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Nothing ruins a trip faster than an annoying delay or a completely disruptive cancellation. The only consolation is that you may have recourse against the airline. But which scenarios trigger Spirit Airlines compensation? When can you get a refund? And how do you go about it?
We’ll answer all these questions (and more) and you’ll be perfectly positioned to maximize your payouts in the shortest amount of time.
What You Need to Know
- Passengers can often cancel flights within the first 24 hours after booking for a full Spirit Airlines refund.
- In 2024, 76.05% of Spirit Airlines flights arrived on time; 1.7% were canceled.
- Flights with a schedule change of 1 hour or more are eligible for Spirit Airlines refunds.
- Spirit Airlines cancellation compensation changes depending on whether or not the interruption was controllable by the airline.
- Passengers can also get re-booked, receive a travel credit or meal voucher, or have an overnight hotel stay reimbursed, depending on the circumstances.
Spirit Airlines Cancellation Policy – When Can You Get a Refund?
All US airlines have a 24-hour cancellation rule. Within 24 hours of booking a flight, the Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates that Spirit Airlines must issue a full refund when passengers cancel a flight. To qualify, the travel booked must be a minimum of 7 days away.
Regardless of whether or not a Spirit Airlines cancellation is within the airline’s control, they must either issue a full refund of the ticket price or offer a suitable alternative flight.
When flights are canceled, Spirit Airlines will book you a new flight at no charge. This flight will be with Spirit Airlines. Other airlines, like Delta, United, and American, will also book you on a new flight either with them or a partner, so your replacement flights with Spirit are much more limited.
The Spirit Airlines refund policy has restrictions. Let’s say that you need to cancel your flight but are outside the 24-hour window. The Spirit Airlines refund policy has restrictions. You will not receive a refund. Here’s what you can get:
- A future travel credit for the amount you paid.
- Free itinerary changes with Go Savvy, Go Big, and Go Comfy tickets.
- Adjustments to any other flight itinerary; fare differences and additional fees apply.
Other Types of Compensation for Spirit Airlines Cancellations
For disruptions within the airline’s control, expect meal vouchers when a cancellation results in a 3+ hour delay. When replacement flights depart the next day, passengers are entitled to accommodation and the associated transportation.
Note that when you book with companies like Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, and you’re stuck with a trip delay of at least 3 hours at the airport because the airline canceled your flight, they offer frequent flyer miles or a travel voucher as compensation.
Spirit Airlines Delay and Cancellation Rules
This summary should clarify your Spirit Airlines flight delay compensation and canceled flight payouts when the airline is at fault. These are general guidelines, although the airline may offer additional situation-specific options.
Type of Compensation | Delayed 3+ Hours (domestic flights) | Delayed 6+ Hours (international flights) | Canceled |
Rebook on Spirit Airlines |
(or refund) |
(or refund) |
(or refund) |
Rebook on Alternate Airline |
|
|
|
Meal Voucher |
|
|
|
Hotel + Transportation (Overnight Delays) |
|
|
|
Cash, Miles, or Travel Vouchers |
|
|
|
Recent Spirit Airlines Flight Disruptions
Shockingly, in November 2024, passengers received quite a scare with a Spirit Airlines plane trying to land in Haiti’s capital was hit by bullets. Yes, bullets. The flight was able to land safely, but this prompted Spirit and 2 other airlines, JetBlue and American Airlines who had similar incidents, to cancel flights to Port-au-Prince, affecting many passengers.
In early 2025, 2 Spirit Airlines flights incurred delays traveling from Florida to Rochester, NY. The issue was due to a jetway malfunction triggering delayed flights of up to about 45 minutes. In response, Tommy Fletcher, the airline’s spokesperson said:
We want all our guests to have a great experience while traveling with us. Our ground services at Rochester are handled by a third-party business partner, and we are following up with our business partner and the airport authority regarding this matter.
As compensation, Spirit offered each passenger a $30 voucher. In real terms, that’s about 30% of the average ticket price.
How To Apply For a Spirit Airlines Refund
The easiest way to get your Spirit Airlines refund is to go online.
- Go to Find My Trip on the website or log in.
- Log in or enter your last name and confirmation number.
- Select your trip and click on cancel.
- Follow the prompts.
Fares purchased using a credit card must be refunded within 7 days, whereas for cash or check, it’s 20 days.
