Spirit Airlines Has Shut Down. Here’s What Other Airlines Are Offering To Help Passengers.

Spirit Airlines shut down all operations effective May 2, 2026, canceling all flights and closing customer service.

If you have travel booked with the budget airline, you need to make alternative plans on your own. There will be no assistance from the airline itself.

This development may not come as a surprise to those closely following the airline’s financial struggles, but if you were caught off guard, several airlines are stepping up to offer discounted rescue fares to help you get where you need to go.

Let’s take a look at the details.

Spirit Airlines Shuts Down: Refunds, Rescue Fares, and What To Do

Spirit Airlines has shut down and ceased all operations as of May 2, 2026.

After years of financial troubles, multiple bankruptcy filings, and even talks of a government bailout, the budget airline has fully shut down after 34 years of flying.

Passengers who purchased tickets directly through Spirit with a credit or debit card will automatically receive refunds to their original form of payment. Those who booked via a travel agent or third party should reach out to the company directly for a refund.

Passengers who booked flights using other methods, including vouchers, credits, or Free Spirit points, will need to wait until the bankruptcy court process decides how to handle those refunds.

Which Airlines Are Offering Rescue Fares?

In the wake of the Spirit Airlines shutdown, competing airlines are offering rescue fares to help get passengers where they need to go.

Allegiant Air

Allegiant announced a special offer to assist passengers affected by Spirit Airlines’ closure. Through May 12, 2026, Spirit customers can receive 50% back in Allways Rewards points on qualifying itineraries rebooked with Allegiant using code ALLWAYSTHERE.

American Airlines

American Airlines has put rescue fares in place immediately on nonstop routes where it overlaps with Spirit, covering 70 of the 72 airports and 67 of the specific routes Spirit operated. It’s also capped airfares to prevent massive price jumps on these routes. American is also reviewing adding capacity through larger aircraft and additional flights on key routes.

Avelo Airlines

Avelo is offering 75% off base fares, plus a status match into Avelo PLUS, for travelers affected by Spirit’s shutdown. Use promo code TRYAVELO through November 17, 2026, at AveloAir.com. SpiritSaver$ Club members can also status match to Avelo PLUS for a 12-month membership by submitting a request by May 31, 2026.

The carrier also serves alternate routes previously flown by Spirit, with plans to expand this summer, at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA), Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), Lakeland International Airport (LAL), and Wilmington Airport (ILG).

Delta Air Lines

Delta is offering discounted, nonrefundable rescue fares in affected markets over the next 5 days to help travelers book last-minute travel. There will be availability even on flights that are close to full to provide more options, even when space may be limited.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier serves more than 100 routes previously flown by Spirit and is adding 9 new routes plus 15 additional daily flights across 18 former Spirit markets. The budget airline is offering up to 50% off base fares across its entire network for travel through November 19, 2026, when using promo code SAVENOW.

JetBlue

JetBlue is offering $99 one-way rescue fares for travelers with proof of a valid Spirit itinerary on the same route for travel through May 6, and it’s also capping Blue Basic fares on nonstop routes out of Fort Lauderdale and San Juan through May 8.

Fort Lauderdale and San Juan were 2 of Spirit’s busiest markets and are both JetBlue focus cities. JetBlue also announced 11 new destinations from Fort Lauderdale to expand service where Spirit had operated, with new routes available to book starting May 4.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is offering distance-based flat fares at airport ticket counters through May 6. Domestic fares are as follows: $200 for flights under 500 miles, $300 for 501 to 1,000 miles, $400 for flights over 1,000 miles. International discounted fares are also available. Note that these fares are only accessible at Southwest ticket counters at the departure airport, not online.

United Airlines

United Airlines launched a dedicated page at united.com/specialfares with price-capped one-way tickets from most cities Spirit served, including Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Newark, New Orleans, and Orlando. Most fares are capped at $199, with longer flights capped at $299.

To access the fares, passengers need to provide their Spirit confirmation number, proof of purchase for travel between May 2 and May 16, and a United MileagePlus number.

Final Thoughts

Spirit Airlines has gone out of business, the first for an American airline in 25 years.

Passengers who were booked on a Spirit flight may be scrambling to rebook. Fortunately, many competitor airlines have announced limited-time rescue fares to help stranded travelers.

Many of these fares require proof of your original Spirit booking and have a short booking window, so move quickly if your travels were impacted.

Once that’s settled and you get where you need to go, look at our article about options to get your money back on Spirit tickets.