Spirit Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it
Spirit Airlines is perhaps the most notorious ultra-low-cost U.S. carrier. It nickels and it dimes at every opportunity — but it offers an elite status with surprisingly powerful features (think: free bags, free seat selection, waived overweight checked bag fees, exit-row seat assignment and much more).
Quantifying the value of these perks is crucial when considering whether you should go for Spirit Airlines elite status in 2024.
Let's look at how to qualify for Spirit Airlines elite status — and decide if it's worth the effort.
What is Free Spirit elite status?
Elite status in the Free Spirit loyalty program is awarded to those who frequently fly Spirit Airlines, who spend significant amounts on the carrier's cobranded credit card or who pursue a combination of the two. There are two Spirit elite status levels: Free Spirit Silver and Free Spirit Gold.
You'll have to spend a reasonable amount of money per year within the Spirit ecosystem to qualify for either status — but since purchases across all of Spirit's products (including ancillary fees) count, spending a few thousand isn't as difficult for frequent flyers as it sounds. In addition, the perks you receive from elite status could save you thousands on future travel. Free Spirit is free to join online.
Spirit measures your loyalty with a metric called status qualifying points. You must earn a specific number of SQPs in a calendar year to earn status. Your account will reflect your new status once you've collected enough to reach a status tier.
You'll keep the highest status you earn for the remainder of the current year and the future calendar year. For example, if you earn Free Spirit Silver status in August 2024, your status won't expire until Dec. 31, 2025. Just note that your SQPs don't roll over and will reset Jan. 1 of each year.
How to qualify for Spirit elite status
Here's what you'll need to do to qualify for Spirit's elite status tiers in 2024:
- Free Spirit Silver: Earn 2,000 SQPs in a calendar year
- Free Spirit Gold: Earn 5,000 SQPs in a calendar year
You'll earn SQPs when spending your money with Spirit. You'll earn 1 SQP for every dollar you spend on eligible Spirit fares and optional service purchases such as checked bags, priority boarding and seat selection. Those who regularly fly on Spirit should make quick work of these status requirements. Just note that you will not earn SQPs when purchasing Spirit vacation packages.
You can also earn SQPs from eligible credit card spending, which we will cover below.
Spirit elite status benefits
Here are the benefits you can expect with each Spirit elite status level.
Free Spirit Silver status
Spirit's lowest-tier status offers respectable perks but not many money-saving opportunities. You'll receive:
- The ability to pool points with family and friends
- Dedicated guest care support
- Redemption-fee waiver
- Exit-row seat assignment
- Shortcut boarding
- Shortcut security
- Earn 8 miles per dollar on Spirit fares
- Earn 16 miles per dollar on ancillary purchases
Free Spirit Gold status
Gold status is where frequent Spirit travelers can receive serious savings. You'll receive all the benefits of Free Spirit Silver status plus:
- Free checked bag
- Free carry-on bag
- Free drink and snack on board
- Zone 1 boarding
- Change your booking once online up to 24 hours before departure with no fees
- Pet-fee waiver
- Seat selection at purchase, including exit rows (but excluding Spirit's Big Front Seat)
- Earn 10 miles per dollar on Spirit fares
- Earn 20 points per dollar on ancillary purchases
However, it's worth noting that the fee waivers only apply to the Gold member, not travel companions on the same reservation. As a result, if you're traveling with a spouse, partner or family members, you'll still need to pay up for bags and seats.
Related: Testing out Spirit Airlines Gold status: Some wins, some free perks just too 'expensive' to use
Can a credit card help earn Free Spirit elite status?
Spirit issues one credit card: the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®. For a $79 annual fee (waived the first year), you'll get a suite of helpful Spirit-centric benefits, including the ability to earn status qualifying points. In other words, you can earn Spirit Airlines elite status without ever stepping on a plane.
The card earns 1 status qualifying point for every $10 spent on the card each calendar year. You could achieve Silver status after you spend $20,000 on purchases with the card — and Gold status after spending $50,000.
Read more: The best credit cards to reach elite status
Not all airline credit cards allow you to spend your way to top-tier elite status from your couch — and those that do tend to require far more spending.
Nevertheless, be sure you're not sacrificing more valuable rewards by using your Spirit card. After all, there are a slew of terrific credit cards for everyday spending, and the points or miles you earn on those may easily outweigh the perks you get from Free Spirit status.
The information for the Free Spirit Travel More Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Is Free Spirit elite status worth it?
As with any loyalty-related decision, whether Free Spirit status is worth it depends on your situation. Ask yourself a few simple questions to quickly decide whether you should pursue status with Spirit:
- How well does Spirit's route map match your typical travel patterns? There's little point in pursuing elite status with Spirit if it doesn't organically fit into your travel plans.
- How sensitive are you to price and convenience? Would you book a one-stop Spirit flight if another airline had a cheaper, nonstop option? If the answer is no, it may not be worth going out of your way to earn Spirit elite status.
- What's the incremental value of one tier over another? You may wind up within striking distance of the next Spirit status tier, so consider whether the benefits are worth pushing for. There's no sense in going out of your way for perks that don't matter to you.
If you plan to fly Spirit regularly, holding elite status can save you both time and money, which can be very valuable and make the ultra-low-cost experience feel more premium. Just keep in mind the perks are much more substantial with Gold status than with Silver.
Finally, you may decide that the Free Spirit Travel More Mastercard confers an acceptable number of benefits for your travel goals. The card comes with perks such as Zone 2 shortcut boarding, points pooling and a 25% rebate on inflight food and beverages when paying with your card. You'll even get a $100 Companion Flight Voucher for each cardmember year in which you spend $5,000 on the card.
If that's enough, don't go out of your way to earn Spirit elite status.
Read more: Why having the Spirit Airlines credit card isn't ridiculous
Bottom line
If you've never tasted airline elite status, it can elevate your travel experience. You can receive money-saving benefits, such as free checked bags and complimentary flight changes, but you'll also enjoy fun extras like free drinks and early boarding.
Spirit Airlines offers just these perks for its elite members. Even better, Free Spirit is one of the easier loyalty programs to earn status with.
If you plan to fly Spirit regularly and like the idea of saving time and money, it could be a smart idea to earn elite status in the Free Spirit program.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees