According to TPG, Spirit Airlines will launch its new frequent flyer program, Free Spirit, on 1/21/2021.
Here are the preliminary details we know so far.
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Elite Tiers and Benefits
Free Spirit Member - Basic Member
Earning rates: 6x points per dollar on airfare, 12x points per dollar on add-ons (baggage and seat selection)
Silver Member
Requirement: Earn 2,000 SQPs (Status Qualify Points)
Earning rates: 8x points per dollar on airfare, 16x points per dollar on add-ons
Benefits:
- Priority boarding
- Priority security at select airports
- Complimentary seat selection at check-in
- Same-day standby
- Points pooling
- No redemption fee on award tickets
Gold Member
Requirement: Earn 5,000 SQPs (Status Qualify Points)
Earning rates: 10x points per dollar on airfare, 20x points per dollar on add-ons
Benefits:
- Priority boarding
- Priority security at select airports
- Complimentary seat selection at check-in
- Same-day standby
- Points pooling
- No redemption fee on award tickets
- Complimentary Flight Flex (one free online flight change up to 24 hours before departure)
- One free checked bag and one free carry-on bag
- Free seat selection at booking
- Free drinks and snacks
Spirit Points
Points will no longer expire after 90 days. Instead, they will expire after one year, and any account activity will automatically extend expiration by another year. In addition, points for Spirit Airlines credit cardholders will not expire.
The new award chart or redemption rates have not been released yet.
BofA Spirit Airlines Credit Card Member Benefit
- Cardholders' points do not expire
- No redemption fee on award tickets
- Can create a points pool for 8 people
- 25% rebate on inflight purchases
- Shortcut Zone 2 boarding
- Earn 1 SQP for every $10 spent
- Receive one $100 Companion Vouncher each year
$9 Fare Club → Saver$ Club
- The new name also brings some new changes:
- Discounted fares
- Discounted seat selection
- Up to 50% off baggage fees
- Other add-on services will also receive certain discounts
It can be used for up to 9 people on the same reservation, including the holder.
Summary
Compared with Spirit's current loyalty program, this is a major improvement. It now looks much more like the frequent flyer programs offered by other airlines, and it even adds points pooling similar to Hilton's. In that sense, Spirit is actually ahead of most airlines here.
Since the annual fee on the current BofA Spirit credit card is only $59, if the annual fee does not increase, could this become a card whose benefits outweigh the fee?
But the real question is: would you actually want to fly Spirit? I definitely would not, unless its points eventually become transferable or redeemable with worthwhile airline partners... :)