One of the most well-known air carriers in the United States is Spirit Airlines and they provide excellent budget-friendly fares for travelers who are thinking about saving quick bucks while traveling. Still unsure whether you should fly with them or not? We get it! If you are thinking about flying with Spirit Air, try to go through all of their policies involved, such as the cancellation and refund criteria and rules to avoid all sorts of confusion when you have a sudden change of mind.
Travel plans are something that can be pretty volatile and changing them over time is normal, but it is much more essential that you as a passenger know all of your options ahead of time! Make your process a little bit smoother than the usual by knowing all the rules for cancellations, refund eligibility, ticket fare type, and their credit options. If any at all, you would be getting your money back at all costs!
In this write-up, we will discuss the key details regarding the cancellation and refund process of your experience with Spirit Airlines. We have prepared for you a thorough overview of what you can expect from Spirit Airlines with elaborate sections and brief tables.
Understanding Spirit Airlines’ Cancellation Policy
Exploring options? Or looking at what Spirit Airlines offers its passengers in its Cancellation policy to its passengers? Read this first! The primary and most important aspect of getting your reservation’s refund is to understand the airline’s cancellation policies. Unlike traditional airline carriers, Spirit offers a much more lenient and relaxed cancellation option for the most part. The cancellation and refund, however, vary based upon the timing of cancellation and the type of ticket purchased. The carrier is an ultra-low cost one, thus they are much more focused on providing a lower flat rate for their tickets, whereas the ticket types are usually nonrefundable, and changes made to them often come with fees.
Spirit’s 24-Hour Risk Free Policy
One of the most passenger-friendly aspects of Spirit Air is their 24-hour risk-free period for cancellations. This allows travelers to cancel their ticket reservation for free without any issues or additional charge. It is a very important trait you would get with Spirit as they are a budgetary airline, and this perk would help recover the original cost if one has a change of plan. In order to avail the benefit, you’d need to fit the following conditions.
- The reservation should be booked for at least 7 days or 168 hours before departure.
- The reservation should be made directly to Spirit Airlines.
- The cancellation process for the reservation should be within 24 hours of the booking period.
- If a passenger meets all three of the required criteria, then they are eligible for a full refund to the original payment method without any questions.
Cancellation Fees Based on Timing
If for any reason you miss out on the 24-hour risk free window of Spirit Airlines, you’d be charged extra for your cancellation request, and it would depend entirely upon what tier of ticket you hold and how far in advance you have cancelled your ticket. Try to cancel your flights as quickly as you can, the closer you are to the departure, the higher your cancellation fees will be!
| Time before Departure | Estimated Cancellation Fee | Refund Type |
| 60+ Days Before Departure | $0 (Free) | Free full refund in Spirit Travel Credit |
| 30-59 Days Before Departure | $59 | Refund is issued as travel credit |
| 7 to 30 Days Before Departure | $99 | Refund is issued as travel credit |
| 0 to 6 Days Before Departure | $119 | Refund is issued as travel credit |
Important Notes!
Spirit does not issue cash refunds for any cancellations unless they are inside the 24-hour cancellation window. According to their policy regarding refunds, you would be only eligible for Spirit Travel Credits, which can be used for future travel or upgrades.
- Your Spirit Travel Credits would only be valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, try to use them within the time frame for the most benefit.
- If for some reason, you fail to cancel your flight before departure, your ticket would be considered void, and you wouldn’t be able to request a refund.
- Cancelling Flights with Spirit Saver$ Club & Flight Flex
Spirit Airlines offers additional flexibility for passengers who choose to book their tickets:
If you have purchased the Flight Flex add-on, then you are allowed to request a free flight change without any modification fee. Although, do note that if you think about using this perk for a flight cancellation, you’d still be charged the standard cancellation fee.
Spirit Saver$ Club offers discounted fares and perks for its members, although it does not offer any sort of special cancellation privileges. They are still subjected to the same policies.
Refund Policy for Spirit Airlines
Are you thinking whether you are eligible for a full refund for your cancellation? We got news for you! Unlike most traditional airline carriers, Spirit Air is a budget-low cost carrier and has a strict ‘no refund’ policy for their fare types. You would only be eligible for a full refund if you qualify for one, and the eligibility criteria depends on situations such as the following.
- 24-Hour Cancellation Rule: As per the airlines’ policy, the 24-hour window is the only time when all tickets are applicable for a full refund. One has to cancel their flight in the time window and book at least 7 days before departure date.
