Spirit Airlines refunds: How to get your money back after flight cancellations
Fox News reporter Madison Scarpino reports on Spirit Airlines closing, canceling all flights, prompting travelers to rebook other flights, on ‘Fox Report.’
The sudden closure of Spirit Airlines has left many travelers looking for answers, especially when it comes to getting their money back.
The budget carrier announced on Saturday that it is canceling all flights as it begins to postpone operations “immediately.” Customers who booked directly with Spirit using a credit or debit card will be automatically refunded to their original payment method, the airline said.
“All flights booked with credit and debit cards are in the process of being automatically refunded,” a Spirit spokesperson told FOX Business. “The majority of guests who booked travel by credit or debit card have been refunded as of Saturday evening, with a small percentage continuing to process. Refunds may take some time to appear in the guest’s account.”
Meanwhile, those who bought tickets through third-party sellers — including travel companies — will have to reach out to those providers to request a refund, according to the airline.
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Spirit Airlines announced on Saturday that it was canceling all flights. (Mike Blake/Reuters/Reuters)
Passengers who used vouchers, travel credits or loyalty points to book face more uncertainty.
Those claims will be handled through Spirit’s bankruptcy process. Customers can find more information on the airline’s rescheduling website, the airline said.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) warns that refunds may be difficult as they continue, and outlines steps travelers can take to try to get their money back.
Options include contacting your credit card company to request a “refund,” checking travel insurance coverage, or filing a claim in bankruptcy court, according to the DOT.
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Passengers who used vouchers, travel credits or loyalty points to book their flights face more uncertainty. (Photos by Quinn Glabicki/Reuters/Reuters)
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy echoed that guidance during a press conference on Saturday, while also pointing travelers to other options for rebooking.
Major US airlines – including United, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest – charge rebooking fees. Affected Spirit customers may be eligible for one-way tickets valued at about $200, provided they can confirm their original reservation, according to Duffy.
“I would recommend that if you have a ticket with Spirit that you really try to book with these airlines as soon as possible,” said Duffy. “These gifts will not be opened forever.”
American and Delta are also offering reduced fares on Spirit’s busiest routes, Allegiant has frozen fares on crowded routes, and Frontier is offering up to 50% off fares through May 10, Duffy wrote in X.
Spirit said the closures followed failed restructuring efforts, citing rising fuel costs and an inability to secure financing.
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“I would recommend that if you have a ticket on Spirit that you try to book on these airlines as soon as possible,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“For more than 30 years, Spirit Airlines has been instrumental in making travel accessible and connecting people while driving accessibility across the industry,” Spirit President and CEO Dave Davis said in a statement.
“… To sustain the business required hundreds of millions of dollars in additional capital that Spirit did not have and could not afford,” added Davis. “This is very disappointing and not the result we want.”
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The DOT did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.
FOX Business’ Robert McGreevy contributed to this report.
