Spirit Airlines Ticket Cancellation & Credit Policy

Understanding the Spirit Airlines Cancellation Policy is essential before booking a ticket especially because Spirit operates as an ultra-low-cost carrier. The base fare is cheap, but flexibility comes with rules. If your plans change, you may not always receive a cash refund, yet you can often get a travel credit. Here’s a clear, user-friendly breakdown so you know exactly what happens when you cancel.

24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation

Spirit offers a 24-hour free cancellation window for all bookings.

You qualify if:

• The ticket is booked at least 7 days before departure

• You cancel within 24 hours of purchase

  
  

What you receive: A full refund to the original payment method not a credit.

This is the only situation where most Spirit tickets become fully refundable, so double-check travel dates immediately after booking.

Cancelling After 24 Hours

After the risk-free window closes, the Spirit Airlines Cancellation Policy usually provides a reservation credit instead of a cash refund.

What happens:

• The ticket value becomes a Future Travel Credit

• Credit is issued minus applicable cancellation fees (depending on timing)

• Credit can be used for another Spirit booking

  
  

Cancellation Fee Timing

Fees depend on how close you are to departure.

Time Before Departure	Typical Result
60+ days	Free cancellation (credit issued)
31–59 days	Moderate fee deducted
7–30 days	Higher fee deducted
0–6 days	Highest fee deduction

The closer you cancel to departure, the less credit you keep.

What Is a Future Travel Credit?

A Future Travel Credit (Reservation Credit) works like a digital voucher.

Key rules:

• Valid for 12 months from issue date

• Must be used by the original passenger

• Can be applied toward airfare, bags, and seat selection

• Non-transferable

If your ticket cost $150 and the cancellation fee is $69, you’ll receive a $81 credit.

Missed Flight Policy

If you simply do not show up for your flight and fail to cancel beforehand:

• Your ticket value may be forfeited

• No credit issued in most cases

To keep your money, cancel before departure even minutes before.

Refund Eligibility Exceptions

Cash refunds outside the 24-hour window are rare but possible in special cases:

• Flight cancellation by the airline

• Significant schedule change

• Duplicate booking

• Passenger death (documentation required)

Otherwise, Spirit issues credits instead of money back.

Same-Day Changes Instead of Cancellation

Sometimes changing a flight is cheaper than canceling.

Spirit allows:

• Same-day standby

• Same-day confirmed change (fee applies)

If you still plan to travel, modifying the booking may preserve more ticket value than canceling.

Smart Tips to Avoid Losing Money

1. Cancel early Earlier cancellations mean lower fees and higher credit value.

2. Use the 24-hour rule Book first, confirm plans later risk-free.

3. Set a reminder Credits expire after 12 months.

4. Don’t no-show Even last-minute cancellation is better than losing everything.

5. Consider travel insurance Helpful for illness or emergencies not covered by airline rules.

Final Thoughts

The Spirit Airlines Cancellation Policy focuses on flexibility through travel credits rather than refunds. While most tickets are non-refundable, you can still recover much of the value by canceling early and using the credit within a year.

The golden rules: cancel within 24 hours for a full refund, cancel early to minimize fees, and never miss a flight without canceling. With proper timing and awareness, you can change plans without losing your entire ticket cost.