Spirit Airlines Reinstates Change Fees Amid Financial Woes

Spirit Airlines has reinstated change fees for its basic 'Go' fares, effective February 5, 2025, reversing its previous 'fee-free' policy introduced in May 2024. The new fees range from $59 to $99, depending on the notice period before departure, with changes more than 60 days in advance remaining free. This policy change does not affect higher-tier fares like Go Savvy, Go Comfy, and Go Big, which still offer free changes and cancellations. The reinstatement of fees comes as Spirit faces financial challenges, including increased labor costs, competition, and a failed merger with JetBlue, which led to Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Spirit had hoped that eliminating fees would boost revenue, but the strategy did not yield the expected financial benefits. The airline remains optimistic about emerging from bankruptcy with a restructuring plan, despite needing to return to fee-driven revenue models.