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, Southwest, and United. In this post I wanted to take a look at the program offered by Spirit.
Spirit Airlines launched its Free Spirit loyalty program in early 2021, and it’s surprisingly great. A couple of weeks ago, Spirit Airlines launched an exciting status match offer in partnership with statusmatch.com. Note that this is a last call, as this offer is expected to be pulled after Sunday, April 23, 2023, so you have just a couple of days remaining.
While there’s a cost to enroll, the value here is potentially spectacular, as status is valid for one year with no flying requirement. If you have any upcoming travel on Spirit Airlines, it’s worth being aware of the carrier’s status match program, which could offer significant value, and help you have a great Spirit Airlines experience.
In this post:
Details of Spirit status match opportunity
Spirit Airlines has a limited time status match program, which allows elite members of 16 airline loyalty programs and 16 hotel loyalty programs to start getting perks on Spirit Airlines immediately. This is an outright status match opportunity, and status is valid for 12 months. There’s no need to complete any challenge to maintain your status.
What status tiers does Spirit match?
Spirit Airlines’ status match opportunity is really readily available, as you can match status from 16 airline loyalty programs and 16 hotel loyalty programs.
Eligible airline loyalty programs include the following:
- Aerolineas Argentinas Aerolineas Plus
- Aeromexico Club Premier
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Alaska Mileage Plan
- American AAdvantage
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Caribbean Airlines Caribbean Miles
- Copa ConnectMiles
- Delta SkyMiles
- Frontier Miles
- Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
- United MileagePlus
- WestJet Rewards
Eligible hotel loyalty programs include the following:
- Accor ALL
- Best Western Rewards
- Choice Privileges
- GHA Discovery
- Hilton Honors
- IHG One Rewards
- Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club
- Marriott Bonvoy
- OMNI Select Guest
- Radisson Rewards
- Shangri-La Golden Circle
- Sonesta Travel Pass
- Taj InnerCircle
- World Hotels Rewards
- World of Hyatt
- Wyndham Rewards
You can generally expect that if you have a lower elite status you can match to Spirit Airlines Silver, while if you have higher elite status you can match to Spirit Airlines Gold.
How much do you have to pay for a Spirit status match?
There is a fee for a Spirit Airlines status match, and it’s $49 if you want Spirit Silver status or $99 if you want Gold status.
How do you request a Spirit status match?
You can start the process of requesting a Spirit Airlines status match at this link. You can apply for a status match in just 60 seconds, and once approved, your status match will be valid for 12 months. After that you’ll have to qualify for status with the standard requirements.
Note that while this is being marketed as a limited time status match promotion, an end date hasn’t yet been published.
This is a very generous status match offer
Spirit Airlines is my favorite ultra low cost carrier. The airline actually doesn’t have to be unpleasant to fly with, and is significantly better than Frontier, in my opinion. Not only does Spirit have high speed Wi-Fi throughout most of its fleet, but the airline also has the Big Front Seat, one of the best deals in domestic travel.
Of course like most low cost carriers, Spirit’s business model is based around having low base fares and then charging ancillary fees for just about everything.
Fortunately having status with Spirit Airlines really offers astonishingly good value. Free Spirit Silver status offers bonus points, a redemption fee waiver, the ability to assign exit row seats, shortcut security, shortcut boarding, a same-day standby feature, and an overweight baggage fee waiver.
Meanwhile Free Spirit Gold status offers even more bonus points, plus a free checked bag, free carry-on bag, free drink and snack onboard, Zone 1 boarding, a pet fee waiver, free seat selection, and more.
If you fly Spirit Airlines as a Free Spirit Gold member, you’ll be on the hook for very few fees. The only thing you’ll potentially pay for is an upgrade to the Big Front Seat, which I consider to usually be worth it.
Bottom line
Spirit Airlines’ Free Spirit frequent flyer program is offering a lucrative limited time status match opportunity. You can pay $49-99 to match your airline or hotel status to Spirit Airlines, and then you’ll receive the status for 12 months with no flying requirement.
There’s huge value to be had with Free Spirit Gold status, given that you get just about all the typical fees you’d pay waived. You’d easily get your money back from the enrollment fee after just one flight. If you’ve been considering this offer but haven’t yet applied, this is your last chance to do so.
Anyone plan to take advantage of this Spirit Airlines status match?
Has anyone successfully used IHG/Marriott/Hilton/Choice status earned only through having the respective credit card to match to Spirit silver?
Thanks!
What happens if you are already a Spirit Gold member?
Unfortunately, my fee came up as $99 and I don't think that is enough of a benefit for me as I don't fly all that often on Spirit. Thanks for the info though!
Statusmatch.com is saying mine request was fully approved (Hilton Gold to Spirit Gold) but I'm not seeing the Gold status when logging in - 2 days now. Any recourse?
It took 4 business days for mine to post. Status match does mention once you approved that I could take up to five business days for the match to reflect on your spirit account
Sadly my experience with this company is not good, Lucky. They basically do no actual verification, and actually just use this to collect data on status matchers and block/scrutinize them over future ones.
It's a reason why Air Canada and Lufthansa stopped using them after one round. The customer service there is also terrible.
My friend had an application that was denied because of "fraud" even though his credentials on Alaska are completely legitimate. They...
Sadly my experience with this company is not good, Lucky. They basically do no actual verification, and actually just use this to collect data on status matchers and block/scrutinize them over future ones.
It's a reason why Air Canada and Lufthansa stopped using them after one round. The customer service there is also terrible.
My friend had an application that was denied because of "fraud" even though his credentials on Alaska are completely legitimate. They keep a dossier on you for things like residency and status match history, and the like, and prefer any internal documentation than real, external airline proof.
Just sharing my experience to those who want to consider this match: it may affect any future ones through this program.
