What Spirit Airlines Membership Actually Covers
Spirit Airlines offers two paid membership tiers — Spirit Plus and Spirit Elite — that bundle together fees and perks you would otherwise pay separately. The main benefit is that your membership fee covers baggage charges that Spirit normally charges per flight. You also get a checked bag, carry-on bag, and personal item included, plus priority boarding and a seat selection allowance.
Spirit does not charge a membership fee to fly with them. The membership is optional. If you fly Spirit occasionally and pay per-flight fees, you might spend less than a membership costs. If you fly Spirit regularly — say, four or more times per year — the membership fee may pay for itself through baggage savings alone.
The membership does not cover seat upgrades to extra-legroom rows, drinks, snacks, or checked baggage beyond your first one. It also does not waive change or cancellation fees if you need to modify your ticket after purchase.
Key Takeaways
- Spirit Plus and Spirit Elite memberships bundle baggage fees and perks into a single annual charge, which may cost less than paying per-flight fees if you fly Spirit four or more times per year.
- Your membership includes one free checked bag per flight, a carry-on bag, a personal item, priority boarding, and seat selection on most flights.
- The membership does not cover seat upgrades to extra-legroom rows, food and drinks, or additional checked bags beyond your first one.
- You can cancel your membership at any time, and Spirit will refund the unused portion of your annual fee on a pro-rata basis.
Spirit Plus vs. Spirit Elite: Which Tier Costs What
Spirit Plus is the lower-cost tier. It includes your first checked bag free on every flight, priority boarding, and seat selection. The annual fee varies depending on when you purchase and whether Spirit is running a promotion, but it typically ranges from around $70 to $130 per year when purchased directly through Spirit's website.
Spirit Elite is the higher tier and includes everything in Spirit Plus, plus a second free checked bag per flight, a $10 monthly Spirit credit (which you can use toward baggage, seat selection, or other fees), and priority customer service. Spirit Elite's annual fee is typically higher — often in the $200 to $300 range, though promotional pricing changes this.
Both tiers renew automatically each year on your membership anniversary. You can cancel before the renewal date to avoid being charged again. If you cancel mid-year, Spirit refunds the unused portion of your fee based on the number of days remaining in your membership period.
When Spirit Membership Saves You Money
A single checked bag on Spirit costs around $35 to $45 per flight if you pay as you go. If you fly Spirit four times per year and check a bag each time, you would spend roughly $140 to $180 on baggage fees alone. A Spirit Plus membership at $70 to $130 per year would pay for itself in baggage savings on those four flights, before you factor in priority boarding or seat selection.
If you fly Spirit only once or twice per year, the membership fee is unlikely to save you money. You would be better off paying per-flight fees. If you fly Spirit eight or more times per year and check a bag most trips, Spirit Elite may also make sense because the $10 monthly credit ($120 per year) offsets part of the higher membership fee.
The math changes if you do not check bags. Spirit's carry-on and personal item allowances are free whether you have a membership or not. If you travel with only a carry-on, you would be paying for perks — priority boarding and seat selection — that you might not value enough to justify the annual cost.
How to Purchase and Manage Your Membership
You can purchase Spirit Plus or Spirit Elite directly through Spirit's website during the booking process or in your account settings. You do not need to book a flight to buy a membership. You can also purchase a membership at the airport ticket counter, though the price may be higher than online.
Once you have purchased a membership, it is tied to your Spirit account. You log in with your email and password before each booking, and the system automatically applies your included baggage and perks. You do not need to enter a code or show a membership card at check-in.
To manage your membership, log into your Spirit account online and go to your account settings or membership section. There you can view your renewal date, see your remaining benefits, and cancel if you choose. If you cancel, you keep your membership benefits through the end of your current membership period — you are not charged when ready.
What Happens If You Cancel or Let It Expire
If you cancel your membership before the renewal date, you keep all benefits through the end of your current membership period. You will not be charged again. If you let your membership expire without canceling, you will be charged the renewal fee on your membership anniversary, and your membership will continue for another year.
If you cancel mid-year and later decide you want a membership again, you can purchase a new one at any time. There is no penalty for canceling and restarting. Some people cancel after a busy travel season and restart it the following year if they know they will fly Spirit again.
If your membership expires and you book a Spirit flight without renewing, you will be charged the standard per-flight baggage fees. You can still purchase a membership after booking, and Spirit will refund the baggage fees you paid if the membership covers them — though you should contact Spirit customer service to process this refund rather than expecting it to happen automatically.
Membership Perks Beyond Baggage
Priority boarding means you board before general passengers, which gives you a better chance of finding overhead bin space for your carry-on. On smaller Spirit aircraft, overhead bins fill quickly, so this perk has real value if you travel with a full-size carry-on bag.
Seat selection allows you to choose your seat at booking instead of being assigned one randomly. On Spirit, this matters because some seats have extra legroom (which cost extra to upgrade to) and some are in the back of the plane near the lavatories. With membership, you can pick a standard seat in a location you prefer without paying an upgrade fee.
Spirit Elite members also get a $10 monthly Spirit credit, which you can use toward any Spirit fee — baggage, seat upgrades, drinks, or even a future flight. This credit does not roll over month to month, so you lose it if you do not use it in the month it is issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Spirit membership on flights booked by someone else?
No. Your membership is tied to your Spirit account and email address. Only flights booked under your account receive the membership benefits. If someone else books a flight for you, they would need to add you as a passenger and use their own account, or you would need to contact Spirit to have the booking transferred to your account.
Does Spirit membership cover baggage fees for connecting flights?
Yes. Your included baggage allowance applies to each flight segment. If you have a connection, your checked bag is covered on both the outbound and return flights as long as you have an active membership.
What if I purchase a membership and then cancel my flight?
Your membership remains active and does not refund based on flight cancellations. The membership is separate from your ticket. If you cancel a flight, you can use your membership on a future Spirit flight, or you can cancel the membership itself for a pro-rata refund of the unused portion.
Can I gift a Spirit membership to someone else?
Spirit does not offer membership gift cards or the ability to transfer a membership to another person's account. Each membership is tied to a specific Spirit account. If you want to give someone a membership, they would need to purchase it themselves under their own account.
Do I need a membership to earn Spirit miles?
No. Spirit's free loyalty program, Free Spirit, earns you miles on every flight regardless of whether you have a paid membership. The membership and the loyalty program are separate. You can earn miles without a membership, and you can have a membership without joining the loyalty program.