After the low-cost air carrier Spirit Airlines shuttered over the weekend, canceling all its flights and beginning to wind down its operations, many travelers have been left wondering: What do I do now?
The airline, which had been operating for more than three decades, had been beset by financial challenges in recent years; it filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and again in 2025. On Saturday, Spirit said soaring fuel costs—a product of the war in Iran, and a trend that has forced other airlines to raise their prices or cancel flights altogether—was the final straw that drove it out of business.
“The sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices in recent weeks ultimately has left us with no alternative but to pursue an orderly wind-down of the Company,” Spirit’s President and CEO Dave Davis said in a statement. “Sustaining the business required hundreds of millions of additional dollars of liquidity that Spirit simply does not have and could not procure.”
Read More: What You Can Do If Your Flight Is Canceled Amid the Jet Fuel Crisis
TIME is here to answer all your questions about what Spirit’s shut down means for your trip, the status of your refund, and what you should know about booking trips amid the ongoing disruptions caused by the fuel crisis.
I have an upcoming Spirit flight. Is it canceled?
Yes. All Spirit flights were canceled, starting on Saturday. The carrier advised all customers not to go to the airport.
If I booked a Spirit flight, will I get a refund?
How and when you get a refund depends on how you booked your flight. On its website, Spirit said that it “will automatically process refunds for any flights purchased through Spirit with a credit or debit card to the original form of payment.” If you booked your trip through a travel agent, meanwhile, you need to reach out to the agent to request your money back. And if you booked your flight through another method, such as a voucher or Free Spirit points, any compensation you may receive “will be determined at a later date through the bankruptcy court process,” Spirit said.
Unfortunately, if you booked your flight on an old credit or debit card that isn’t active anymore, Spirit said it can’t refund you for the trip. The carrier said that customers who fall under that category can try submitting a claim to the U.S. bankruptcy court, but that there is no guarantee that they would receive a refund.
If you paid other fees for your trip, such as for luggage or WiFi services, in connection with a flight scheduled to take place on or after Saturday, you will receive a refund on the credit or debit card you used to make the purchase. If you had Free Spirit points that you hadn’t yet used, the carrier said that they “are no longer redeemable” but that “plans for the loyalty program will be determined at a later date through the bankruptcy process.”
A Spirit spokesperson told TIME that most of the customers who booked their flights on a credit or debit card were refunded as of Saturday evening. The spokesperson said that refunds could take some time to appear in a customer’s bank account, adding that Monday is the first banking day since the company shuttered its operations.
You can check the status of your refund on Spirit’s website here.
Karen Schaler, the creator of Travel Therapy TV, advises Spirit customers to be proactive about their refund. Even if you purchased your flight through an active credit card, Schaler recommends calling your credit card company to dispute the charge for services not rendered.
“There is a lot going on right now, so your safest bet is to call your credit card company,” she says. “It’s very easy to do.”
“I would not advise sitting back,” she adds.
Schaler also recommends that you keep every receipt, email, booking confirmation, and any other documentation you have that shows you paid for a service with Spirit; that way, when the bankruptcy process starts, you have all the documentation you need to file a claim to seek compensation.
Will Spirit rebook my trip?
No. Spirit said on its website that it can’t help impacted customers rebook their trips with another carrier. But on Saturday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that several airlines are offering services to support travelers who are affected by Spirit’s shutdown. For instance, United, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest are capping airfares for Spirit customers who need to rebook their flights. American and Delta are also offering reduced fares in certain situations.
These offers, though, are not valid indefinitely and may not apply to every trip. Schaler urges customers who have been stranded by Spirit’s shutdown or who are traveling this week to check with the airlines providing these limited-time offers to see if they apply to you.
I’m nervous to book flights amid these travel disruptions. Is there anything I should do differently or keep in mind as I’m planning trips right now?
Spirit customers are not the only travelers grappling with travel disruptions right now. Jet fuel is one of the most expensive operating costs for airlines, and its price tag has soared in recent weeks. The rising cost is attributed to the war in Iran, which started on Feb. 28 and has resulted in a global shortage of jet fuel. Airlines around the world are trying to offset those costs by raising prices for customers, including baggage fees and airfares, or canceling flights altogether.
Your flight getting canceled may be out of your control, but travel experts have some advice for you if you’re booking trips in the coming weeks and months.
The U.S. Travel Association said in a statement to TIME that it recommended travelers plan ahead, book trips earlier, and “build in flexibility where possible,” amid the uncertainty around costs associated with traveling.
“The travel industry continues to navigate this period shaped by unforeseen geopolitical factors and shifting costs, and we’re continuing to monitor how these dynamics may influence upcoming travel,” the association said. “That said, Americans’ desire to travel remains strong, and the industry has consistently demonstrated resilience in the face of volatility.”
Schaler says the biggest tips she has for travelers are to plan ahead, be prepared, and to travel smart.
With airlines canceling flights, it will make the competition for flights even tougher, which will drive prices up. And now that Spirit has canceled all its flights, that’s going to result in even more competition for existing flights, Schaler points out.
“Now more than ever,” she says, “you want to book your trip early.”
“This is not the time to try and wing it last minute and grab a flight,” she continues. “With the jet fuel crisis and airlines cutting back and canceling flights, the longer you wait, the more money it’s going to cost you.”
She recommends setting a flight price alert, such as through Google Flight; that way, you can grab the best airfare offer quickly when you see it’s available. She also suggests buying your tickets during off-peak times. In other words, don’t purchase your flights on Friday night or over the weekend; try getting your tickets in the middle of the week, around midnight.
There are other ways you can reduce the price of your trip: Try traveling on off-peak days, like Tuesday or Saturday, and at off-peak times, like early in the morning or by taking a red-eye, Schaler says.
She also suggests purchasing flexible fares wherever possible so that you can change or cancel your trip without being charged any fees. And she encourages people to use their travel points, which can also give travelers more flexibility.
“We just saw with Spirit what happens if it closes—you lose all your points,” she says. “I think it’s a really good time to use your points and splurge.”
And she urges people to do their research and be prepared for any situation. She recommends checking out the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website, which allows you to select your airline and see what the carrier has committed to offer you if your flight is canceled or delayed. Checking that online tool, she says, will help you know what your rights are in those situations so you can remain calm if something does end up disrupting your flight.
“Have a Plan B and a Plan C, especially if you’re traveling for an important event,” Schaler says. “You have to be your own travel expert right now. It’s the only way to really survive. Spend the extra half hour before you fly, make a little file, put it in your phone or print it up so you have … this information. It’ll take away your stress [and] it’ll take away your anxiety.”
The post What Travelers Should Know About Getting Refunds and Booking—or Rebooking—Trips Following Spirit Airlines’ Demise appeared first on TIME.
