Spirit Airlines Gold Members Get New Upgrade Opportunities

Updated: July 15, 2025, 2:34pm CDT

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Table of Contents

Go Big Upgrade
Free Spirit Gold Status
Final Thoughts

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Spirit Airlines is a no-frills low-cost airline with little legroom in the back of the plane.

Up front, it’s a different story. Spirit’s Big Front Seats are as large and comfortable as almost any other domestic seat you’ll find on a U.S. airline. Now, Free Spirit Gold members can upgrade to the Big Front Seat using cash or points.

Let’s take a look at the details.

Go Big Upgrade

Spirit is currently rolling out a new way for Spirit Airlines Free Spirit Gold members to upgrade to Big Front Seats, as first reported by the Bulkhead Seat.

Hot Tip:

Editor’s note: In July 2025, Spirit Airlines changed all its fare classes. According to a Spirit spokesperson, the Big Front Seat is now only available when you guy a Spirit First travel fare and is no longer available a la carte. Now, Free Spirit status members and Free Spirit credit cardholders, along with 1 guest on their reservation, get free upgrades to available Big Front Seats or Premium Seats at boarding. All Free Spirit members can redeem points to book the Big Front Seat via a Spirit First fare, excluding taxes and fees.

Spirit Big Front Seat — The Big Front Seat is one of the most spacious domestic airplane seats in the sky. Image Credit: Brett Holzhauer

Passengers can now upgrade using cash or points within 24 hours of their flight at the following rates:

Flights less than 1 hour: $50 or 5,000 Free Spirit points
Flights 1 to 2 hours: $75 or 7,500 Free Spirit points
Flights 2+ hours: $100 or 10,000 Free Spirit points

Some Gold members are even receiving emails with a complimentary Go Big upgrade so be sure to check your email if you have Spirit Airlines elite status.

Big Front Seats come with extra space, premium drinks, and snacks. Depending on your budget, these upgrades could be quite tempting.

Free Spirit Gold Status

It may not be as flashy as some other airline elite statuses, but those who have Spirit Airlines Free Spirit Gold Status tend to love it.

Spirit is known for having low fares but nickel and diming customers for things like carry-on bags and snacks. Well, if you have elite status, you don’t have to worry about that — and you can still get the cheap fare.

Free Spirit Gold Status Includes:

Free carry-on bag
Free checked bag
Free drink and snack
Overweight fee waiver for the first checked bag up to 70 pounds
Pet fee waiver
Priority boarding (Group 1)
Priority check-in (when available)
Standard seat or exit row selection at the time of booking
Wi-Fi

So, if Spirit flies to your home airport and you have elite status, the benefits can add up quickly.

Bottom Line:

Spirit Airlines Free Spirit Gold members can now upgrade to the Big Front Seat for $50 to $100 or 5,000 to 10,000 points.

Final Thoughts

Spirit Airlines is rolling out a new way for Free Spirit Gold members to upgrade to the popular Big Front Seat by using cash or Free Spirit points.

This new feature is only available within 24 hours of the flight, and prices range from $50 to $100, depending on the flight duration.

While it is nice to confirm an upgrade in advance, some still may find it cheaper to wait and try to score an upgrade at check-in or even at the boarding gate.