Spirit Airlines might be known for its no-frills approach and bright yellow planes, but don't overlook their Free Spirit loyalty program. Spirit is a low-cost U.S. airline, and its Free Spirit loyalty program allows flyers to earn and redeem points, and recent enhancements make it more valuable than ever for budget-conscious travelers.

If you're a frequent Spirit flyer or considering joining their network, the Free Spirit program offers surprisingly solid value. With award flights starting at just 2,500 points and no blackout dates, you can actually stretch your travel budget further with smart points strategy.

What Is Spirit Airlines Free Spirit?

The Free Spirit program is free to join and serves as Spirit's frequent flyer program. Unlike traditional mileage-based programs, Free Spirit is revenue-based, meaning you earn points based on how much you spend rather than how far you fly.

The program includes three membership tiers:

• Free Spirit (Base): Available to all members
• Free Spirit Silver: Requires earning specific Status Qualifying Points (SQPs)
• Free Spirit Gold: The highest tier with premium benefits

Recent 2025 Program Enhancements

Spirit has made significant improvements to the Free Spirit program following their restructuring. Spirit Airlines announced major guest experience enhancements, with many changes rolling out throughout 2025.

Key 2025 updates include:

• Easier elite status requirements: Spirit Airlines is tweaking its loyalty program in 2025, specifically making it easier to reach Elite Status, dropping the requirement down to a mere 15 flight segments a year
• Enhanced Silver benefits: Silver members now receive one free carry-on bag
• New seating options: Introduction of extra-legroom seats across the fleet
• Upcoming debit card: A Free Spirit debit card launching later in 2025

How to Join Spirit Free Spirit

Joining the Free Spirit program is completely free and takes just a few minutes. Creating an account is quick, easy and free on Spirit's website.

Here's how to sign up:

1. Visit the Spirit Airlines website
2. Navigate to the "Free Spirit" section
3. Enter your personal information (name, email, contact details)
4. Choose a secure password
5. Complete the registration process
6. Check your email for verification and activate your account

Once you're signed up, you'll receive a Free Spirit number that you should add to all your reservations to ensure you earn points on every flight.

Earning Free Spirit Points

Every dollar spent on Spirit (along with purchases made on the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®) helps customers earn elite status as well as points for redemptions.

Earning Points Through Flying

The primary way to earn Free Spirit points is by flying with Spirit. Points are earned based on your spending across all Spirit products:

Base Members:

• 6 points per dollar spent on fares
• 12 points per dollar spent on À La Smarte options (bags, seats, extras)

Silver Members:

• 8 points per dollar spent on fares
• 16 points per dollar spent on À La Smarte options

Gold Members:

• 10 points per dollar spent on fares
• 20 points per dollar spent on À La Smarte options

Earning Through Partner Programs

Spirit offers several ways to earn points beyond flying:

Free Spirit Online Mall: Spirit has an online shopping portal that awards points when you shop online. Depending on the merchant, you can sometimes earn more than 20 points per qualifying dollar.

Free Spirit Dining: You can earn up to 5 points per dollar as a VIP member who has completed 11 qualifying transactions in a calendar year.

Credit Card Spending: The Free Spirit credit cards allow you to earn points on everyday purchases outside of Spirit.

Status Qualifying Points (SQPs)

Beyond regular Free Spirit points, you'll also earn Status Qualifying Points (SQPs) that count toward elite status. All members earn one Status Qualifying Point for each dollar spent on fares and fare add-ons.

Spirit Free Spirit Elite Status Tiers

The Free Spirit program offers two elite status levels, each with progressively better benefits.

Free Spirit Silver Status

Requirements: 2,000 SQPs per calendar year

Key Benefits:

• Enhanced earning rates (8x on fares, 16x on extras)
• Free seat selection at check-in (excludes Big Front Seats)
• Exit row seat assignment 180 minutes before departure
• Free shortcut security and Zone 1 priority boarding
• Same-day standby at no charge
• Points pooling capability
• Waived $50 redemption fee for last-minute award bookings
• New for 2025: One free carry-on bag

Free Spirit Gold Status

Requirements: 5,000 SQPs per calendar year

Key Benefits (includes all Silver benefits plus):

• Top earning rates (10x on fares, 20x on extras)
• One free carry-on and one free checked bag, free seat selection during booking
• Free Big Front Seat and exit row selection at booking
• Zone 1 priority boarding
• Free in-flight snacks and beverages
• Free Wi-Fi on equipped aircraft
• Free Flight Flex (one free change up to 24 hours before departure)

Is Spirit Elite Status Worth It?

Free Spirit elite status is relatively easy to attain for travelers who fly with the airline at least occasionally. The value proposition is particularly strong for Gold members, as the free baggage allowances alone can save hundreds of dollars annually.

Consider that Spirit typically charges $35-65 for checked bags and $35-65 for carry-on bags. If you take just a few trips per year, the elite benefits pay for themselves quickly.

