TravelShifu is not a financial adviser and does not currently earn commission on credit cards. This guide is educational information only — always check airline loyalty terms and the issuer's own card benefits before relying on status. Elite tiers, transfer ratios and partner awards change; verify on official programme pages. 18+, subject to status where credit products are discussed.

Spirit Airlines stopped flying on 2 May 2026, so Free Spirit points no longer buy Spirit flights. What the shutdown means and which US loyalty programmes to look at instead — educational only.

Key takeaways

Is Spirit Free Spirit worth collecting in 2026?

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No. Spirit Airlines stopped flying on 2 May 2026 and cancelled all of its flights, so Free Spirit points can no longer be used for Spirit trips and there is nothing left to earn. If you flew Spirit for low fares, compare Frontier, Allegiant, Breeze Airways, Avelo and Sun Country, and judge any new programme on the flights you will actually take.

FOX 2 Detroit reported on 2 May 2026 that Spirit had ceased operations immediately and cancelled all flights (FOX 2 Detroit, 2 May 2026). Spirit’s statement, quoted by Sinclair’s WPEC, said it had begun an orderly wind-down and that customer service was no longer available (WPEC via KOMO, 2 May 2026).

This page used to explain how Free Spirit earning, awards and status worked. That detail no longer helps anyone plan a trip, so it has been replaced with what the shutdown means and where to look instead. Our Spirit Airlines notice covers refunds for cancelled bookings.

What happens to Free Spirit points?

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The shutdown reports we checked do not describe any plan for Free Spirit balances, so do not count on them having value. Keep your account number and any statements in case an official notice appears, but plan new trips without them.

The same WPEC report says Spirit would automatically refund flights bought from it with a credit or debit card; it says nothing about points (WPEC via KOMO). If you held a Spirit co-branded credit card, contact the card issuer about the card’s future.

Which loyalty programmes should former Spirit flyers look at?

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Start with the airline you will fly most from your home airport. For low-fare flying that usually means Frontier Miles or Allegiant Allways; Breeze Airways, Avelo and Sun Country run their own schemes on narrower networks. Pay cash and skip loyalty altogether if no single airline dominates your trips.

Our Frontier Miles honest guide and Allegiant Allways honest guide cover the two closest like-for-like programmes. Beginners can start with points and miles for beginners, and compare cash fares on Aviasales before chasing any status.

  • Frontier Miles — closest unbundled low-fare model
  • Allegiant Allways — leisure routes from smaller airports
  • Breeze, Avelo, Sun Country — check which serve your airport
  • No dominant airline? Pay cash and compare all-in fares

Spirit Free Spirit questions, answered

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Spirit no longer flies, so Free Spirit cannot be used for Spirit trips. Plan new travel around the airlines still serving your route and their own programmes.

  • Is Spirit still flying? — No; it began an orderly wind-down on 2 May 2026.
  • Can I still use Free Spirit points? — Not for Spirit flights; no plan for balances was reported.
  • Closest alternative? — Frontier for the unbundled model; Allegiant on leisure routes.
  • Refund for a cancelled Spirit flight? — See our Spirit Airlines notice.

Evidence note

How we checked this guide

Research basis

3 external references linked in this guide and its resources. Each reference supports only the claims it addresses; a link is not evidence of first-hand testing.

Experience standard

No first-hand test or trip is implied unless the article explicitly states who tested it, when and under what conditions.

Content update date

Content updated on 17 October 2026; this is not an independent verification of every linked source. Time-sensitive prices, rules and eligibility must be checked again before purchase or travel.

Commercial independence

Commercial links are labelled before the click. Their presence is not evidence of personal testing, programme approval or guaranteed availability.

See the editorial policy, method notes, the scoped evidence ledger, or report a correction.