Spirit Airlines, the low-cost carrier that revolutionized budget air travel as well as deception in air travel, ceased operations on May 2, 2026.
Spirit has gone through two bankruptcies in recent years. Experts have debated whether Spirit would emerge from bankruptcy as a healthy airline. But skyrocketing oil prices from the US-Iran War likely was the single factor that doomed Spirit Airlines.
Passengers know Spirit Airlines first and foremost as the gotcha airline. When it comes to hidden and dynamic fees, Spirit Airlines was the worst offender. Passengers often would have to make dozens of clicks or enter many pieces of personal or flight/destination information in order to see basic ancillary fees such as checked bag fees.
Spirit’s practices was a big contributor to the DOT in 2024 publishing a regulation to require airlines to disclose critical ancillary fees on the first page of the booking process. (The Trump Administration has refused to revive the rule after the courts found a procedural defect that was easily curable.)
Spirit Airlines was also known for the “Spirit Effect,” formerly the “Southwest Effect.” These low cost carriers, by entering a city pair market, caused all other airlines to drop their prices. Spirit played the role of maverick in the airline oligopoly.
Spirit Airlines and its low prices will be sorely missed by consumers. FlyersRights will work tirelessly to ensure that Spirit’s worst practices, including hiding ancillary fees, will not be missed.
