Free Spirit Elite Status
The refreshed Free Spirit program launched in January 2021. Image Credit: Spirit AirlinesAs a Free Spirit member, you have access to 2 elite tiers: Silver and Gold.
Separately, Spirit has a program called the Spirit Saver$ Club (formerly known as the $9 Fare Club). This club offers benefits like discounted fares, baggage fees, seats, Flight Flex, Shortcut Security, and Shortcut Boarding for a fee of $69.95 for 12 months, $99.90 for 18 months, or $129.90 for 24 months.
Member
The base membership tier offers the following benefits:
- Earn points at a rate of 6x for fares and 12x for À La Smarte Options (like bags and seats)
- Access to exclusive members-only offers and promotions
Silver
Spirit’s lowest tier status comes with these perks:
- Earn points at a rate of 8x for fares and 16x for À La Smarte Options
- Free Shortcut Security and Boarding
- Same-day standby
- Seat selection at check-in
- Dedicated Guest Care line
- Ability to create a Points Pool
- Never paying redemption fees
Gold
The highest elite tier in the program has the following benefits:
- Earn points at a rate of 10x for fares and 20x for À La Smarte Options
- All Silver benefits
- Free Flight Flex
- First checked and carry-on bag
- Seat selection at booking (including exit rows)
- Free inflight beverage and snacks
If you’re interested in learning more, check out Spirit’s website for the full list of benefits.
Value of Free Spirit Elite Status
Spirit revamped its Free Spirit program in 2021, replacing the lack of benefits that you’d find with a non-budget airline with tangible perks like accelerated points earning, seat and baggage benefits, the ability to pool points with family and friends, and a longer expiration date for points. The airline also plans to introduce Free Spirit Points + Cash redemption options in March 2021.
Bottom Line: We once said there wasn’t much in value in holding Spirit elite status, but that isn’t the case anymore!
Earning Free Spirit Elite Status
Free Spirit Elite Level | Status Qualifying Points (SQPs) Requirement | Points per Dollar Earned for Fares | Points per Dollar Earned for À La Smarte Options |
Free Spirit member | | 6x | 12x |
Free Spirit Silver | 2,000 SQPs | 8x | 16x |
Free Spirit Gold | 5,000 SQPs | 10x | 20x |
Free Spirit Elite status can be obtained through Free Spirit Status Qualifying Points (SQPs) earned by dollars spent with Spirit, as well as eligible purchases made with your Free Spirit World Elite card or Free Spirit card.
Spirit’s Silver status is earned with at least 2,000 SQPs or spending at least $2,000 on base fare tickets (not including taxes, fees, or optional services). Gold requires 5,000 SQPs or an incremental $3,000 spend from Silver ($5,000 total).
Another way to earn Elite status is by signing up for a Free Spirit credit card. Primary cardholders can attain Silver status when purchases on the card reach $20,000 and Gold status when purchases reach $50,000 in a calendar year.
Free Spirit World Elite cardholders also earn 1 SQP for each $10 in net purchases.
Your Silver or Gold status will be effective for the remainder of the year in which you earn it and the entire following year. For example, if you become Silver in October 2021, you will hold that status through December 31, 2022.