:

‘As a result of the adverse weather conditions caused by Hurricane Beryl, we’re working closely with our local teams in the Caribbean to understand any impact to local airports infrastructure and minimise disruption to our services.

‘We are contacting affected customers regarding their travel arrangements, including the option to rebook if they no longer wish to travel. We’d like to thank them for their patience and understanding and recommend that all customers due to travel to or from the Caribbean over the next 48 hours check the status of their flight on virginatlantic.com before going to the airport. The safety and comfort of our customers and people is always our top priority.’

Can I get a refund if I choose not to travel? 

It’s best to contact your flight and accommodation providers to see what can be done about cancelling or rescheduling your trip, however the likelihood of getting a refund is unclear as travelling to the region has not explicitly been advised against. However, if your flight is cancelled due to the storm or airport closures, you should be able to get a refund or reschedule your flight.

What’s the latest advice? 

The UK Foreign has updated its advice on travelling to Jamaica. The website reads:

‘A major hurricane is passing Jamaica on 3 July.  Disruption to services is expected island-wide. International and domestic airports are now closed and will only reopen when assessed safe to do so. You should follow and monitor local and international weather updates from the   US National Hurricane Center  and follow the advice of   local authorities   including any evacuation orders. See  Extreme weather and natural disasters .’

When is hurricane season in the Caribbean?

Hurricane season lasts from the beginning of June until the end of November in the Caribbean, though storm activity peaks from August to October. This year’s season has been particularly catastrophic, likely due to climate change.

How to help those affected 

A number of organisations and charities are mobilising to help victims of Hurrican Beryl. Here are three to donate to.

Airlink provides direct support in rebuilding infrastructure, searching for survivors and more. They are taking donations here .

Save the Children  has a Children's Emergency Fund which helps to protect children impacted by natural disasters.

World Central Kitchen  is providing fresh meals to communities impacted by the hurricane – you can donate here .

Extreme weather across the world

Many popular European holiday destinations are suffering the consequences of extreme weather. Wildfires have been reported across Greece over the last couple of weeks, including on the islands of Cyprus , Kos, Chios and Crete , as well as in the cities of Izmir and Balıkesir in Türkiye . 

Storms and torrential rain have also caused damage and killed seven people in northern Italy, northeastern France and southern Switzerland  this week. 

Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news.

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising

Time Out Worldwide

• All Time Out Locations
• North America
• South America
• South Pacific

Around 1,700 flights canceled as Tropical Storm Beryl hits Texas, cruises changed

Nearly 1,700 U.S. flights have been canceled, and more than 4,200 more have been delayed just before 5 p.m. ET Monday as Tropical Storm Beryl lashes Texas, according to flight tracker FlightAware .

Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda, Texas early Monday and was downgraded to a tropical storm later in the morning, the National Hurricane Center reported. Matagorda is less than 100 miles from Houston. 

About 5 p.m. ET, 90% of flights at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and 80% at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) were canceled. Houston (IAH) is a major hub for United Airlines, which is suffering the worst of the operational impacts from the storm so far. About 16% of United’s flights, just shy of 500 departures across its network, have been canceled so far Monday. Southwest also has a large presence in Houston (HOU) and has seen nearly 350 cancellations across its network so far.

Airlines including Alaska , American , Delta , Frontier , Southwest , Spirit , and United are offering waivers related to the storm, allowing travelers to rebook travel within certain parameters without penalty.

Travelers are always eligible for refunds , even if they purchased nonrefundable tickets, if their flights are canceled for any reason, according to Department of Transportation rules.

Flight delayed with clear skies?: United Airlines will show you why weather is to blame

Cruise lines adjust itineraries

The Port of Galveston remained closed Monday after suspending vessel operations over the weekend, and multiple cruise lines have adjusted their plans .

Royal Caribbean International’s Mariner of the Seas – currently sailing a Western Caribbean cruise – will return to the Texas port city on Tuesday rather than on Monday as planned. The ship’s next itinerary will skip a scheduled stop in Costa Maya, Mexico as a result, but will visit Cozumel.

“Along with our chief meteorologist, we are closely monitoring the progression of Hurricane Beryl into the South Texas region and are adjusting some of our routes to ensure the comfort and safety of our guests and crew,” a spokesperson for the line’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Group , said in an emailed statement. “Guests on impacted sailings will be notified of any changes directly.”

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Dream ship departed early on Sunday afternoon, before the port was closed to vessel traffic. “We won’t have ships in port for a few days, per the normal schedule, and Carnival Breeze is the next ship to return to Galveston on July 11,” spokesperson Matt Lupoli said in an email.

Airlines got too confident, and now they are paying the price despite record-breaking travel

• Despite booming travel, airlines are struggling to turn a profit.
• Southwest expects seat-mile revenue will decline up to 4.5%, while American predicts up to 6%.
• Experts blame fewer last-minute business travelers, overcapacity, Boeing delays, and inflated costs.

Making money in the airline industry has never been easy.

