Travelers who opt for the cheapest available airline fare will know that the trade-off is giving up the ability to easily adjust one’s ticket if plans change.
On top of needing to pay the fare difference, basic economy travelers usually also need to pay a change fee that on airlines like Delta (DAL) and JetBlue (JBLU) can be as much as $75 for domestic flights. While budget airlines such as Frontier (FRON) and Spirit (SAVE) have tried to lure in customers by getting rid of change and cancelation fees in the spring of 2024, the latter airline is now reversing course on the decision.
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‘A cancelation charge will be retained for Go bookings purchased after February 5’
As first reported by Aviation A2Z, the Spirit website has been quietly updated to say that its basic Go fare no longer has the free change or cancelation options. The four fare bundles, which range from the basic Go to the Go Big that includes two checked bags, early boarding and an armchair-style seat, were first introduced last spring.
While Spirit initially scrapped cancelation fees across all four fare categories to keep up with competitor Frontier doing the same, the airline has now reintroduced a change fee structure for Go travelers: changing less than six days before departure will cost $99 and go down to $79 for seven to 30 days and $59 to 31 to 59 days.
Those changing more than 60 days before the flight will still be able to do it for free. Go Savvy, Go Comfy and Go Big customers will continue to be able to change and cancel their reservations for free.
Related: I just flew business class on Spirit — here is what it was like
“The full value of the reservation will be provided for Go Big, Go Comfy, and Go Savvy bookings,” the Spirit website reads. “A cancellation charge will be retained for Go bookings purchased after February 5, 2025.”
To comply with a Department of Transportation requirement, Spirit will continue to offer full refunds to customers who cancel a fee within 24 hours of booking it to the original payment method.
Amid Spirit bankruptcy exit, this marks a major reversal from prior promises
“Effective May 17, 2024, there is no fee to change or cancel a reservation on any Spirit flight,” Spirit said at the time. “This policy is among the best in the industry because it applies to every guest.”
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After announcing that it was filing for bankruptcy protection in November 2024, Spirit has spent four months looking for a turnaround plan before revealing that a coalition of investment firms like Citadel Advisors, Pacific Investment Management Company and UBS would take it private in exchange for converting $795 million of funded debt into equity and issuing $840 million of new senior secured debt to current bondholders.
The cancelation fee reversal is one among what will likely be a number of other drastic steps that the airline takes to reduce costs and bring in profit under new ownership.
“As we move forward, our leadership team remains focused on reducing costs while also advancing our strategic initiatives to transform our guest experience and position Spirit for success,” Spirit CEO Ted Christie said in a Feb. 20 statement.
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