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- Spirit Airways’ frequent flyer program, Free Spirit, simply bought a giant replace.
- You will earn factors primarily based on the price of a ticket, and there are two refreshed Spirit bank cards.
- The price to redeem Spirit factors for an award flight is now revenue-based as effectively.
- Read Business Insider’s guide to the best airline credit cards.
Spirit Airways is well-known for its ultra-low-cost flights all through the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean, however not for having a sturdy loyalty program. That is now modified.
On January 21, the airline’s Free Spirit frequent flyer program bought an enormous overhaul, providing a big improve in worth for frequent vacationers. The airline has moved to a revenue-based system, which suggests you will earn and redeem factors primarily based on the worth of a ticket.
There are additionally adjustments to elite standing ranges, factors expiration, and the power to pool factors with others. Moreover, the provider has revamped its co-branded credit cards issued by Bank of America, and the gives are compelling when you fly Spirit Airways regularly.
This is what to learn about incomes and redeeming factors within the new Free Spirit frequent flyer program.
Two kinds of Spirit factors
Within the Free Spirit program, there are two kinds of factors: redeemable and Standing Qualifying Factors (SQPs).
Redeemable factors are earned at a sooner fee than SQPs and are used to e-book award tickets. SQPs cannot be redeemed and are used for incomes elite standing solely.
Earn factors flying with Spirit Airways
Factors aren’t earned primarily based on how a lot you fly — as an alternative, they’re earned on the pre-tax value of airfare and further “À La Smarte” choices like seat choice and baggage fees.
You will earn SQPs at a fee of 1 level per greenback spent on airfare and add-on charges.
Nonetheless, redeemable Spirit factors are earned primarily based on elite standing:
- Common: 6 factors per greenback on airfare, 12 factors on choices
- Silver: eight factors per greenback on airfare, 16 factors on choices
- Gold: 10 factors per greenback on airfare, 20 factors on choices
You additionally earn points with partners, together with lodge stays, automobile leases, cruises, and on-line buying:
- Choice Hotels: Earn 250 factors for every keep within the US, Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and Australia
- PointsHound: Earn as much as 6,000 factors per night time at over 150,000 accommodations worldwide
- Rental vehicles: Get reductions and/or earn factors with Avis, Price range, Greenback, Hertz, Payless, and Thrifty
- Dining program: Earn Spirit miles while you join and dine with the Free Spirit Dining program
- Shopping portal: Earn Spirit miles while you store by Spirit’s online mall
- Cruises: Guide by Free Spirit Cruises to earn factors
- Points.com: Purchase Free Spirit factors when you’re brief for an award flight
- Vinesse Wines: Earn Spirit factors for signing up and spending
Pool your Spirit factors
Now you can pool your Spirit factors with as much as eight folks, however a pool can solely be began by somebody with Silver or Gold elite standing or who holds a Free Spirit bank card.
Any Free Spirit member can be a part of a pool, and members within the pool share their factors for incomes and redeeming.
Earn factors with Spirit bank cards
Spirit Airways does not companion with any of the foremost transferable factors applications (Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy). Nonetheless, you’ll be able to earn Spirit factors straight from two Free Spirit credit cards issued by Financial institution of America, which each provide a welcome bonus and numerous perks.
Every card comes with priority boarding, no foreign transaction fees, and a 25% rebate on inflight food and drink purchases.
Free Spirit Journey Mastercard
The Free Spirit® Journey Mastercard® has no annual price and a welcome bonus of 10,000 factors after you spend $500 on purchases inside the first 90 days of account opening. And when you spend $10,000 in a yr, you will earn an extra 5,000 bonus factors in your annual anniversary date.
It earns 2 redeemable factors for each greenback spent with Spirit Airways and 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.
Free Spirit Journey Extra Mastercard
Along with different World Elite Mastercard benefits, the Free Spirit® Journey Extra Mastercard® has a $79 annual price (waived the primary yr) and a welcome bonus of 40,000 factors and a $100 Companion Flight Voucher after you spend $1,000 on purchases inside the first 90 days of account opening.
