With Spirit Airlines collapsing overnight, stranded passengers suddenly need new flights and thousands of employees suddenly need new jobs. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says other carriers are stepping in.
Airlines Rush To Help Stranded Spirit Passengers After Collapse
As Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations, the U.S. Department of Transportation says it has been working with major airlines to assist displaced passengers and affected employees.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that several carriers are offering capped fares, discounted rescue tickets, and even travel support for stranded Spirit crew members. Duffy explained:
“Regardless of how we got here, the Trump Administration is committed to taking care of you and your family when you fly.”
You can review Department of Transportation information here in a press release entitled, “Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Secures Relief for Spirit Airlines’ Flyers and Employees.”
Airlines Offering Help To Spirit Customers
Policies may change quickly, so verify directly with each carrier before booking. Below are the dedicated airline-specific relief pages and booking instructions for impacted Spirit passengers.
| Carrier | Rules / Eligibility | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Allegiant Air | 50% back in Allways Rewards points on qualifying itineraries booked by May 12, 2026, for travel between May 2 and July 20, 2026, using promo code ALLWAYSTHERE. Allegiant says it is also holding fares “steady” on overlapping Spirit routes. | View Details |
| American Airlines | Rescue fares on overlapping nonstop routes. American says it serves 70 of the 72 airports and 67 of the routes previously operated by Spirit. Rebook directly via American’s app or website. | View Details |
| Avelo Airlines | Up to 75% off base fares across select routes through November 17, 2026, using promo code TRAVELO. Eligible Spirit Saver$ Club members can also receive a free upgrade to Avelo PLUS through May 31st. | View Details |
| Avianca | No-fare return options for eligible passengers who already completed their outbound Spirit flight and hold a Spirit return ticket for travel between May 2 and May 16. Space available at the airport, day of departure or one day prior. | View Details |
| Delta Air Lines | Reduced, nonrefundable rescue fares for near-term travel on domestic routes Spirit previously operated, including nonstop and connecting options through Delta hubs, plus U.S.–Latin America routes. | View Details |
| Frontier Airlines | Up to 50% off base fares across its network for travel through November 19, 2026, when booked by May 10 using promo code SAVENOW. Blackout dates and exclusions apply. | View Details |
| JetBlue | $99 rescue fares for impacted passengers with proof of a valid Spirit itinerary on the same or similar route for travel through May 6. Book by calling 1-800-JETBLUE. | View Details |
| Southwest Airlines | Special discounted rescue fares available only at Southwest airport ticket counters through May 6 on eligible overlapping routes. Domestic fares are distance-based: $200 for 1–500 miles, $300 for 501–1,000 miles, and $400 for over 1,000 miles. | View Details |
| United Airlines | Price-capped one-way rescue fares for the next two weeks through a dedicated booking page. Most fares are capped at $199, with longer routes capped at $299. Requires proof of Spirit booking and a MileagePlus account. | View Details |
Duffy also said airlines are making seats available for stranded Spirit pilots, flight attendants, and other crew members trying to get home or reposition for interviews.
As an aside, he also told consumers to dispute their Spirit Airlines purchase on their credit card, even though Spirit has said all revenue fares directly booked via Spirit will be refunded…
CONCLUSION
Spirit’s collapse is a mess for travelers and employees alike. It is encouraging to see competitors step in rather than exploit the chaos with sky-high last-minute fares (the exploitation will follow in the weeks ahead). If you hold a Spirit ticket, move quickly, document everything, and check directly with airlines for rescue-fare options before seats disappear.
Kudos to G4, AA, XP, AV, DL, F9, B6, WN, UA! Thanks for existing, folks!
With DL being the outlier; they are having serious crew scheduling problems for days with no easy fix in sight.
https://x.com/xjonnyc/status/2050422105380888845?s=46&t=99zjwpClQbiW_TOEUoTaSA
As usual SWA offers the highest rescue fares and nothing said about fares or courtesy bookings for Spirit crews. Why does anyone even fly them?…, horrible airline….always.
* Spirit Airlines [29 May 1992 – 2 May 2026] * Let’s recall that NK’s collapse marks the first time in 25 years a major U.S. airline has gone out of business due to financial troubles.
Not to seem cold hearted, but news of the demise of Spirit has been front page news for weeks, so why would anyone buy a recent ticket from them??