Spirit Airlines is back with a brand new status match. Should you hold status with an airline or hotel company, it’s possible you’ll be eligible for immediate entry-level Silver or top-tier Gold status within the Free Spirit Program. And in contrast to the offerings from most other carriers, this status is valid for a full 12 months, with none flight requirements.
Here’s easy methods to get Spirit elite status for a yr — and why you may want it.
Key advantages of Spirit elite status
Despite its ultra-low-cost business model, Spirit Airlines status provides some implausible, cost-saving perks. The airline offers two status tiers — Silver and Gold. Each tiers can be found through this status match promotion.
Here’s a take a look at a number of the key perks of Silver status:
- Host a points pool (so you possibly can mix points with others).
- Priority support.
- Award redemption fee waiver (so that you haven’t got to pay a redemption fee whenever you use your points).
- Complimentary exit row seating.
- Shortcut boarding.
- Shortcut security.
- Same-day standby.
- Obese baggage fee waiver.
Gold status provides these same perks plus the next advantages:
- Free checked bag.
- Free carry-on bag.
- Free drink and snack onboard.
- Zone 1 boarding.
- Free Flight Flex.
- Pet fee waiver.
- Group 2/3/4/5 seat selection at purchase.
Specifically, the bags advantages of Gold status will be essentially the most lucrative as Spirit is understood for top luggage prices.
Nonetheless, just note that only select perks, like priority security and boarding, extend to additional passengers booked with the elite member.
Spirit status match details
You will need to be a Free Spirit member to enroll within the status match. To enroll, for those who have not already, visit this page.
Spirit has a broadcast list of 32 programs (16 airline and 16 hotel firms) for which it should honor status matches.
Should you’re an entry-level elite in the most important airlines or hotel firms based within the Americas (i.e., AAdvantage Gold, Delta Silver Medallion, United Premier Silver, Southwest A-List, Hilton Honors Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, etc.), you are eligible for Silver status.
Meanwhile, mid and upper-tier airline and hotel elites (i.e., AAdvantage Platinum, Delta Gold Medallion, United Premier Gold, Southwest A-List Preferred, JetBlue Mosaic, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Hyatt Explorist, etc.) are eligible for Gold status.
You will have to pay a one-time fee whenever you submit your status match request. Once your status match is approved, you may hold your elite status for 12 months:
- Silver status match request: $49.
- Gold status match request: $99.
One final note — you are not eligible for this status match for those who’ve participated in one other Spirit status match or challenge within the last two years.
Learn how to request a Spirit status match
It is simple to request a standing match online. After you enter your name, email address, Free Spirit number and country of residence, you possibly can begin your application.
You may select between an airline or hotel status match — again, consult with this page for those who’re unsure which one you wish to select. For this test, I chosen United Airlines Premier 1K.
You may then be asked to upload documentation to prove your elite status. Upload your membership card or account homepage.
You may then pay in your status match, and submit your application.
Once submitted, you possibly can track your application here.
Must you pay for elite status with Spirit Airlines?
Each traveler is exclusive, but this has the potential to be a really rewarding status match, even for those who only plan to fly Spirit a couple of times over the subsequent yr. That is since the $99 required for a Gold status match request can easily cover the added costs of flying with Spirit.
Consider this round-trip flight in August from Orlando (MCO) to Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ).
The “Bundle It” option essentially includes all of the perks of Gold status, and it might cost you $130 each strategy to add all of this stuff.
Or, for those who went with a la carte pricing, you’d face the next ancillary fees in each direction:
- Carry-on bag: $65.
- Checked bag: $55.
- Seat selection: Starting at $20.
With Gold status, you are effectively turning that airfare-only purchase into an all-inclusive flight.
Bottom line
Spirit’s latest status match allows Free Spirit members to enjoy Silver or Gold status for a whole yr by leveraging existing status in one in every of 32 eligible loyalty programs. Better of all, the status will last the total 12 months with none flying requirements. Nonetheless, if you wish to extend your status for an additional yr, you’d have to hit the usual thresholds of Status Qualifying Points (SQPs) — 2,000 SPQs for Silver status or 5,000 SQPs Gold status.
Although Spirit hasn’t published a date when this promotion ends, it might achieve this at any time suddenly. With perks like exit row seating, priority boarding and complimentary luggage, consider a standing match if you might have upcoming travel on Spirit Airlines.