- Flight Cancellations done by Spirit: Unforeseeable circumstances can occur, and Spirit can unfortunately cancel your flight due to weather disruptions or operational issues. You would be eligible for a full refund or flight rebooking if it happens for free.
- Military or Bereavement Requests: In some very special cases, such as the death of an immediate family member or military duty changes, Spirit can offer a full refund or waive cancellation fees, but do note that it is not guaranteed and would require proper documentation.
- Travel Insurance: If you have purchased a travel insurance or trip protection from Spirit Airlines’ partners, you would be eligible for a full refund.
Refund Policy for Non-Refundable Tickets
Most tickets offered by Spirit are nonrefundable in nature, if you cancel them, you would only be eligible for a travel credit reimbursement instead. Travel Credits offered by Refund policy for Spirit Airlines are expirable and are only valid for the first 12 months.
- Standard Fare Tickets: Spirit Airlines’ fares are usually nonrefundable and only offer Spirit Credits than monetary reimbursements.
- Missed Flights: If for some reason, you fail to catch your flight or cancel before departure, then your ticket will be forfeited, and no refund credits will be issued.
Spirit Travel Credits
The airline might be low-cost and budget friendly, and has policies which aren’t all traditional like most carriers, but it still offers travel credits for future usage. Spirit’s Travel Credits are usually issued upon cancellations but there is a catch! They have a set expiration date, usually 12 months after issuance, which can only be used for flights but not other addons and are non-transferable.
Here’s a brief overview of the Refund Policy for a clearer understanding:
| Refund Type | Refund Eligibility | Refund Form | Expiration Date |
| Cash Refunds | 24-Hour risk free full refund cancellation and airline initiated cancellations | Original Payment Method | N/A |
| Spirit Travel Credits | Standard fare cancellations for flights outside the 24-hour window | Future Flight Credits | 12 Months |
| No Refunds | Missed flights and last minute cancellations only | N/A | N/A |
How to Cancel a Flight on Spirit Airlines
Got change of plans, but you want to cancel your flight tickets in a jiffy? Wondering how to cancel a flight on Spirit Airlines? Read along as we explain the varied ways you can make changes to your flight reservation for Spirit Airlines quickly! You must make your decision within the first 24-hour window for a risk-free cancellation.
Ways You Can Cancel A Spirit Airlines Flight
| Method | Best For | Possible Fees |
| Official Website | Quick & Hassle-Free Cancellations | Standard Cancellation Fees Apply |
| Mobile App | Convenient for On-the-Go cancellations | Standard cancellation Fees Apply |
| Customer Support | Assistance with Complex Bookings | May include extra charges for phone support |
| At the Airport Kiosk | Last Minute Cancellations & Travel Credits | May incur higher fees |
A Step-by-Step Guide to Cancel a Spirit Airlines Flight
Spirit’s Online Cancellation via Website
The fastest and the easiest way to cancel your Spirit Airlines flight is through their website, visit their official website at www.Spirit.com and follow the instructions below!
- Visit Spirit Airlines’ official website and login with your credentials
- Click on the ‘My Trip’ section at the top of the homepage
- Enter your last name and confirmation number to access your booking details
- Choose the flight reservation you want to cancel
- Click on ‘Cancel Reservations’ and review the cancellation fees at one go!
If you are eligible for a Spirit Travel Credit, you will be immediately issued after your cancellation.
Spirit’s Mobile App Cancellation Procedure
If you have experience with Spirit’s website, then you’d have a convenient way to cancel your flight on the go using their official application.
- Open up Spirit Airlines’ mobile application & login to your account
- Tap on “My Trip” section and enter all relevant booking details
- Select the flight ticket you want to cancel
- Tap on ‘Cancel Flight’ and follow the onscreen instructions offered by Spirit Airlines
- Once you are done, you will immediately receive an email confirmation
Cancelling Spirit Airlines’ reservation via Customer Support
If you are thinking about canceling your reservation online, you can call Spirit Airlines’ customer service at 1-855-728-3555.
Do keep the following with yourself:
- Your confirmation code
- The last name on the reservation
- Your payment method details
Do note that if you are modifying or cancelling your reservation over the phone, you may be charged a $25 service fee.
Cancellation Request at Spirit Airlines’ Airport Kiosk
If you are already at the airport but your plans require changes, Spirit representatives are available at the airport, where you can cancel your reservation.
- May take longer than online cancellation requests
- You would be subjected to standard cancellation fees
- You can request a Spirit Travel Credit refund if you are eligible
If you are canceling your reservation, do make sure that it is within 24 hours of booking and your departure is at least a week away.
