After weeks of ongoing discussions with the federal government and other airlines, Spirit Airlines announced that no new deal was brokered—and that the airline would be shutting down immediately after 34 years of service.
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The news came at 3:00 am on Saturday, May 2, and was effective immediately. While news of a potential closure was public knowledge, the sudden end to operations left thousands stranded across the United States.
Over the weekend, several commercial airlines capped flight rates (momentarily) in order to help stranded passengers get to their final destinations. However, anyone who has booked flights with Spirit for the busy spring and summer seasons has been left up the creek without a paddle, so to speak.
Because Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy, there was no immediate statement available for passengers with upcoming flights, nor for those with points and credits to their name. Here’s what we know so far about how to get a refund for Spirit Airlines tickets that you have.
How to get a refund from Spirit Airlines if you had an upcoming flight
Here’s what we know about the Spirit Airlines shutdown in terms of passenger refunds.
- If you purchased your tickets with a debit or credit card, you will be reimbursed on the card you paid with
- If you missed your flight this weekend, you won’t get a refund—these flights were canceled and aren’t subject for reimbursement, unless you have a travel insurance policy that covers bankruptcy (aka ‘trip disruption’)
- If you booked flights with a travel agent, contact the agent to learn how they will distribute your refund—it’s on them, not Spirit Airlines
- Bankruptcy filings will determine how refunds for flights purchased with credits, points, and vouchers—so hang tight, as these announcements could take months
- Customer service is no longer available, so don’t try calling or emailing for help—instead, wait for official announcements from Spirit Airlines
- Spirit’s loyalty program is also moot, meaning you can’t transfer points or credits to another airline
