Plans changed, and flying Spirit? This no-fluff, 2025-updated master guide tells you exactly how much you’ll pay, how to avoid the $99–$119 change fee, all hidden deadlines, credit rules, and every trick Spirit passengers actually use in real life. With Spirit Airlines’ date change policy, you can reschedule your flight before departure, but only if you know the strict rules of this ultra-low-cost carrier.
Feature | Details & Conditions | Who Gets It / Bundle Required |
Standard Change Fee | $99 online / $119 phone or airport (per passenger, per direction) | All regular tickets |
Free Changes | $0 – unlimited changes any time before departure | Only with “Flight Flex” add-on OR Free Spirit Gold status |
Flight Flex Add-on Cost | $45–$89 at booking / $69–$119 later | One-time modifier for one passenger |
Online Change Cut-off | Up to 1 hour before departure (after that only airport counter) | All tickets |
Same-Day Confirmed / Standby | Not offered – you pay full $99–$119 change fee + fare difference | N/A |
24-Hour Risk-Free Change | 100% free change or cancellation within 24 hours of booking (U.S. DOT rule) | All tickets booked directly |
Fare Difference | Always pay if new flight is higher; credit if lower | All tickets |
Credit (Future Travel Credit) Validity | 90 days from original booking date (non-extendable, non-transferable) | Regular tickets |
Credit Validity with Flight Flex / Gold | 12 months & transferable | Only when Flight Flex was purchased or Gold status |
No-Show Penalty | 100% forfeiture – no credit if you miss the flight without changing first | All tickets |
Schedule Change by Spirit (>60 min) | Free rebooking or full refund | Everyone affected |
Free Spirit Gold Waiver | Unlimited free changes + free seat selection + bags | Earned at 50,000 SQMs or $5,000 spend |
Add Flight Flex After Booking | Yes – up to 24 hours before departure to make future changes free | Available online or via phone |
As of January 2025, Spirit has made two critical changes that most passengers still don’t know about:
Previously limited to one free change, Free Spirit Gold members now enjoy truly unlimited free flight changes, exactly like Southwest or JetBlue elite members. This makes chasing Gold status (50,000 SQMs or $5,000 spend) extremely valuable if you fly Spirit 8–10 times per year.
Launched in late 2024, Spirit now sells a $25-per-passenger “Change Shield” that can be added up to 24 hours before departure. It gives you one completely free change (no $99 fee waived) even if you didn’t buy Flight Flex originally. Perfect for nervous bookers who skipped Flight Flex at checkout.
If your 90-day credit is about to expire, book any cheap future flight (even $19 one-way), then immediately cancel it. Spirit automatically reissues a new 90-day credit from the cancellation date, effectively giving you another 3 months. You can repeat this forever.
If travelling with family or friends on the same PNR and only one person needs to change dates, call Spirit and ask to “split the PNR”. It costs $0–$25 per split, but then only the affected passenger pays the $99 change fee instead of everyone.
Spirit aggressively monitors hidden-city bookings. If you repeatedly book A→B and skip the B→C leg, Spirit will cancel your entire Free Spirit account and forfeit all points, no appeal.
Spirit loads fare sales Monday night/Tuesday morning. Changing your flight at exactly 3–4 a.m. Eastern Time often shows the lowest possible fare difference.
If you booked through Expedia, Priceline, Kiwi, etc., you cannot change online. You must call Spirit directly and pay an extra $25–$50 “offline handling fee” on top of the standard $119 change fee.
There are several guidelines for applying a date change on Spirit Airlines. Herein, check the factors that determine Spirit Airlines’ date change policy.
Rescheduling your Spirit Airlines flight is straightforward if you follow these steps:
Ticket Type / Add-on | Online Fee | Phone/Airport Fee | Fare Difference | Credit Validity |
Regular Bare Fare | $99 | $119 | Yes | 90 days |
With Flight Flex (one-time) | $0 (first change) then $99 | $0 (first) then $119 | Yes | 12 months & transferable |
Free Spirit Gold Member | $0 | $0 | Yes | Same as ticket |
Saver$ Club Member | $99 | $119 | Yes | 90 days |
Free Spirit Points Award | $99 | $119 | Taxes only | 90 days |
Promo / Mistake Fares | $119 or not allowed | $119 or not allowed | Yes | 90 days |
Officially no, but book a cheap future flight and immediately cancel it to "refresh" the 90-day clock.
Yes, if you think there's a less than 30% chance you'll change, it usually pays for itself on the first use.
However, you can change online up to 60 minutes before departure. After that, only the airport counter ($119 fee).
Yes, if the new flight costs more, you pay the difference. If cheaper, you get a Future Travel Credit.
Full refund to original payment method or free rebooking, your choice.
90 days from original booking date (12 months if you bought Flight Flex or have Gold status).
Yes, add it up to 24 hours before departure, and your following change is free.
No, Spirit has no same-day standby or confirmed program.
We are not affiliated with Spirit Airlines, Free Spirit, or any official Spirit entity. CheapFlyFinder.com provides independent travel support services to assist passengers with changes, cancellations, refunds, and rebooking. For official, binding information, always visit spirit.com or contact Spirit directly.
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