SEATTLE – The recent downfall of Spirit Airlines, a prominent budget carrier in the U.S., signifies a significant shift for cost-conscious travelers.
If you’ve found yourself caught in the airline’s ceased operations, here’s what you need to know to navigate your way home and potentially recover your expenses.
“Rescue fares,” reduced prices for new flights
In response to Spirit’s closure, several competing airlines are stepping up with special offers to assist affected passengers. Major carriers such as American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines are offering capped or discounted fares to facilitate new travel bookings.
Below are links providing details on each airline’s rescue fare options:
- JetBlue Airways – JetBlue is offering $99 rescue fares for people with a Spirit itinerary through Wednesday, May 6. Call 1-800-JETBLUE to get help.
[MONEY MATTERS: Oil prices fluctuate as Spirit Airlines ceases operations]
These rescue fare options are available for a limited time, prioritizing travelers who are currently stranded and urgently need to reach their next destination.
For example, Southwest’s offer is only available in person at an airport ticket counter through Wednesday, May 6, according to industry trade group, Airlines for America and the U.S. Department of Transportation. United, meanwhile, is allowing such bookings for up to two weeks, which can be accessed online.
For those who were planning to fly Spirit and now need to find an alternative to the ultra low cost carrier, American, Allegiant, Frontier and Delta advertised reduced fares on the same routes Spirit once flew.
Many company announcements include maps showing where its routes overlapped with Spirits, which can help narrow the search to find a comparable flight.
“Spirit Airlines played an important role in expanding access to affordable travel and bringing more low fares to more people,” said Bobby Schroeter, Frontier’s chief commercial officer. “We recognize this is a difficult time for their customers and team members.
Get your money back in refunds
Spirit Airlines said they were prepared for an “orderly wind-down” of its operations, and that it will automatically process refunds for any flights booked on a credit or debit card.
Travelers who booked through third-party travel agencies should direct refund requests to those agents.
Anyone else who got their reservation through vouchers, credit or points will have to wait and see through Spirit’s bankruptcy process.
If there are questions about whether your money will make a safe landing back to your wallet, there are other ways to try to claw back your cash for the Spirit flight not taken.
The DOT suggests contacting your credit card company and exercising your rights under the Fair Credit Billing Act, by requesting a “chargeback” for services not rendered.
If you purchased travel insurance or it is included in your credit card’s policy and perks, call them to see if they cover “insolvency” or “service cessation.”
The last resort would be filing a bankruptcy claim but officials warn this route eats up time and money, and ultimately may only result in a partial refund.
The National Consumers League warned travelers to keep all documentation to prove they were booked for Spirit flights, including receipts, booking confirmations, cancellation notices, and any correspondence with the airline. The nonprofit watchdog organization also urged those affected to act immediately as credit card and insurance companies may have strict deadlines that can be time-sensitive.
“Not all Spirit customers should assume a refund will automatically appear,” said John Breyault, the league’s vice president of public policy, telecommunications, and fraud. “When an airline shuts down this suddenly, it’s up to travelers to take proactive steps to have the best chance of getting their money back.”
Expanding capacity and perks
American and United both said it is trying to adjust its fleet so it can help more stranded passengers. American said it is looking into tapping larger planes and United said it is potentially adding additional flights on routes where they overlapped with Spirit.
“We are reviewing opportunities to add additional capacity, including utilizing larger aircraft on critical routes — to support as many affected passengers as possible,” American said via an Airlines for America statement.
Southwest also said it will offer a status-match, by honoring Spirit’s Silver and Gold status members with its own A-List program.
The car rental company Hertz is also advertising deals for alternative transportation, offering one-way vehicles and up to 25% off for those find “the road might be the fastest way home in scenarios like this one.”
I’m an employee. Get me out of here.
Spirit crew members who are stuck at their destination should be granted airline travel benefits, including spare jump seats where available on most major carriers.
American said: “We will provide transportation for Spirit team members who have been displaced on a work trip,” according to an Airlines for America statement.
Details are on the American Airlines website.
The DOT also said the other companies are offering preferential interviews to help expedite the job search for former Spirit pilots, flight attendants and other employees. American said it will be setting up recruiting events for those former employees.
United is also offering to prioritize applications for Spirit Employees seeking jobs. Go to THIS WEBSITE.