If you happen to spend $5,000 in a yr, you will earn a brand new $100 Companion Flight Voucher in your annual anniversary date. The cardboard earns three redeemable factors for each greenback spent with Spirit Airways, 2 factors per greenback on dining and groceries, and 1 level per greenback on all different purchases.
You will additionally earn 1 SQP in direction of elite standing for each $10 spent with all retailers. This implies you’ll be able to earn Silver standing after spending $20,000 and Gold with $50,000 in card spending in a yr.
Spirit Airways factors expiration coverage
Spirit Airways points won’t expire when you earn or redeem as soon as each 12 months. Beforehand, they’d expire after just three months of inactivity. And when you maintain a Free Spirit bank card, your factors is not going to expire whereas your card is open.
You’ll be able to redeem factors on all Spirit Airways flights with out capability restrictions or blackout dates. The variety of factors required for an award ticket varies primarily based on its common ticket worth. When the ticket value is low, you will want fewer factors.
Awards begin at 2,500 factors, sometimes equivalent to flights priced below $30 — and the associated fee will increase in 500-point increments because the common ticket worth will increase.
Sadly, Spirit Airways expenses redemption charges primarily based on how far prematurely a ticket is booked. The price could be greater than the price of a ticket:
- 0-28 days previous to departure: $50
- 29+ days: $0
Charges are waived for Silver or Gold members or when you maintain the Free Spirit® Journey Extra MasterCard®. Contemplating the revenue-based redemption mannequin, award tickets all provide related worth. If you happen to do not qualify for a redemption-fee waiver, you need to e-book your journey no less than three months earlier than departure to keep away from a price.
Starting March 2021, Spirit Airways will provide Factors + Money award tickets, with redemptions beginning at 1,000 factors with a money co-pay. You may also redeem miles with companions, however as of publication, the one companion redemption is for journal subscriptions.
Spirit elite standing is earned primarily based on SQPs and, when earned, is legitimate till December 31 of the next yr. For instance, when you earned elite standing in March 2021, it could be legitimate till December 31, 2022.
Each Silver and Gold members have shared advantages, together with price waivers for:
- Over the load baggage for the primary checked bag
- Shortcut safety possibility
- Shortcut soarding possibility
- Similar-day standby journey
Elite members can even begin a factors pool, are exempt from paying award redemption charges, and have entry to a devoted customer support cellphone quantity.
Spirit Silver elite standing
Spirit flyers can obtain Silver standing after incomes 2,000 SQPs in a yr. Along with shared elite advantages, Silver members earn eight redeemable factors per greenback spent on airfare and 16 factors per greenback on choices.
Silver members obtain free common seat choice at check-in (excluding exit rows and Large Entrance Seats) and might choose exit row seats three hours previous to departure.
Spirit Gold elite standing
You will earn Gold standing after reaching 5,000 SQPs in a yr. Gold members earn 10 redeemable factors per greenback on airfare and 20 factors per greenback on choices.
Along with shared elite advantages, Gold members obtain:
- Free seat choice on the time of reserving, together with exit row seats however not Large Entrance Seats
- One free checked bag
- One free carry-on bag
- Zone 1 boarding
- One free inflight non-alcoholic beverage and a snack
- One free flight change (fare distinction applies)
- Pet price waiver
Spirit Airways grabbed a whole lot of consideration with its ultra-cheap $9 Fare Membership program, and that is now been changed by the Spirit Saver$ Club.
For a flat annual price, membership members can entry deeply discounted fares for themselves and as much as eight companions, plus save on checked baggage and choices like shortcut safety and precedence boarding. Spirit Saver$ Membership subscriptions begin at $69.95 for a 12-month membership, as much as 24 months for $129.90.
Supply: www.businessinsider.com