Total garbage.
It seems like there could be more to this story. Did your friend apply for many matches or were there some other unusual circumstances?
Any way to get another airline to status match the Spirit Gold to something worthwhile? I have upcoming American, United, KLM/Air France, Egypt Air flights but am generally an airline free agent without loyalty. Thanks!
Ben, did you participate in this offer (excuse me if this is mentioned, but I don’t see that in the article)?
Did any other airlines match Spirit Gold? I thought of paying $99 to get the gold and using the Gold status to match other airlines such as American or Alaska.
Folks don’t go for this. It’s a scam, me and several others were duped by spirit and it’s a way for them to make a quick $100. They give one of a handful of reasons and asks for several follow up documents. Then they outright deny or don’t respond. Save your time and money and just go for another challenge.
Funny, me and quite a few of my friends had no issue getting approved.
It's not a scam. My friend and I were both approved (separately) with no problem. I was asked for a follow-up document which showed my membership number for my other line, my full name and my platinum status. For some reason my friend was asked for her driver license and a photo as a follow-up.
In each case we were approved immediately afterwards.
British airways is NOT included.
If I Status match to become Spirit Gold, can I book a ticket for myself my wife and my child and we all get free carryon and free checked bag, or only me?
I matched took hold which took effect yesterday and I am pricing flights, I see that I get free carry-on bag, checked bag, free seat selection including exit row but my companion, who is a Free Spirit member without status, does not.
Does anyone know how long it takes after you pay for your status to change to hold on your profile?
I applied for the status match to gold on April 7th, and was approved yesterday, April 17th. It says to allow five business days so that was about right.
Two questions - is the status upgrade good until the end of 2023 or for a full 12 months from signing up? Also will it cover all passengers when I make a reservation or just me?
I did the match earlier and my status looks like it will last through May 1, 2024
Now can we use the Spirit Gold status to match with any other airlines?
$99 for a "Silver Gold" status huh ;)
Be careful that the credit card transaction was made in Singapore, not USA. Need to use a card with no FTF.
Shortly after applying I was asked to verify identity and was instantly rejected upon submission. Not sure what the deal is. Submitted valid license photos and headshots as requested. FAQ says app fee is non-refundable so I may be SOL. Just beware this isn’t guaranteed after you pay up.
Same thing happened to me. Have you made any headway? I emailed CS. If necessary, I guess I'll dispute the charge. Very frustrating.
I'm in the same boat. What the heck!
Thank you so much for this article! You've clarified a lot of the questions I had when filling out the status match on the Spirit website. I agree this is a heck of a deal, the ability to fly on their sometimes ridiculously low fares without having to pay for bag fees or seat selection is fantastic. And as the proud owner of a new cat, the pet fee waiver is gold!
I got the...
Thank you so much for this article! You've clarified a lot of the questions I had when filling out the status match on the Spirit website. I agree this is a heck of a deal, the ability to fly on their sometimes ridiculously low fares without having to pay for bag fees or seat selection is fantastic. And as the proud owner of a new cat, the pet fee waiver is gold!
I got the IHG card on your recommendation, which confers Platinum status so this is perfect timing. Thank you again!
Well the problem is the airline only has silver and gold status but then you could have a much higher status and only get gold. $49 may sound like not a lot of money but consider what fees that could pay for and how often you fly the airline. There are plenty of more valuable hotels or airlines I would consider a status match.
It appears as though this match is being run by the website Status Match which, the modus operandi of which - to my understanding - is to gather the information of as many FFs as possible to prevent a purchase from status hopping from one airline/hotel to the next, for the future of time. Once you've handed your details over just once, you're in the system.
I'm surprised this isn't getting as much buzz as the Frontier status match did back in 2021. This seems like an exceptional deal considering the ULCC's seem to be switching to dynamic pricing for baggage. Plus the pet fee waiver could be clutch for those with furry friends. I can't think of another airline that offers that benefit.
This is indeed a phenomenal deal. I'm looking at a flight from New York to Miami, the airfare is $35. It's letting me choose any seat on the plane for free (except for The big Front Seat of course), bring carry on and checked bag for free and take my cat for free. This is amazing! Normally those fees would have brought the fare to a few hundred bucks.
Wtf does "status" on spirit actually mean? Do you get to fly inside the plane?
Hahahahaha!
Curious how long this offer will last.
Anyone know if we are eligible for this if we did last year's Spirit Challenge last year? I never ended up using the Gold Status I was granted for 3 months, but would be interested in this one since it actually lasts a year.
Offered Gold for IHG Diamond, but you need to pay $99 fee. So it's really only useful if you have immediate Spirit travel. It would be helpful to hear back how soon/quickly the status reflects.
Actually it seems useful if you have travel on Spirit within the next 12 months.
I can't find any mention of it anywhere so I assume all benefits only apply to the gold member and not to additional passengers on the same reservation? So you'd still have to pay for seats, bags etc for others traveling with you?
Only to the member as opposed to the very generous policy of Frontier.
Does anyone know if each member of a family in a single booking gets a free checked or carry-on bag with Spirit Gold or is it one free bag for the whole booking?
Per the FAQ, the benefits ONLY apply to the person(s) with the actual status, NOT to others on reservation without status.
Its turning me down for the match stating I'm not eligible. I wonder if I'm restricted because I did the frontier match? they gave me an email address to follow up with
"This is because you have either had a successful status match using your membership number, or there is a restriction on using your Free Spirit® membership number placed there by the airline."
How many brawls did you participate in during Spirit flights or check-in? They may be limiting based on that
:-)
Now they are telling me the cyber security team is blocking me for suspicious activity regarding status matching. I guess this is a sign not to fly spirit
You needed a sign?!
Hahahahah!