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Spirit Airlines doesn't have the best reputation with all flyers. But travelers know that Spirit likely offers the cheapest fares to fly between the airports it serves. Now you can make flying Spirit Airlines a lot more pleasant — and cheaper all-in — by taking advantage of a new Spirit Airlines status match.
For a limited time, travelers can match their elite status to Spirit from 16 airline loyalty programs or 16 hotel loyalty programs. Unlike previous Spirit status offers, this is a pure status match; you'll get Spirit Airlines elite status for a full 12 months without any flying requirements.
From free bags and free seat selection to priority boarding and ticket flexibility, here's why you might want to status match to Spirit Airlines—and how to do so.
Page Contents
Spirit Airlines Status Match Cost
Similar to other recent airline status matches, this Spirit Airlines status match isn't free. You'll need to pay a $49 application fee for Free Spirit Silver and $99 for Free Spirit Gold.
While it's a bummer it isn't free, don't let this cost turn you off from considering it. After all, having Spirit elite status can save you a significant amount when flying Spirit. Plus, since this is a pure status match, you won't have the cost of paying for extra flights to extend your elite status.
What Perks Does Spirit Elite Status Provide?
The Spirit Airlines Free Spirit program has two tiers of elite status: Free Spirit Silver and Free Spirit Gold. Free Spirit Silver members get:
- Bonus points on Spirit flights (8x on airfare, 16x on extras).
- Ability to create a points pool with other Free Spirit members.
- Dedicated support team.
- No redemption fees on award flights.
- Exit Row seat assignment at check-in.
- Free Shortcut Boarding.
- Free Shortcut Security.
- Same-day standby.
- Waived overweight baggage fees.
Free Spirit Gold members get all of those perks plus:
- Even more points on Spirit flights (10x on airfare, 20x on extras).
- Free checked bag.
- Free carry-on bag.
- Zone 1 boarding.
- Free drink and snack onboard.
- Free Flight Flex.
- Pet fee waiver.
- Seat selection at booking (including exit rows).
Really the only thing that isn't included is free Big Front Seat selection. However, exit-row seats should provide plenty of legroom.
It's important to note that these perks are only valid for the elite status member. Unlike many other airlines, Spirit Airlines doesn't offer the same elite status perks to a travel companion.
Still, anyone who's flown Spirit before knows how much savings these perks can provide. But let's walk through just one example of just how valuable Spirit Airlines' elite status can be.
Example Cost Savings of Having Spirit Elite Status
Consider a flight between Atlanta (ATL) and Chicago (ORD). The base fare on Spirit Airlines is low enough to catch anyone's eye: just $51 round-trip — or $45 if you're a member of the Saver$ Club.
However, anyone who's considered flying Spirit knows that's just the starting price. Just adding a full-size carry-on bag costs another $92 round-trip — although you can drop that price to $70 round-trip if you check your bag instead.
Can't stand getting stuck in a middle seat? Selecting the cheapest window/aisle seat adds another $29 to this round-trip itinerary.
Add on Flight Flex — which allows free changes up to 24 hours until departure — for $45 round-trip, and your total price climbs to $216.78 round-trip. That's still not bad for what you're getting. However, it's a far cry from the original ~$51 round-trip price.
However, if you have Spirit Gold elite status, your total after adding a checked bag, a carry-on bag, premium seat selection, flight flexibility, and more is actually just $50.78 round-trip.
Just by flying this one trip, you save much more than the $99 status match application fee!
Who's Eligible for This Spirit Airlines Elite Status Match
The current Spirit Airlines status match is valid for elite status members of the following 16 airline loyalty programs:
| Airline Loyalty Program | Matches to Spirit Silver | Matches to Spirit Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Aerolineas Argentinas (Aerolíneas Plus) | Gold | Platinum |
| Aeromexico (Club Premier) | Gold | Platinum, Titanium |
| Air Canada (Aeroplan) | Prestige 25K | Elite 35K, 50K, 75K, 100K |
| Alaska Airlines (Mileage Plan) | MVP | MVP Gold, 75K, 100K |
| American Airlines (AAdvantage) | Gold | Platinum, Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, ConciergeKey |
| Avianca (LifeMiles) | Silver | Gold, Diamond |
| Caribbean Airlines (Caribbean Miles) | Silver | Gold, Executive Gold |
| Copa Airlines (ConnectMiles) | Silver | Gold, Platinum, Presidential Platinum |
| Delta Air Lines (SkyMiles) | Silver Medallion | Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Delta 360 |
| Frontier (FRONTIER Miles) | 20K | 50K and 100K |
| Hawaiian Airlines (HawaiianMiles) | Gold | Platinum |
| JetBlue (TrueBlue Rewards) | Mosaic and Mosaic+ | |
| LATAM (LATAM Pass) | Gold, Gold Plus | Platinum, Black, Black Signature, |
| Southwest (Rapid Rewards) | A-List | A-List Preferred, Companion Pass |
| United Airlines (MileagePlus) | Premier Silver | Premier Gold, Platinum, 1K, Global Services |
| WestJet (Westjet Rewards) | Silver | Gold, Platinum |
Don't have airline elite status? No worries. For now, Spirit Airlines will let you match your elite status from 16 hotel loyalty programs. However, we've seen these matching options tightened up in past promotions. So don't hesitate if you're interested in this status match and only have hotel elite status:
| Hotel Loyalty Program | Matches to Spirit Silver | Matches to Spirit Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Accor (ALL) | Silver | Gold, Platinum, Diamond |
| Best Western (Rewards) | Gold | Platinum, Diamond, Diamond Select |
| Choice Hotels International (Choice Privileges) | Gold | Platinum, Diamond |
| GHA (Discovery) | Gold | Platinum, Titanium |
| Hilton (Hilton Honors) | Silver | Gold, Diamond |
| Hyatt (World of Hyatt) | Discoverist | Explorist, Globalist |
