Can You Fly Standby On Spirit?

Looking for flexibility with the flight plans and the option to fly on standby? Spirit Airlines is one of the low-cost airlines that lets passengers save on airfare while permitting them to live out their adventures. Flying standby with the airline can help you save money on airfare and grab a last-minute seat on the flight. However, to fly standby you must present at the airport without any confirmed booking and inform the airline that they want to fly standby. Passengers might have to pay the Spirit Airlines Standby fee or give a reason for flying standby. Keep reading the information below to understand the standby rules and guidelines, procedure, eligibility, fee, and much more.

Understanding The Spirit Standby Policy

Spirit Airlines permits its travelers to fly standby on the early flight, on the same day of the flight departure, for the additional cost per passenger. Travelers looking to standby will get this option at the airport.

Only the two tiers of elite status, Gold and Silver, might fly standby for free.
If the airline oversold seats on the flight you wanted to fly with and you are not ready to switch to a standby flight, Spirit Airlines staff will reserve another flight for you for free.

What Flights Are Eligible For Spirit Standby?

Spirit Airlines permits standby only on the same-day flights. Passengers can board the earlier flights, but they must be on the same day of the scheduled departure. If you are ok with that, you can select from different flight times, provided the flights have seats.

The airline does not provide a standby list that passengers can request for. You only need to pay for the seat on the standby flight in advance and reserve it.
For passengers who need to change the date of the flight or cancel it, the airline has a different pricing model.

Spirit Airlines Standby Guidelines For Employees, Family, & Friends

The airline provides its employees with discounted and non-revenue travel privileges. The benefit of free travel extends to eligible parents and dependents like a spouse and children below the age of 23. Spirit Airlines also provides Buddy Passes to the employees so that they can give them to friends and other family members.

These travel benefits permit employees, their friends, and families to travel for free. In the case of international taxes, the non-revenue traveler or employee should pay them. Travelers with non-revenue tickets can only fly on standby, and there is no guarantee that travelers can board the flight they want. You might need standby for more than one flight, particularly during peak season.

Spirit Airlines Standby Rules For A Missed Flight

Here are the major guidelines you must be familiar with if you are planning to fly Standby.

Missed Flight Because Of Delay

In case passengers missed their connecting flight because of the earlier flight delay, the airline put them on the next available flight under the Spirit Standby policy. Travelers can fly on standby for free until they board the flight and proceed with their scheduled trip.

Missed Flight Due To Other Reasons

If you miss the flight for another reason, you must inform the airline. The airline understands such situations and puts passengers on the Spirit standby list for the next flight. However, you must reach the airport at least two hours before the departure of your original flight. After reaching the airport, approach the airline's staff to ask what you should do and how to proceed.

If you don't inform the customer service at time, the airline might classify your original air ticket as a no show meaning you can't fly standby even on the next flight. However, you might be able to re-book the ticket to board the next available flight. Be ready, however, to pay the missed flight cost and the fare difference.

Refund For A Missed Flight On Spirit

Passengers who no longer need to take the flight and they can give an acceptable reason and explanation, they might be able to obtain a refund. After getting the refund form, ensure to complete it and send it to the airline so that you get the refund as soon as possible.

If a traveler misses the flight, doesn't reach within the specified time, and is unable to inform the airline before the time, they might not be able to get a refund for the booking amount.

How Can I Fly Standby With Spirit Airlines?

Need to know about does Spirit do standby, just go through the instructions below to fly standby with Spirit.

Book A Flight Ticket

Booking a flight is essential to get the standby option and change the departure time. When passengers pay to change to their earlier flight, they are making an adjustment to the previously scheduled flight.

Reach The Airport Early

You must reach the airport early with your ticket and approach the airline's staff at the check-in counter. The standby options aren't available online. Therefore, the airline's customer service will inform you about what earlier flights are available to fly in person.
The airline sells the seats on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you show up first in the morning, your chances of standby increases. The later you reach the airport, the more your chances of standby diminish.

Ask The Airline Staff For Standby Options

Although the airline charges for switching flights, that does not mean you will surely get the service. After all, there is no need for airlines to offer a standby flight to passengers.
Travelers can make many last-minute modifications to their flights. It ends up freeing or filling up many seats. Space on the flight can range in a few hours or even minutes.

Does Spirit Airlines Charge Fee To Fly Standby?

The airline might charge approximately $99 to fly standby. If you need an earlier flight time and you are not a member of any of the airline's programs, you will have to pay an additional fee to switch when you depart. Spirit charges each passenger; therefore, if you are flying with more people who want to board the flight simultaneously, you will pay more.
Many airlines sell more seats than the travelers boarding the flight. This is a common rule in case passengers are no-shows, but if all the travelers who booked the flight arrive, flights will end up with a few seats. Spirit will put travelers on a new flight for free in such a situation.
For Passengers holding Spirit Silver membership, the Spirit Standby is free.

Is It Essential To Have A Ticket For Spirit Airlines Standby?

Indeed, you must have a flight ticket. When flying Spirit standby, either the passenger needs an earlier flight time or their first flight is full. Changing to a different time is more like adjusting to the original flight you have already paid for. The airline doesn't permit passengers to book a standby flight without the ticket they purchased in advance.

For the ease of getting a head start, you either need to pay the fee on top of the ticket or board the alternate flight if the one you paid for is full.

Can I Get An Upgraded Seat Flying Standby With Spirit Airlines?

Passengers can book a big front seat if the flight has left one. Big front seats are the luxury offering of Spirit Airlines, with lots of legroom. When booking a standby flight, request the airline's customer service if you can upgrade the seat. If the flight you need to board still has a big front seat, you will have to pay the upcharge for the seat between $25 and $250. As that's included in the fee for choosing a standby flight, you might have to pay an additional $349 altogether.

Does Flying Standby With Spirit End Up In A Different Airport?

If you wish to fly to the airport near the place you are staying, ask Spirit customer support about where different standby flights will land. You can check in with the airline's employees about the Spirit Airlines standby flights before paying for the earlier flight.

Final Thought

Spirit Airlines, same-day standby policy, is best for passengers looking for flexibility without having to pay hefty fees generally associated with last-minute adjustments. Whether you are a business passenger with last-minute modifications or a leisure passenger with a flexible schedule, the standby policy lets you make adjustments to your travel plans as per your requirements on the go. If you still have any queries regarding can you fly standby on Spirit, contact the airline's customer service at 801-401-2222. Moreover, talk with a flight expert at +1-866-738-0741 and get your queries answered in a few minutes.