Spirit Airlines Flight Cancellation Fees
You are looking forward to cancelling your flight, but wondering what the charges might be? Worry not, here’s a quick breakdown of Spirit Airlines flight cancellation fees. The closer you get to the departure date, the higher your charges will be applied.
Spirit’s Standard Cancellation Fees
| Time Before Departure | Cancellation Fee | Refund Type |
| Within the first 24 hours of booking. (If it is booked at least 7 days before departure.) | $0 (Free Cancellation) | Full refund is initiated to the original payment method. |
| 60+ Days Before Departure | $0 (Free Cancellation) | Full refund is only initiated as Spirit Travel Credits. |
| 31-59 Days Before Departure | $69 | Refund is only provided as Spirit Travel Credit |
| 7-30 Days Before Departure | $99 | Refund is only provided as Spirit Travel Credit |
| 0-6 Days Before Departure | $119 | Refund is only provided as Spirit Travel Credit |
| No-Show or Failure to Cancel Before Departure | 100% Forfeited | No Refund or Travel Credit is offered |
A Brief Overview of the Charges
You can avoid the cancellation fees if you have requested 60+ days before departure. However, do note that it would be reimbursed as Spirit Travel Credit instead of a Cash Refund.
If you cancel your flight within 7 days of departure, then you’d be liable to pay the highest cancellation fee for Spirit airline at $119.
Spirit Cancellation Fees & Considerations
Spirit Miles or Award Tickets
If you have booked your flight using Spirit’s miles or credit, then your cancellation fees still apply. Award flights have the same charges as standard flight fares.
Flight Flex Add-On
If you have purchased the Flight Flex add-on, then you can change your flight once, but the cancellation charges are still applicable. Flex fares do not offer cash refunds, they only offer one free modification for your reservation.
Spirit Saver$ Club Members
Saver$ Club members are also subjected to the same cancellation policies as standard fare passengers; they do not receive any sort of special cancellation perks when it comes to the cancellation fees & time frame.
Spirit’s Cancellations Due to Weather & Other Disruptions
Flight Cancellations are pretty common all around the world, thus Spirit Airlines has a very understanding way to compensate and communicate for events that have affected weather conditions, air traffic restrictions, and operational issues.
Spirit’s Approach to Weather Related Cancellations
The airline follows industry level protocols and standards for safety regulations, thus when flights by Spirit Airlines are canceled due to weather disruptions, it is usually for the best case, as conditions such as hurricanes, blizzards, and storms, or any other disruptions are nothing but a risk for the safety of everybody involved. Since such cancellations fall under the “Extraordinary Circumstances”, they are beyond the airline’s control, but you are still entitled to a lot of perks.
- You are entitled to a free booking for your journey at no additional cost with Spirit Airlines.
- You would be entitled to a full refund if you decided you wouldn’t be traveling anymore.
- If you prefer to retain the ticket value, you can ask for a spirit travel credit.
Do note that Spirit does not cover or reimburse according to a passenger’s hotel booking, meals or alternative transit options which are disrupted by weather conditions.
Cancellations Due to Operational or Unforeseen Issues
If for some reason, your Spirit Airline reservation gets cancelled due to operational issues such as flight mechanical issues, staffing shortages, or scheduling conflicts, then you would be entitled to additional rights when compared to those affected by weather related cancellations.
- A free rebooking of your journey on the next available Spirit flight at no additional cost for you.
- A full refund would be issued to you if you no longer want to travel.
- Potential compensation in the form of meal or hotel vouchers if the delay extends overnight (subject to Spirit’s discretion).
Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect with different scenarios!
| Reason for Cancellation | Passenger Rights | Compensations Available |
| Severe weather such as hurricanes, storms, and blizzards. | Free rebooking, travel credit or refund option. | No Hotel or Meal Vouchers |
| Airline Operational issues such as a mechanical failure or staffing shortage | Free refund or rebooking | Possible Hotel or Meal Vouchers |
| Air Traffic control restrictions | Free rebooking or refund | No additional compensation |
| Government imposed travel ban or restrictions. | Free rebooking or refund | No additional compensation |
What to Do If Your Flight Is Cancelled
If for some reason your flight gets cancelled, try not to worry but follow the tips below for a better experience:
- Check your email or given phone number’s SMSs for official updates on your flight from Spirit Airlines.
- Login to “My Trips” and view rebooking and refund options for Spirit Airlines.
- If you are somewhere stuck, such as the airport, we recommend you go to the Spirit Airline counter for assistance.
- If you do have travel insurance, contact your provider for reimbursement options.