| IHG (IHG One Rewards) | Silver Elite | Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Royal Ambassador |
| Marriott (Bonvoy) | Silver Elite | Gold, Platinum, Titanium, Ambassador |
| Omni Hotels & Resorts (Select Guest) | Platinum | Black |
| Radisson Hotel Group (Radisson Rewards) | Silver | Gold, Platinum |
| Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts (Golden Circle) | Gold | Jade, Diamond |
| Sonesta (Travel Pass) | Preferred | Elite |
| Taj Hotels (InnerCircle) | Silver | Gold, Platinum |
| The Leading Hotels of The World (Leaders Club) | Club | Sterling |
| World Hotels (World Hotels Rewards) | Gold | Platinum, Diamond, Diamond Select |
| Wyndham Hotels and Resorts (Wyndham Rewards) | Gold | Platinum, Diamond |
If you have a hotel credit card, you almost certainly have one of these elite statuses. Here's a non-comprehensive list of credit cards that offer hotel elite status that can be matched to Free Spirit Gold:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Hilton Gold + Marriott Gold Elite
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Hilton Gold + Marriott Gold Elite
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: IHG Platinum Elite
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: IHG Platinum Elite
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Marriott Gold Elite
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Marriott Platinum Elite
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Marriott Gold Elite
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Hilton Diamond
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Hilton Gold
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Hilton Gold
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
How to Match Your Elite Status to Spirit Airlines
Ready to take advantage of this Spirit Airlines status match? Here's where to start. Spirit claims the process only takes 60 seconds to complete. So, let's put that to the test.
First, you need to enter your:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Free Spirit Account email address
- Free Spirit membership number — which you can find on your AwardWallet account list
- Primary country of residence
Don't have a Free Spirit account? Sign up here — and then add it to your AwardWallet account here.
Next, choose whether you want to status match from an airline or hotel program.
Then, enter the airline/hotel program that you're matching from, your current status tier, and your member number:
Next, you'll need to upload verification of your elite status. That can be done by taking a photo of your membership card — or taking a photo of your computer or tablet screen logged into your account. After that, Spirit Airlines will verify that your elite status is valid and email you with the next steps.
Depending on how long it took you to look up your Free Spirit number or create a new account, that process may have taken more than 60 seconds. But at least it should've only taken a couple of minutes.
When's the Best Time to Status Match to Spirit?
Generally, the best time to complete any type of status match is right before you're about to utilize the elite status. That way you can maximize the status match period — and earn credits toward the status challenge, where applicable.
However, this Spirit Airlines status match works a bit differently. This Spirit Airlines status match is valid for a full year. That's much longer than the 90- to 120-day match typically offered through other airline status matches. Plus, unlike airlines that have open-ended status matches, Spirit Airlines markets this offer as a “limited time” offer. So, it may end if you wait to apply until just before you'd use the elite status.
For this offer, it's better to consider how many times you'll be able to utilize the status over the next year. Planning a family vacation to Florida? Headed to a bachelor's party in Vegas? Or simply want to jet around the country without having to pay for bags and with the flexibility to change or cancel?
Bottom Line
Flying Spirit Airlines isn't for everyone. However, there's a reason that tens of millions of passengers fly Spirit Airlines each year: Low prices and an increasingly consistent onboard product.
Even if you might fly Spirit Airlines once in the next year, it's worth considering doing a Spirit Airlines status match. Just avoiding bag fees (carry-on or checked) and seat selection fees on one round-trip flight can easily save you more than the $99 application fee for Free Spirit Gold elite status.
Are you planning to match your elite status to Spirit Airlines?
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
I’m trying to status match gold AA to their gold and it is only giving me silver as an option. Not worth it in my opinion. Gold would be
Isn’t this the same benefits as the super saver club? The SSC is only $69.95 for 1 year and offers the same thing. This seems like a way to push people into their credit card.
When you join the Spirit Saver$ Club®, you’ll get exclusive access to some of the lowest fares available, as well as discounted prices on bags, seats, and other options such as shortcut security, shortcut boarding, and flight flex. Plus, you’ll get special deals that are only available to our Saver$ Club members. Since the program began, our members have saved millions of dollars on their overall travel expenses.
Joining the Spirit Saver$ Club® costs only $69.95 and comes in three different options, 12-months for only $69.95, 18-months for $99.90 (save $5), and 24-months for $129.90 (save $10). To make sure you continue to save, we automatically renew your membership each year for 12-months (at $69.95) unless you decide to cancel. We will remind you a month before your renewal that we are charging your credit card on file. At that time we will also refresh you about all of your savings benefits as a Spirit Saver$ Club® member.
Not quite. The Saver$ Club will help you save on fares and on extras. Meanwhile, Spirit Airlines elite status won’t save you on fares, but you’ll get fully waived seat selection and checked bag fees.