Bank of America May Refund Free Spirit World Elite Card Annual Fees if You Ask

Updated: May 6, 2026, 10:38am CDT

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Free Spirit World Elite Card Will Remain Active for Now
Final Thoughts

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The demise of Spirit Airlines has left many travelers wondering what happens next, especially those carrying the airline’s Free Spirit^® Travel More World Elite Mastercard^®.

While Bank of America says cardholders’ accounts will remain open and active for now, some are already reporting success getting their annual fees refunded after calling customer service.

Here’s what you need to know.

Free Spirit World Elite Card Will Remain Active for Now

As first reported by Doctor of Credit, Bank of America has started emailing Free Spirit World Elite cardholders following the airline’s shutdown on May 2.

The email reassures customers that their accounts will remain open and usable even after Spirit‘s operations ended.

Here’s part of the message sent to cardholders:

We’re writing to share an update regarding Spirit Airlines and your Spirit Airlines Mastercard^® account. As you may be aware, Spirit Airlines ended operations on May 2. We understand this news may raise questions, and we want to assure you that we’re actively managing this situation and taking steps to support you. Your Spirit Airlines Mastercard account remains open and active. You may continue using your card as you normally would for everyday purchases. Your account continues to be serviced by us. There’s nothing you need to do right now.

One thing the email doesn’t mention is the card’s $79 annual fee.

That’s been frustrating for some cardholders now that the airline tied to the card is no longer operating. Still, based on multiple reader reports, some customers have successfully had their annual fee refunded in full — even if the charge appeared weeks or months ago.

Spirit Airlines A321 Premium Economy Cabin Overview — Some Spirit Airlines cardholders are reportedly receiving annual fee refunds after the airline ceased operations. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

Right now, the refunds don’t seem to be automatic. Most who were successful said they had to call Bank of America customer service and ask for a supervisor.

There’s no guarantee you’ll get a refund, but it may still be worth calling and asking, especially if you recently paid the annual fee or mainly kept the card for Spirit-related perks.

Hot Tip:

If you call Bank of America about your Free Spirit World Elite card’s annual fee, be polite but persistent. Several cardholders have reported that escalating the request to a supervisor helped them secure a refund.

Final Thoughts

Bank of America says Free Spirit World Elite card accounts will continue operating normally for now, but many cardholders are understandably questioning whether the card still makes sense now that Spirit Airlines is no longer flying.

While Bank of America has not announced a blanket annual fee refund policy, some customers are already getting refunded after calling in. If you recently paid the card’s $79 annual fee, you may want to contact Bank of America to see what options they offer.