It's a capital-heavy business with the constant need to expand and innovate while simultaneously managing ever-changing demand and costs.

Expensive fuel, maintenance, and labor don't help, nor do unpredictable setbacks outside the airline's control, like pandemic travel bans and production slowdowns at planemaker Boeing.

Despite the challenging environment, 2024 is still set to see record-breaking passenger numbers, according to the International Air Transport Association, or IATA ,

With so many people traveling, US airlines were poised for success. Some, like Delta, have found it. But across the industry, many airlines are struggling to turn profits thanks to issues like overcapacity, unrelenting competition, and unexpectedly high costs, according to experts.

Take Southwest, for example, which in June cut its forecasts and now expects revenue per seat mile — a key financial metric for airlines — to fall by up to 4.5% where it had previously expected 1.5% to 3.5%.

Before that, American in May warned it expected the same metric to fall by 5% to 6% compared to last year. Its earlier prediction was 1% to 3%.

Across the board, airlines have trailed the benchmark S&P 500 index with more debt than the average publicly traded company and thinner margins.

Airlines got overambitious with their expansion plans

Travel analyst Henry Harteveldt told Business Insider that thining margins are, in part, because airlines added too much to the market too fast amid confidence in the soaring demand and now can't sell all of those seats.

Reuters reported American hurt its pricing power after aggressive growth in its domestic market. The airline also missed out on revenue from corporate customers due to a flawed ticket sale strategy it has since admitted was a mistake to adopt.

"We're seeing softness in customer bookings relative to our expectations that we believe is in part due to the changes that we have made to our sales and distribution strategy," American CEO Robert Isom said during a May conference.

Southwest also cited its struggle to predict demand as part of its revenue problem. And, unlike ultra-low-cost carriers , Southwest doesn't charge extra for ancillaries like bags or seats — another missed revenue opportunity.

In fact, activist firm Elliott Investment Management recently pumped nearly $2 billion into Southwest, questioning strategies like its lack of add-on fees and calling for a board shake-up and the firing of Southwest CEO Bob Jordan.

Business travelers are booking fewer last-minute premium-priced tickets

Part of the industry's overcapacity problem is because lucrative business travel still hasn't completely rebounded since the pandemic, Harry Kraemer, former CFO and CEO of healthcare firm Baxter International, told BI.

Corporations aren't spending as much on last-minute business travel since the pandemic made Zoom and Google Meet more convenient.

"Half of the market is gone, and it's their highest margin," Kraemer said. "You've got all this excess capacity, and you've bought these planes, so what are you going to do with them."

Further, Harteveldt said companies have become more price-sensitive and are looking for cheaper options, noting ULCCs Frontier and Spirit are even getting business customers.

Over the past 12 months, shares of Spirit and Frontier have declined roughly 79% and 50%, respectively, far underperforming competitors and the market.

In an effort to boost revenue, they've changed their strategies to capitalize on the demand for more premium perks, such as dropping change and cancel fees and creating "business" class-like seats.

Boeing delivery delays have eaten into profits

Harteveldt said Boeing's ongoing delivery delays have cost airlines like American, Southwest, and United millions of dollars. This has forced them to adjust their planned flying, impacting revenue opportunities and flight availability.

He also said the lack of new planes means airlines are flying older ones for a longer time. The costs of maintenance and lesser efficiency can add up, and customers can't get access to the nicer amenities and reliability of newer jets.

Airlines need to expand with new routes and planes, he said — it's the nature of the highly competitive industry.

However, Harteveldt noted these forced network shake-ups, like Southwest's exit from four airports , could be beneficial for better leveraging airline pricing power, as capacity can be brought back in line with demand.

"The airlines should find and serve routes that are the most profitable, and that means they may need to increase capacity in some markets and completely exit others," he said.

Low-cost competitor JetBlue Airways overhauled its network to stay above water after its failed merger with Spirit.

Harteveldt noted that Airbus is also facing production setbacks that are impacting deliveries and worrying investors, though not as dire as Boeing.

Airlines are plagued by high costs in an extremely competitive industry

Nearly everything is more expensive than it was before the pandemic, and airlines are no exception.

"It's the worst possible combination of high fixed costs and inflation on the variable costs," Kraemer said, pointing to costs like planes, labor, and fuel. "There are so many permanent changes like virtual meetings that airlines will need several years to adjust for."

Fuel costs in April were 33% higher than they were during the same time in 2019, according to the most recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, US airline pilots have gotten huge pay raises in recent years to help fend off a labor shortage.

For low-cost carriers like Frontier and Spirit, these high costs make it challenging to make money, Kraemer said. Still, they force competitor fares down — creating another profit obstacle for mainline carriers. IATA reported in June that industry ticket prices, including ancillary, are 15% below 2019 levels despite high growth.

Harteveldt said beefing up revenue in any way possible is the best way to counteract the ever-growing costs.

"These days, it's less about having the lowest costs and more about generating the most revenue," he said, suggesting strategies such as charging for more ancillaries, reducing the number of discount tickets sold, or creating more enticing bundle packages.

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.