Spirit Airlines Flight Delay Compensation – When To Claim For More
No airline in the US is currently required to pay passengers for a significant delay, although there are proposed DOT compensation rules in the works. But some airlines, like JetBlue, Southwest, Hawaiian, and Alaska, do offer future travel credits to soften the blow when passenger have to wait at least 3 hours for their flight. Some also give out miles.
With Spirit, when flight schedules are changed by 1 hour or more, passengers can apply for a full refund. However, this isn’t usually a delay but rather a schedule change made well in advance.
When your domestic flight was delayed by 3 hours or more, and Spirit is the cause of the delay, you can forget about miles or travel vouchers. You’re entitled to:
- A new flight booking provided delay is significant. “Significant” is defined as domestic flights arriving at least 3 hours late, and at least 6 hours late for international ones.
- Meal vouchers for 3-hour+ delays.
- Hotel stay and ground transportation for overnight delays.
Get What You’re Owed For Spirit Airlines Delays and Cancellations
As airline compensation experts since 2017, we know how to get the most out of Spirit Airlines. Follow these steps to maximize your Spirit Airlines flight delay compensation and minimize the inconvenience.
- Know your rights. Airlines often want to avoid the expense associated with meal vouchers, transportation, hotel stays, and rebooking passengers. Ask about the delay/cancellation reason and then demand the appropriate Spirit Airlines compensation.
- Rebook early. Once the flight crosses the 3 or 6-hour delay threshold or is canceled, rebook with Spirit ASAP. Since you’ll only have Spirit Airlines flights to choose from, good alternate options will go fast.
- Get actual vouchers or written reimbursement confirmation for food, hotels, and transportation. Don’t book anything without the airline’s permission.
- Make sure you wait until your flight is officially delayed or canceled before seeking any Spirit Airlines compensation.
Tips For Filing a Claim on Your Own
When airlines don’t offer the appropriate vouchers, accommodations, or refunds, you’ll need to make a claim. Avoid vouchers and opt for a full refund if that’s an option. Vouchers are a lot less flexible than cash in your pocket.
- Determine if your flight is eligible using our free flight checker.
- Understand exactly what you’re entitled to.
- Go to their website and click on “Submit a Request.”
- Click on the blue button to chat with an agent.
- Outline your issue and the representative will guide you through the steps to claim.
- Have your flight and personal information ready.
- If you’re not getting results from Spirit Airlines, escalate the issue to the DOT or have us handle the claim for you. It only takes 2 minutes!
What Happens When Spirit Airlines Causes a Missed Connection?
Honestly, not too much. In the US, air passenger rights have a ways to go compared to the UK and Europe. When a controllable delay results in a subsequent missed connection, the airline should rebook you and will generally offer the same meal, hotel, and transport remuneration consistent with 3+ or 6+ hour delays.
Controllable vs Uncontrollable Spirit Airlines Disruptions
Technically, when a Spirit Airlines cancellation or delay is not the airline’s fault (uncontrollable), like weather or air traffic control issues, they are not required to do anything other than get you to your destination, eventually.
But, controllable interruptions, like those related to Spirit staffing issues, Spirit strikes, or poor maintenance, offer the protections we’ve outlined above.
Airports with the Most Delays
Of the airports where Spirit flies, Dallas Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare had the most overall delays in 2024. It’s likely not a coincidence that these 2 airports feature on our list of the busiest airports in the US. Passengers flying out of either of these locations should make sure to bring lots of entertainment and do a refresh on passenger rights.
Get to Know Spirit Airlines
As a low-cost carrier, Spirit offers low fares, but these discounted flights seem to be putting the airline at risk. On February 20, 2025, Spirit Airlines received permission to complete a debt restructuring plan to get out of bankruptcy. Its lenders will become the new owners of the company. This allows them to convert a staggering debt of $795 million into equity.
Other than the issue of bankruptcy, which granted, is a big one, Spirit has shown improvement in its on-time and cancellation rates from 2023 to 2024. This is great news for the more than 40 million annual passengers and means there’s more money to go around for Spirit Airlines compensation like meals and hotel stays because it happens less frequently.
Spirit Airlines Delays and Cancellations at a Glance
2023 | 2024 | % Change | |
On-Time Arrivals | 69.45% | 76.05% | +6.6% |
Cancellation Rate | 1.7% | 0.68% | -1.02% |
