Spirit Airlines on the Brink: What Passengers Should Know if the Carrier Collapses

Spirit Airlines could cease operations as soon as early Saturday morning, sources familiar with the situation say. The budget carrier has been unable to secure the financial backing needed to keep flying, though the company has not confirmed any shutdown plans. For Saturday alone, around 290 Spirit flights are scheduled, with another 381 set for Sunday, according to Flightradar24.

If you have a Spirit ticket, you might be worried. And you're not alone—this airline is bigger than most recent U.S. carrier failures, connecting cities like New York, Miami, Detroit, and Los Angeles with its fleet of yellow Airbus jets. Here's what you need to know right now: Don't do anything yet.

Travel experts advise waiting for an official announcement. If you paid with a credit card, you'll likely get a refund. But if you used a debit card or loyalty points, recovering your money will be tough, says Henry Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research Group. "Don't cancel your reservation proactively. Let Spirit make the first move," he says.

If the airline does shut down, don't head to the airport expecting help from Spirit staff. Call centers could be overwhelmed or even closed. Other airlines, however, are ready to step in. United, JetBlue, Frontier, and American have all said they'll assist stranded passengers, possibly adding extra flights like they do during hurricanes.

Spirit has struggled for years. A planned merger with JetBlue was blocked, rising costs hurt its model, engine problems grounded planes, and travelers shifted toward fuller-service airlines. Last year, Spirit filed for its second bankruptcy in under a year. If it disappears, experts expect fares to rise on some routes, even though the carrier has already shrunk significantly.