Spirit Airlines’ Emergency & Cancellation Policy
Emergencies are all unpredictable and Spirit Airlines understands and recognizes that, thus they provide last minute cancellation options. Spirit is known for its rigid policies, but if circumstances arise, they tend to offer solutions, especially exceptions for emergency situations with valid documentation.
What Qualifies for an Emergency Cancellation? You may ask. Well, Spirit offers waivers for cancellation fees on a case by case basis for emergency situations:
Serious Injuries & Illnesses – A sudden health issue which may prevent you from traveling can be waived off with proper hospital records or a doctor’s note.
Death or Injury of Passenger or Family Member – If there’s a death certificate, obituary or a funeral documentation, the airline waives off cancellation charges.
Jury Duty or Subpoena – For Jurists, the airline would require court-issued documentation as proof for mandatory attendance.
Military Deployment – If you are in the active duty personnel, the airline would waive fees with an official deployment order from a commanding officer.
Quick Overview of Documentation Required for Emergency
Passengers must submit a format request via Spirit Airlines’ customer service and provide all necessary documentation along with ticket confirmation number, passenger’s name and flight details. Do note that even if you provide all of your details to Spirit, the waivers can be denied if the airline thinks that it does not meet the criteria.
| Type of Emergency | Accepted Documentation | Cancellation Fees Waived |
| Medical Emergency | Doctor’s note or Hospital Records | Possible fee waiver |
| Death in Family | Death Certificate, Obituary, Funeral Program for Immediate Family | Likely fee waiver |
| Jury Duty | The court issued documentation for attendance | Likely fee waiver |
| Military Deployment | Official military records and orders | Yes |
How to Request an Emergency Cancellation?
If you do need to follow up and cancel your reservations with Spirit Airlines due to some emergency, then you should be able to do so with the following steps!
- Contact Spirit Airlines’ Customer Support
- Gather all of your necessary documentation and information beforehand.
- Submit all necessary forms and proof via email. (Spirit representatives would aid you in this process).
- Follow up the status of your request in a few days.
If Spirit Airlines denies your emergency cancellation request, you can reach out to your credit card provider or insurance provider to see if your travel protection is applicable.
Spirit Special Considerations Military Personnel
The airline offers certain benefits which are applicable for active-duty military personnel, which include flexibility in cancellation and refunds, and reimbursements. While the airline is renowned for its strict policies in the industry, it understands and values military members and the challenges they face. They provide certain waivers in some situations to make the process better.
Military Friendly Cancellation Policy
The airline does not charge active duty military members for their checked baggage, but they do apply cancellation charges unless they are deployed or on official duty. Here is a brief overview of Spirit’s military policies.
| Free Flight Changes Due to Deployment | Refunds for Military Related Cancellations | Flexible Travel Details |
|
|
|
Spirit’s Refund for Cancelled Flights
When Spirit Airlines cancels their flights for any reason, they offer passengers compensation and refunds depending upon the reason for cancellation. Refund policies for the airline depend entirely upon the reason, such as operational issues, weather disruptions or uncontrollable circumstances.
Understanding Spirit’s Refund Options
| Reason for Cancellation | Refund Eligibility | Compensation Availability |
| Spirit Airlines cancels for operational issues | · Full Refund is offered to original payment method or credits.
· Free rebooking is available. |
Potential vouchers are available for overnight delays such as meal vouchers and hotels. |
| Flight cancelled due to weather or uncontrollable events | · Free Rebooking
· Travel Credit (However, refund only if no alternative flights are available) |
No hotel or meal compensation |
| Passenger cancels voluntarily | No refunds for nonrefundable tickets unless covered by insurance. | No compensation is provided |
| Military duty cancellation | Full refund with official documentation | No additional compensation |
There are multiple ways for you to request a refund for your cancelled flight, you can avail them through Spirit’s official website, or by contacting their customer helpdesk. Do note that you need to keep all of your booking details and reason at hand.
How Long Does it Take to Receive a Refund?
It takes about 7-10 business days for credit cards to issue a refund, 20 days for debit cards, but travel credits are issued instantly. So, if you are looking to rebook your flight in the future, try to use the credits as they are the most efficient. call to 1-888-408-4970.
Conclusion
Understanding Spirit Airlines cancellation fees and refund policy can be a bit complicated, but in this write-up, you get to learn every bit of it in order to avoid all the unnecessary costs and complications. As a budget airline, they are offering a strict policy that impacts passenger experience, however, with exceptions and the availability of travel credits, it all becomes easier. In order to get a smooth experience, always review Spirit Airlines’ policies when booking a flight to stay updated and save time, as well as money.
