Spirit has announced a new frequent flyer loyalty program called ‘Free Spirit‘. The new program will officially launch on January 21, 2021 but you can join now and start earning points and status.
Elite Status
Free Spirit will have three status levels:
- Free Spirit Members. This is the basic level that everybody starts as and you earn 6x points per dollar spent on airfare and 12x points per dollar spent on Á La Smarte options (seats and bags)
- Silver Members. This requires earning 2,000 SQPs (status qualifying points).
- Earns 8x points per dollar spent on airfare and 16x points per dollar spent on Á La Smarte options (seats and bags)
- Free shortcut security and boarding, same-day standby, and seat selection at check-in
- Dedicated guest care line, ability to create a points pool and no redemption fees
- Gold Members. This requires earning 5,000 SQPs (status qualifying points).
- Earns 10x points per dollar spent on airfare and 20x points per dollar spent on Á La Smarte options (seats and bags)
- All silver benefits (see above)
- Free flight flex
- First checked and carry-on bag
- Seat selection at booking (including exit rows)
- Free inflight beverage and snacks
Points Expiration
Points used to expire after 90 days, they will now not expire for one year and can be extended with activity. Spirit credit cardholders points will not expire.
Pool Your Points
You’ll now be able to pool points with up to 8 friends and family members. It looks like you need at least Silver status to do this (unclear if everybody needs Silver or just one person).
Points & Cash
It will be possible to use a combination of points & cash to pay for flights starting at 1,000 points + cash.
Our Verdict
It’s not clear what the redemption rates will be, but Spirit states that flights will start at 2,500 points per flight (same as current price). It looks like it’ll be tied to the cash rate, rather than the distance based award chart currently used. I can’t imagine most people spending enough with Spirit for Elite Status but points earned on the co-branded credit card do count towards status as well.
I have 500 Spirit points that expires in 24 days. I don’t know if I can transfer them to another person but if anyone wants them…?
spirit is a good airline for those who aren’t fussy at all. just bring 1 backpack and that’s it and you save alot of money. they have alot of nonstop flights where they have no competition. the seats suck but oh well..it’s cheaper usually than other airlines. however their reward program really is bad. useless really
before i was into churning spirit was always the cheapest airline by far, even with their insane baggage fees. nothing wrong with them, they are cheap and thats what many people value.
Most ppl ragging on Spirit on here dont fly it because they dont have many options from their home airport or at all. So its easy to dismiss them when you couldnt really use them anyways. A direct Spirit flight is a helluva lot better than a 2 or 3 layover on another airline. If you dont fly them, then you have no VALID input on this post.
Just the opposite. I have so many options that I don’t need to fly Spirit. Are there any Spirit routes that aren’t also served by another airline at least close by? OAK-FLL is Spirit exclusive but JetBlue, United, and Alaska have SFO-FLL.
+1 agree. Flew Spirit for the first time last year in May for a 3 hour flight with all middle seats empty (Covid). It was a decent flight with no complaints. Service is spartan, but not that much different from United or AA. I would fly Spirit again if the connections are fewer than other options.
Unable to checkout on any browser. you get to the end of making a reservation and nothing happens. in the APP you cant use vouchers or apply military discount. LAME
Imagine 2000 SQPT to qualify for Silver…. it is really sad….
I only fly 7-10 times a year, and I would at least want somewhat comfortable experience/seats
You can occasionally get the Big Front Seats (sort of their equivalent to J) for less than the price of Y on the Big Three.
You would still have to potentially pay for a carry on, but they can be a good deal if you are single or a couple planning a weekend trip.
points pooling also allowed for credit card members. when reading their FAQ, it sounds like only the “pool pilot” who starts it needs to have status.
This reminds me a lot of the frontier program that I used to be elite 20k on. In reality though, booking at the airport and avoiding the online booking fee of $20 per leg is still a better way to go almost ALWAYS.
The whole reason I collect miles and points is so that I don’t have to fly Spirit.
Amen 🙏🏼
Flew to tampa couple months ago…$58 R/T with taxes. Whatever dude
Several other airlines have prices like that on some flights during the Covid era. Finding prices like that during the Covid era doesn’t prove the prices will stay like that once the Covid era fades.
And you didn’t explain FROM WHERE to Tampa. It’s a lot different if $58 was from Seattle to Tampa than if it was from Atlanta to Tampa.
Only the “Pool Pilot” need to have silver or gold status, per their website.
“Get Everyone Onboard
The Pool Pilot both starts and redeems for your pool. Pool Pilots are Free Spirit members with Silver or Gold Status or Free Spirit Credit Card holders. They can invite up to 8 friends and family members to join in on the rewards.”