It’s common for airlines to offer some sort of status challenge or status match program, in order to lure frequent flyers who are loyal to competing airlines, but are considering a switch. In the United States, most major airlines offer some sort of a status match challenge opportunity, including Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United.
Well, Spirit Airlines has just launched a new status match challenge for its Free Spirit loyalty program, so if you have any upcoming travel on Spirit, it’s worth being aware of this, as it could help you have a great experience with the airline. Yes, Spirit is currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but is continuing to operate as normal.
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Free Spirit status match challenge
Spirit Airlines has a status match challenge program, which is a way for those who are loyal to other US airlines to switch their business to Spirit and immediately start getting perks. This is valid for applications through January 31, 2025.
If you have elite status with another airline, Spirit will give you an equivalent status in Free Spirit for 90 days complimentary, and then you’ll have the opportunity to maintain that status with reduced requirements. Let’s take a closer look at how that works.
What status tiers does Spirit Airlines match?
Spirit Airlines will match status with Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, and United. You can earn either Silver or Gold status in Free Spirit, depending on your status with a competitor. Below is a chart showing how status maps over.
How much do you have to fly to maintain Free Spirit status?
Spirit Airlines is offering a status match challenge, meaning that you receive complimentary status for 90 days, but then you have to earn a certain number of status qualifying miles (SQMs) to maintain status:
- To maintain Free Spirit Silver status you need to earn 500 SQPs
- To maintain Free Spirit Gold status you need to earn 1,250 SQPs
On top of that, you need to book at least one qualifying flight on Spirit for travel between December 9, 2024, and February 28, 2025.
A couple of things to note:
- These SQP requirements are equivalent to a quarter of the typical annual requirements to earn status
- Status earned through this status match challenge is valid for the remainder of the calendar year, and then the entire following calendar year as well
You earn one SQP per dollar spent with Spirit Airlines (before taxes and fees), meaning you’d need to spend $500 on Spirit flights to maintain Silver status, and $1,250 on Spirit flights to maintain Gold status.
What are Free Spirit elite perks like?
Spirit Airlines’ Free Spirit program has really robust elite perks, so if you’re willing to fly with the airline, there’s huge value to a status match challenge. For example, Free Spirit Gold members get everything from a free carry-on bag, to a free checked bag, to free Wi-Fi, to a free drink and snack, and more.
How do you request a Spirit status match challenge?
You can start the process of requesting a Spirit Airlines status match challenge at this link. Note that you’re only eligible if you haven’t received a status match or complimentary status with Free Spirit in the past two years.
In order to match you also need to have earned status through a competing airline’s published requirements, meaning complimentary status or status earned through a promotion doesn’t qualify. You’ll have to present a document confirming your elite status.
Only request the status match challenge once you’re ready to start your 90 day clock, since it begins within 24 hours of receiving your email confirmation of being accepted into the status match challenge.
Bottom line
Spirit Airlines’ Free Spirit frequent flyer program offers a pretty generous status match challenge. This allows elite members with other US airlines to receive status for a period of 90 days, and then maintain it for the entire membership year in exchange for some flying. This could be a great deal if you have any upcoming plans to travel on Spirit.
Anyone plan to take advantage of this Spirit Airlines status match challenge?
this post should be probably be removed as the form is broken and no one can enter the match
Just be mindful the free snack doesn't include the Cheese Tray and Signature Snack Box
also getting "subject required" with no apparent place to list a subject. I guess Spirit won't be getting the look from me they were hoping for.
"subject required" without a subject line is difficult to fill in for this form. I guess that makes at least 2 of us!
What does Spirit offer that the legacies don't? There's no upgrades albeit as a lower status member on one of the legacies upgrades are far and few in between. There's no redeeming miles for International travel.
really, really low fares if booked in advance. And the elite status cancels out some of the restrictions of those low fares. Also, because they are such baggage nazis the boarding and onboarding are pretty quick because everybody doesn't have three bags to take out of the overhead and futz around with, one at a time.
Keep getting “subject is a required field” and won’t let me submit.
Same
Same here as well ... I wonder if they'll revive the status challenge?
So disappointed.
Was hoping the challenge involved wrassling -- best 2 falls out of 3.