Bank of America has launched a new spirit credit card called ‘Free Spirit‘, seems to be in line with the new Spirit airlines loyalty program with the same name. Let’s take a look at the new card:
- 40,000 points after $1,000 in spend within the first 90 days and $100 companion flight voucher
- Annual fee of $79, waived first year
- Card earns at the following rates:
- 3 points per $1 spent on eligible Spirit purchases
- 2 points per $1 spent on eligible dining and grocery store purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Anniversary bonus of $100 companion flight voucher if you spend at least $5,000 in purchases the prior year
- Zone 2 shortcut boarding on all flights
- 25% rebate on all inflight food and beverage purchases when you pay with your card
The best offer on the old card was 30,000 points + $100. The Spirit program has been improved recently so might be more interesting than it was before. As always read these things everybody should know about Bank of America cards before applying. We will add this to our list of the best credit card bonuses.
Hat tip to reader Help Me Build Credit
I got the points but no voucher 🙁
What has not been mentioned yet is, they used to give you 2 points per $1 spent on “all other purchases”, which is how I racked up a lot of points. Now it’s 1 point per $1, plus they raised the annual fee by $20.
There’s actually a better sign-up bonus when you’re on the checkout page. The offer will be 35,000 points + $100 Statement Credit + $100 Companion Voucher.
Also, there is a no annual fee version of the card (might be an option to downgrade when the annual fee comes along)
https://www.spirit.com/creditcards
Note: They charge redemption fees when you buy with points and don’t have the annual fee version of the card. I plugged in a round trip with points for February and they added a $50 redemption fee (I’m guessing it’s $25 each way)
does this replace the old card? can you apply for this if you have/had the old one and get the bonus?
So, there’s not a lot of information on whether the new Spirit mileage system is better or worse. I used to Fly Spirit like 50 legs a year, intentionally, at least, for several years so my really basic answer is yes and no:
Yes to – The award chart and points system for redemption is better. They used to have a “fixed chart” where unless it was off peak, you were getting gouged, up to 25k-45k miles per leg. Further, most off peak dates didn’t offer off peak redemptions, anyway, so it was basically either impossible or the hugest pain to ever use miles.
Now, it seems tied to cash prices (somewhat) and variable, but at drastically lower rates than before. This will probably shift more post COVID, but there are even 5k mile roundtrips to Puerto Rico (From Detroit), for example. The lowest that could ever exist in the previous system was 15k miles. Spirit used to charge more based on distance, but that appears to be less often now so long distance trips are cheaper, and extremely valuable. I also saw nonstops from DTW-LAS for 2500 miles each way, for example.
No to – Spirit changing to awarding miles based on price instead of distance. For churners, this probably doesn’t matter, because we aren’t flying to earn miles, but in the previous system you could snag a $28 roundtrip that was say 3000 total miles, and you’d earn half of that in earned miles or all of it if you had the CC, and now with cash based, you’d get I think 168 miles? Lordy. That’s a hit.
So if you have a specific backpack trip in mind, card could def be worth it, as you could book several flights or several people on one pull. I honestly probably used to be (and might still be) an expert on Spirit miles, but since COVID I’ve given up that life for blocked middle seats on Delta.
So if anyone has any “How did this change” in practical terms, feel free to ask.
Justin
Spirit peak redemptions were previously, and remaining currently (but cost less now) – Nonstops cross continental US, PR/STT, Central America, Caribbean.
Also, the old chart you got discounted mile redemptions ONLY if you had the credit card. It honestly wasn’t even worth using the miles if you didn’t have the CC. The new chart doesn’t require the CC, and is lower than it was before, so that’s a big plus.
thanks for the insight.
any round estimate for what 40,000 points would be worth to a typical traveler?
Sure, Pete.
Spirit points previously used a fixed chart that was really hard to equate to 1 mile to a dollar amount. The new chart is so new that it’s hard to say how it will look post COVID. It definitely appears to be cash based. My advice: Go to spirt.com, look at their route map, do a few miles searches for flights you’d be interested in taking, and draw your own conclusions. It’s certainly possible to get plus $500 value on it and more, but it’s really subjective to what you specifically want to do and where you want to go. The type of routes I suggested above are good examples. Or even, a smaller amount and how many people you could bring with, for example.
Also DP: I’ve had this Mastercard for 6 years and they’ve never charged me the annual fee. They don’t charge, I don’t ask. I’ve read before that if it’s not holding a balance they don’t charge it or refund it, but I just let it be.
The new card refresh introduces a no annual fee version of the card now. They might start charging you an annual fee now, despite having a $0 balance
They have always charged me the annual fee with no balance.
Piece of garbage. pass
Buttttt….. it’s still Spirit…….
Idk man… Some people enjoy having to pedal the airplane.
Does this card offer include a $50 statement credit if you fly 3 times without shoes on?
Points redeemable for cash?
Why would anyone voluntarily fly on Spirit?