NEED a last-minute flight change? Don't be dispirited — travelers on a budget airline won't have to worry about fees any longer. Spirit Airlines has dropped all flight cancellations and change fees. Customers can now modify or cancel their flights at no additional cost, a move that larger competitors, such as Delta, American, and United, made during the pandemic, with the exception of their cheapest tickets.
The change can save inconvenienced travelers hundreds of dollars. Before the new policy, passengers had to pay up to $119 to change their tickets. Unlucky Spirit travelers paid $69 for changes made 31 to 59 days prior, $99 for changes made between seven to 30 days before departure, and $119 for changes within six days of flying.
The airline followed in the footsteps of Frontier, which announced its new no-fee policy with its latest Economy, Premium, and Business fare bundles alongside its traditional Basic option. "We've changed, and now it's free to change," said Barry Biffle, the Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Airlines. "This enhancement is a key part of our promise to make travel with Frontier as flexible and worry-free as possible.
"We understand that plans can change, and we want to ensure that when they do, our passengers can adjust their bookings without the stress of additional fees." With the exception of the Basic fare, all bundles have eliminated change and cancellation fees, as well as a few built-in money-saving perks. The bundles include carry-on bags.
