Why Getting a Spirit Airlines Credit Card Isn’t Crazy

Only one airline credit card can offer incredible value when it comes to affordable travel. This credit card allows you to earn reward flights, stack your points together, and even achieve elite status based on spending alone.

So what card is it?

We are talking about Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®This card can help you earn free flights and money-saving tiers if you feel comfortable flying. Spirit Airlines and understand how to maximize Spirit Frequent Flyer Program.

The information for the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite 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.

Spirit Airlines Credit Card Basics

There are actually two different Spirit co-branded credit cards: the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard, which has a $79 annual fee, and the Free Spirit Travel Mastercard, which has no annual fee.

Related: 5 Things You Should Know About Spirit’s Enhanced Credit Card Portfolio

While a no annual fee card may seem appealing, we recommend the Free Spirit Travel More card with an annual fee, as it offers more value for frequent Spirit flyers.

New cardholders can get an introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year (and $79 thereafter). This will allow you to try the card for the first year with a flat annual fee and see if the benefits are worth it for you and your family in the years to come.

The information about the Free Spirit Travel 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.

You’ll also earn 50,000 bonus points along with a $100 voucher for your companion after spending at least $1,000 on purchases within 90 days of account opening.

Free spirit travel More benefits

Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard holders also receive the following benefits:

• Spirit Points will not expire for cardholders as long as your card account remains open.
• No redemption fees as primary cardholder
• Points accrue for themselves and up to eight others (benefits for both cards)
• 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases when paying with card (applicable to both cards)
• Area 2 Boarding Shortcut (benefits both cards)
• Earn 1 Status Qualifying Point (SQP) for every $10 spent with the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard
• Receive a $100 companion flight voucher on each cardholder anniversary after making at least $5,000 in purchases in the previous anniversary year

Related: How to Keep Spirit Airlines Points from Expiring

The Road to Elite Status

While these are all pretty good benefits overall, there’s one that really stands out: The ability to earn 1 Upgrade Qualifying Point (SQP) for every $10 spent on the card. Spirit Airlines Loyalty Program There are two levels, Free Spirit Silver and Gold status. You need 2,000 SQP to reach Silver status and 5,000 SQP to reach Gold status.

Elite benefits include increased points earning rates, free seat selection when booking, free first checked bag, free carry-on bag, and more. A $20,000 annual fee on the card will automatically get you Silver status, while a $50,000 fee will get you Gold status—based on credit card spending alone. Of course, if you also earn SQPs flying Spirit throughout the year, that will help reduce the required spending amount on the card.

Related: How much is Spirit Airlines elite status worth?

One thing that many travelers complain about with Spirit is the fees associated with flying the airline. While baggage and seat assignment fees are becoming more common these days, Spirit charges you to print your boarding pass at check-in and to give you a soda while you’re on the plane. You may even find that the advertised low fare you find is three times higher once you factor all the necessary fees into the equation.

Owning a co-branded Spirit Airlines card can help offset some of that cost with the points and other rewards you earn when you make purchases with the Free Spirit Travel more card.

Related: How to Pack Only in Spirit Airlines’ Free Carry-On Bag

Expand your points with a Spirit credit card

Card members have traditionally enjoyed the unique perk of booking award flights for as little as 2,500 points each way; this benefit has now been extended to all Spirit passengers. And while Spirit has eliminated its rewards chart, there are still opportunities to fly Spirit at this low rate.

For example, if you live in Houston, you can easily fly Spirit to places like Las Vegas or Orlando for just 5,000 Spirit points round trip (if you’re flexible on dates).

Or, now that Spirit offers points and cash, you can book an award flight for just 1,000 points plus a co-payment. This is great for people who don’t spend much on credit cards and want to redeem their points for as little money as possible.

Related: Save money when you buy Spirit Airlines tickets at the airport

Last line

Flying Spirit isn’t for everyone, and neither is the Spirit Airlines credit card. But if you like redeeming points for flights and are looking for a cost-effective way to get from Point A to Point BConsider getting a Spirit co-branded card. I don’t currently have a Spirit card, but my semi-retired parents have had Spirit cards for years and have enjoyed earning points and making memories by getting cheap award tickets through their Spirit credit card.

In a flight comparison, two of our TPG staff flew on Spirit Airlines and compared the Big Front Seat to the economy class experience. Nicky Kelvin and Stella Shon enjoyed their nonstop, no-frills flight and both agreed they would fly Spirit again if given the chance.