How to Use Your Spirit Airlines Miles for Someone Else
I prefer fancy pants lie-flat airplane seats and a little bit of pampering from time to time during my travels just like anyone, but I'm by no means "addicted" to only traveling that way, so when the opportunity arises to earn or use Spirit Airlines miles, I'll take it. Even if I can't use the miles myself, I may be able to help someone else take a vacation they otherwise might not afford using the miles (before they expire!). In fact, I did just that with some Spirit miles I got for free via a promotion in Houston a couple of years ago. I couldn't use them before they expired, so a few friends got to go to Vegas using our miles!
I wrote about how I used them for someone else here, but since that time I keep getting questions or comments from readers who find the old posts saying that the system no longer lets you use your Spirit miles for someone else.
Today I did a test and I can confirm that it is still possible to use your Spirit miles for someone else to travel, so here are step by step instructions on how to use your Spirit Airlines miles for someone else. I do want to add a caveat that according to Chris in the comments section, this does not work if you have joined the $9 Fare Club, so think long and hard about joining the Fare Club if you want to use your points for someone else to travel. I am not a member of the Fare Club, so can't test this for myself.
1. Log in to the Free Spirit account that has the miles you want to use and search for the award flights you want by clicking the box that says "Purchase Flights with Free Spirit Miles".
2. Select the award flights you want and then you will be taken to the Customer Information Page where you will delete the info for the Free Spirit Account holder and enter the information for the traveler.
Note that this must include changing the Free Spirit frequent flyer number to the traveler's number even though the miles will come out of the account of the person you are logged in under. If you do not change the frequent flyer number to the traveler's number you will get this error screen below.
If you are sharing your miles with someone else who may not be familiar with Spirit, make sure to warn the recipients about some of Spirit's fees and how to avoid most of them - if you aren't sure, here is a post with some tips.
3. Complete the booking. All that's left to do is to complete the booking and pay the taxes/fees along with the Free Spirit Miles. Make sure you then get the confirmation number and relevant info so you can check into your flight when the time comes without having to pay $10 to do so at the airport. The process is actually really simple, but I think some folks get held up by not entering their own Free Spirit number on the Customer Information page, so hopefully these instructions will help.Have you used your Spirit miles to help someone else travel for less?
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app