Spirit Airlines Ends Fees For Changes And Cancellations: MD Travel

DANIA BEACH, FL — Maryland travelers flying Spirit Airlines no longer have to pay change or cancellation fees, the airline confirmed this week.

Before the new policy, Spirit’s fees ranged from $50-$119, although changes and cancellations 60 days or more in advance were free.

The Florida-based discount airline moved to end such fees around the same time competitor Frontier Airlines made a similar shift. Denver-based Frontier announced last week it was eliminating change fees on some tickets.

“Spirit has been evaluating changes to our product and strategy that will help us better compete, elevate the Guest experience and return to profitability,” the company said in a prepared statement. “We are excited to roll out a no change and no cancel fee policy for all Guests effective May 17.”

Spirit serves the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., region at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Spirit and Frontier are trying to return to profitability after the Covid-19 pandemic, CNBC reported, while larger airlines have posted profits. Spirit is also offering packages that include perks such as checked bags.

Ending cancellation fees was not tied to new rules by the Biden administration targeting what they called “junk fees.” The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a rule requiring airlines to be upfront about add-on fees such as those for checked or carry-on baggage, CNBC said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.