AP warns budget flyers after Spirit collapse

The Associated Press reported on May 18 that U.S. travelers who counted on Spirit Airlines for cheap summer tickets may face higher fares and fewer options after the carrier shut down earlier this month. Spirit ceased operations before dawn on May 2 after failing to secure a last-minute bailout, ending service by the country’s best-known ultra-low-cost airline. The collapse removed a large source of discount capacity just as summer demand builds. Other pressures, including volatile jet fuel prices and broader inflation, are also pushing up travel costs, according to the AP and other reports. ### When did Spirit stop flying, and what changed for travelers? Spirit Airlines said on May 2 that it had begun an “orderly wind-down” of operations effective immediately, canceling all future flights. CNBC reported the shutdown took effect before dawn Saturday after the airline failed to secure an agreement tied to a proposed $500 million rescue effort. NBC News reported that Spirit told customers not to go to the airport and said refunds for directly purchased tickets would be automatic, while third-party bookings would have to be handled through travel agents. (cnbc.com) NBC News reported that uncertainty remains for some customers who used vouchers, credits or loyalty points, which are expected to be addressed through the bankruptcy process. That has left travelers dealing not only with higher replacement fares but also with questions about how quickly they will recover prepaid value. ### Why are cheap summer tickets getting harder to find? (cnbc.com) The AP said the loss of Spirit’s seats has tightened the market for budget-conscious travelers nationwide. The report cited reduced low-cost carrier capacity, volatile fuel prices and inflation as factors pushing fares upward into the summer months. A Los Angeles Times report on May 18 described a lawyer for the defunct airline apologizing in bankruptcy court to customers who may struggle to find affordable flights without Spirit in the market. (nbcnews.com) WFLX reported on May 18 that travelers at Palm Beach International Airport were already saying cheap flights had become harder to find as summer demand rises. Dollar Flight Club, in a May 5 travel report distributed by PR Newswire, said fares were up 10% to 20% overall because of fuel costs, route cuts and Spirit’s decline, though it said some lower-priced destinations remained available. (latimes.com) ### Which airlines are trying to fill the gap? Frontier Airlines said on May 2 that it introduced systemwide rescue fare discounts for Spirit customers and noted that it already serves more than 100 routes previously flown by Spirit. Other carriers also offered limited special rates for stranded passengers in the days after the shutdown, according to local and national reports. Those measures helped some immediate rebookings, but they do not replace Spirit’s full network or its role in setting ultra-low base fares. (article.wn.com) JetBlue and other airlines have also moved to add or adjust service on some routes formerly dominated by Spirit, according to travel industry coverage. Those route changes are still developing and vary by airport. ### What should travelers watch next? May and June bookings will show how much remaining low-cost capacity airlines are willing to add on former Spirit routes. (news.flyfrontier.com) Refund processing, treatment of travel credits and any further route announcements will also shape what affected passengers can recover. Travelers with canceled Spirit trips can still monitor carrier advisories and court-supervised bankruptcy updates as the wind-down continues through the start of the summer travel season. (matadornetwork.com) (nbcnews.com)