Spirit Airlines Gold Status Members Receive New Upgrade Perk

Spirit Airlines alerted Free Spirit Gold status members to a new upgrade benefit this week further ascending among the best programs in the country.

If you are considering booking travel LiveAndLetsFly.com appreciates your support.

If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.

Spirit Offers New Upgrade Options for Free Spirit Gold

Spirit Airlines continues its repositioning effort as it makes it even easier for loyal Free Spirit Gold members to secure an upgrade to the carrier’s Big Front Seat. The carrier recently announced bundled booking options which include the country’s only confirmed open middle seat (Go Comfy) and an option to “Go Big” which includes the Big Front Seat, comparable in size to domestic first class on network carriers.

The new offer allows Gold members to Go Big for as little as $50 and no more than $100 based on flight segment length. Flyers can also use Free Spirit points to offset the cost. The perk also applies to other passengers on the same reservation for the same reduced cost.

Flight Duration	Go Big Upgrade ($)	Go Big Upgrade (Points)
<1 h	50	5k POINTS
1h-2h	75	7500 POINTS
2h+	100	10k POINTS

These packages, as ancillary products, will earn status qualifying points at 20 points per dollar.

Free Spirit Gold

For those that are unfamiliar, Free Spirit Gold offers more perks like for like than any other program in the US with the exception of complimentary upgrades. It’s important to note that for a similar amount of credit card spend (if that’s the method for earning status on a competing carrier), Gold is just 25% higher than American Airlines entry level status but comes with far more perks. It’s also unlikely that entry or even second tier elites at United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines may have access to complimentary upgrades but the likelihood that they will be awarded such an upgrade are limited especially given that there are up to three levels above them.

Here are the included Free Spirit Gold benefits:

(1) Free Checked bag up to 50 lbs
(1) Free Carry-on bag
Free Seat Selection and seat assignments included exit row availability
Priority Boarding (Group 1)
Fast Track Security
10x points per dollar on flights
20x points per dollar on ancillary purchases
Free Drink and Snack
Pooled Points (up to 8 passengers)

The program formerly offered Flight Flex which allowed Gold members to change their flight within 24 hours of departure, but with the removal of change fees as well as redemption fees, this perk was no longer necessary.

Try It For Free

The above change is welcome news for Free Spirit Gold members but it gets better. To get started, the airline is offering Gold members a free Go Big upgrade to use on an upcoming flight.

“As a thank you for being a valued Free Spirit^® Gold Member, we’re excited to offer you a complimentary Go Big upgrade, which includes premium snacks, drinks, and extra space. It’s our way of saying we really, really appreciate you! To claim this 1-time offer, just call Guest Care at 833-374-6530 after booking your flight.

But wait, there’s more! You can also upgrade to Go Big on future flights at a discounted rate using cash or points, as shown below. Everyone in your reservation can enjoy the Big Front Seat^® along with complimentary snacks and drinks. Just call Guest Care at 833-374-6530 within 24 hours of departure!*

So, what are you waiting for? BOOK NOW to take advantage of this fantastic offer!*”

The only complaint is the requirement to call-in rather than during the booking process. That said, Gold members have an expedited service phone number and I have never spent more than 2-3 minutes on hold before someone picks up.

Frontier/Spirit Implications

With renewed talks between Frontier and Spirit to merge, there’s a question as to what will stay and what will go if and when the two are permitted to align. There’s no question that Spirit offers more benefits within its Free Spirit program than with Frontier Miles and of course the Big Front Seat. My hope would be that the two choose the best of both but that may not happen.

Conclusion

For those that fly Spirit enough to earn Free Spirit Gold status, this is welcome news. It extends the run of benefit increases over the last couple of years and demonstrates the airline’s commitment to securing frequent flyers, business travelers and growing beyond the nickel-and-dime model that made ULCC’s famous. This is a value add and reminds me of the days of affordable “tens of dollars” upgrades the other carriers used to offer. For longer flights like the east coast to Las Vegas, or Fort Lauderdale to South America, $100 to secure a Big Front Seat reflects great value for money and I will be a customer for it.

What do you think?