(EXPIRED) Spirit Airlines Launches a New Status Match Program (Ends Sunday)

Update: Spirit has announced that this program will end on Sunday, April 23rd at 11:59 Pacific. Last call for those who are interested.

Spirit Airlines has launched a new, paid status match program in partnership with statusmatch.com. It applies to elite members of 32 loyalty programs (16 airlines and 16 hotels) and allows participants to begin enjoying elite perks immediately upon being matched. There is a fee of $49 or $99 depending on which status you’re matching to, but the matched status is then valid for 12 months and there’s no need to complete a challenge to maintain it over that time period.

The Deal

• Spirit Airlines has launched a new status match program that matches status from 32 loyalty programs
  • Once awarded, matched elite status is valid for 12 months.
  • Status can be matched to either Spirit Airlines’ Silver or Gold, depending on your current status in the loyalty program that you are matching to Spirit.
  • The fee for matching is $49 for Silver status or $99 for Gold status.
  • You must be a Free Spirit Loyalty Program member to participate in the matching program.

Direct Link to Program

Spirit Elite Tier Benefits

Free Spirit Silver status is definitely the lesser of the two options available, with Gold being a significant step up. Gold status is actually fairly compelling if you fly the airline often and offers a free checked bag, a free carry-on bag, a free drink and snack onboard, exit row seat assignment at booking, pet fee waiver and more. Here’s a complete list of benefits for each status level:

Eligible Programs and Matching Tiers

Terms and Conditions

• A Free Spirit® membership number is required to participate in the campaign. You can enroll in the Free Spirit® program here.
• If your Status Match application is approved, your new Free Spirit® Silver or Gold status will be valid for one year.
• To retain your elite status beyond this date, you must re-qualify as per the program criteria.
• You can only apply for the Spirit loyalty tier you are eligible for. For example, if you are a Delta Silver member, you cannot apply for the Spirit Gold tier Status Match.
• Only eligible loyalty program members are invited to apply. If you hold top loyalty status with an airline not supported on the list, you may waitlist for a potential future opportunity directly at statusmatch.com.
• The offer is available for a limited time only.
• Spirit Airlines and StatusMatch.com reserve the right to end or amend the campaign without notice.
• To participate in the campaign, you will require your Free Spirit® membership number, details of the elite status you currently hold with an eligible loyalty program and your credit card payment information.
• You may be asked for proof of frequent flyer status and/or ID verification.
• Successful applicants will be informed via email within 5 busiYour credit card statement will show charges from STATUSMATCH.COMness days regarding the outcome of the application.
• Once approved and upgraded, the new tier will be effective immediately, providing the member access to the tier benefits for new flights booked after the status is granted.
• Upon approval of a Status Match, you will be ineligible from using your Free Spirit® membership number for a future status match for a period of no less than 2 years.
• Your credit card statement will show charges from STATUSMATCH.COM

Quick Thoughts

Full disclosure…it’s been years since I’ve flown Spirit. It’s just not a great option out of Seattle. However, I know many folks who love it and consider it the best of the low, low cost carriers. Greg and Nick got to fly the Big Front Seat, the crème de la crème of the Spirit Experience, a couple of years ago. They found it to be a generally positive experience:

I was happily surprised by how pleasant the experience was.  I had paid for a Big Front Seat and yet the flight was still cheaper than a Delta economy ticket for the same route.  Plus, I was able to use my Ritz card’s airline incidental fee reimbursement to refund the purchase of the Big Front Seat. The Big Front Seat was big and plush.  And the flight attendants were super nice and attentive. The Big Front Seat is missing a number of things that you’ll find on most other regional first class products: Spirit’s seats don’t recline and do not have video screens. Plus, unless you have Spirit Gold status, there are no complementary snacks or drinks. Still, the basic experience of getting from point A to point B was excellent.

It led Greg to rethink his allegiance to Delta for a brief minute by attempting a side-by-side comparison with Spirit on a trip to Florida with his son. The results were…mixed.

All that to say, for those who do fly the airline and/or enjoy it, this status match could be a very good value. You can enroll in just a few seconds and the match will then be valid for 12 months. Most of the fees you’d normally pay flying with Spirit would be waived with Gold status, so the cost of enrollment could pay itself back after only one flight (depending on seat selection, luggage, etc).

If you’re not planning on flying Spirit immediately, it would make sense to hold off for now, because you wouldn’t receive any benefit from the status match until your next time flying with them. However, Spirit hasn’t stated how long this program will be active and an end date hasn’t been published. I’d assume they’d announce an end to the program before it happens…but that’s just an assumption.

The timing of this program could yield additonal benefits, even if you don’t plan on keeping Spirit Gold. Since your twelve months of status will take you into the first few months of 2024, it could enable you to turn around and match your Spirit Status to other airlines at the start of the year. Depending on the status match program for the other airline(s), that timing could net you status with them for the rest of 2024.

Note that, unlike Spirit’s past status match challenges, you DO need to qualify for status in the traditional way to for it to continue once the initial 12 months are over (Spirit’s past challenges usually awarded status for the remainder of the current year and for the next calendar year). Still, even if you don’t plan on keeping the status, this match is probably worth considering for anyone who is planning on flying Spirit at least a couple of times over the next year.

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