Redeeming Free Spirit Points

Spirit award flights start at 2,500 points, and the loyalty program prides itself on offering redemptions on every seat on every flight, with no blackout dates.

Award Flight Redemptions

Redemption Options:

• Points-only awards: Starting at 2,500 points for short domestic flights
• Points + Cash: Starting at 1,000 points plus cash
• Dynamic pricing based on cash fares and demand

Important Fees: Spirit adds a $50 fee to redemptions booked within 28 days before departure. This fee is waived for primary cardholders of the Free Spirit Travel More Mastercard and Spirit elite members.

Point Values and Sweet Spots

Bankrate values Spirit Airlines Free Spirit points at about 1.0 cents per point, though The Points Guy values Spirit points at 1.1 cents apiece.

The best value typically comes from:

• Short domestic flights during peak travel times
• Last-minute bookings (if you have elite status to waive fees)
• Routes where Spirit has limited competition

Spirit's Credit Card Options

Spirit partners with Bank of America to offer two co-branded credit cards:

Free Spirit® Travel Mastercard®

• Earns 2x points on Spirit purchases, 1x on everything else
• Zone 2 priority boarding
• 25% rebate on in-flight purchases

Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®

• Annual fee: $79 (waived first year)
• Earns 3x points on Spirit purchases, 2x on dining/groceries, 1x elsewhere
• New benefit for 2025: Two free checked bags (launching later in 2025)
• $100 companion voucher after spending $5,000 annually
• Earn SQPs from card spending (1 SQP per $10 spent)

Points Expiration and Account Maintenance

Free Spirit points expire every 12 months, but there are ways to extend the mileage expiration timeline. As long as you earn points within the previous 12 months, your points won't expire.

Ways to keep points active:

• Fly with Spirit Airlines
• Make purchases with a Free Spirit credit card
• Earn points through partner programs
• Purchase points directly from Spirit

Maximizing Your Free Spirit Value

Smart Redemption Strategy

1. Book award travel early to avoid the $50 last-minute fee (unless you have elite status)
2. Compare cash vs. points prices to ensure you're getting good value
3. Use points for shorter flights where the value proposition is typically better
4. Consider Points + Cash options when you're short on points

Elite Status Fast-Track

The fastest way to earn elite status is through the Free Spirit credit card. You could achieve Silver status after you spend $20,000 on purchases with the card — and Gold status after spending $50,000.

Take Advantage of Status Matches

Spirit periodically offers status match opportunities. Spirit Airlines is well known for its unbundled fares, meaning you'll pay for pretty much everything besides your ticket. From seat assignment fees to carry-on bags and checked bags, you can save a great deal by participating in this status match challenge.

Travel Smart with the Right Tools

While maximizing your Spirit Free Spirit benefits, don't forget about other ways to enhance your travel experience:

• Stay connected internationally: Airalo eSIM data plans keep you connected without expensive roaming charges
• Protect your accounts: Use 1Password to securely manage your loyalty accounts and travel confirmations
• Access airport lounges: Priority Pass membership gives you lounge access worldwide, even when flying Spirit
• Protect your trip: Consider travel insurance to protect against unexpected changes or cancellations
• Save on gas: Use Upside to earn cash back on gas when driving to the airport

Recent Improvements and Future Outlook

Spirit has been investing heavily in improving the customer experience. The airline is introducing new upgrades and comfort options that make the flying experience more pleasant while maintaining competitive pricing.

The motivation behind these program enhancements is Spirit's belief that the Free Spirit program can be more engaging, more rewarding, and deliver benefits that other airlines often fall short on.

What's Coming in 2025

• Extra-legroom seating: New seat options launching across the fleet
• Free Spirit debit card: Expected to launch by fall 2025
• Enhanced credit card benefits: Two free checked bags for cardholders
• Easier status requirements: Reduced qualification thresholds

Is Free Spirit Right for You?

The Free Spirit program works best for travelers who:

• Fly Spirit regularly on domestic routes
• Want to avoid baggage and seat fees through elite status
• Prefer simple, revenue-based earning over complex routing rules
• Value straightforward redemptions without blackout dates

Keep in mind: Spirit has no partner airlines, so you can't redeem Spirit points on other airlines. This limits flexibility compared to major carrier programs, but the low redemption thresholds and no-blackout-dates policy help offset this limitation.

The Bottom Line

Spirit's Free Spirit program has evolved significantly and now offers genuine value for budget-conscious travelers. With recent enhancements, easier elite status requirements, and expanded benefits, it's worth considering if Spirit serves your travel destinations.

The key is understanding that while you won't get the premium perks of major carriers, you can maximize value through strategic point earning and elite status benefits that eliminate Spirit's notorious fees. For travelers who prioritize low fares and can work within Spirit's network, Free Spirit delivers solid returns on your travel spending.

Ready to start earning? Join the Free Spirit program today and begin collecting points on your next Spirit flight. For the most current program terms and conditions, always refer to Spirit's official Free Spirit program page.