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Spirit Added Free Checked Bags to Its Credit Card — But Should You Apply in 2026?
July 1, 2025
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In September 2025, Spirit Airlines quietly did something remarkable for a budget carrier: it added two free checked bags to its co-branded credit card. For an airline famous for charging passengers for almost everything short of breathing, this was a genuine upgrade — and one that makes the math on the card's $79 annual fee look surprisingly favorable.
But here's the part that complicates the decision: Spirit is currently operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in under a year. The Trump administration is in active discussions about a federal rescue package. The airline says it expects to emerge from bankruptcy by early summer 2026, but the outcome is uncertain.
So the real question in 2026 isn't just whether two free bags justify a $79 annual fee. It's whether you should tie yourself to a card whose most valuable currency — Spirit loyalty points — depends entirely on an airline navigating one of the most turbulent periods in its history.
This post breaks both questions down honestly.
What Spirit Actually Added — and When
Spirit announced the free checked bags benefit in May 2025 as part of a broader loyalty program overhaul, with details to follow later in the year. On September 23, 2025, the benefit went live. Primary cardholders of the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard® can now check up to two bags for free on every Spirit trip booked with the card.
This was a notable shift. Prior to this, the Travel More card was notable mostly for its companion voucher and priority boarding — useful perks, but nothing that set it apart from other budget airline cards. The addition of free checked bags changes the value proposition in a meaningful way, since Spirit's bag fees represent one of the most predictable costs for regular Spirit travelers.
The Value Math: Does It Justify the $79 Annual Fee?
The annual fee is $79 — and it's waived entirely in the first year. That first-year waiver matters: it means new cardholders can evaluate whether the card fits their travel habits at no cost before deciding whether to keep it.
From year two onward, the value case rests primarily on checked bags. Spirit charges for bags, and the fee varies depending on when you pay — booking in advance online is cheaper than paying at the airport or at the gate. At any price point, two round-trip flights with checked bags can generate savings that meaningfully exceed the $79 annual fee.
The break-even is low. A single round trip where you check one bag each way using the free bag benefit can cover the annual fee. A round trip with two checked bags pushes the savings significantly higher. For anyone who flies Spirit more than once or twice a year with luggage, the math is straightforward.
Important fine print on the bags:
- The benefit applies to the primary cardholder only — companions on the same booking do not receive free bags
- Flights must be booked on spirit.com or through the Spirit mobile app using the eligible card
- Bags can weigh up to 50 lbs each
- Sports equipment including golf clubs, skis, and snowboards qualifies
- Cardholders booking Spirit First under separate terms may check an additional bag
What Else the Card Includes
Beyond the free checked bags, the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard® includes several perks that add genuine day-of-travel value for regular Spirit flyers.
Annual companion voucher: Reach the qualifying spend threshold within your anniversary year and receive a companion flight voucher upon renewal. The voucher applies as a discount on companion airfare, excluding taxes and fees. See current card terms for the spend requirement.
Zone 2 boarding: Primary cardholders board in Zone 2 on every Spirit flight — only behind Spirit First passengers. For travelers who want reliable overhead bin space, early boarding is a practical benefit that matters more than it might seem on a packed Spirit flight.
In-flight rebate: Use the card for food and drinks onboard and receive a rebate as a statement credit. See current terms for the rebate rate.
No foreign transaction fees: Spirit serves destinations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, making no foreign transaction fees a genuinely useful feature for international routes.
Points don't expire: As long as your card account is open and in good standing, your Free Spirit points do not expire. There's no annual or activity-based expiration window.
Welcome offer: See current terms at the card page — the offer includes a spend requirement and time period that must be met to unlock the bonus. Confirm the latest details before applying.
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How the Rewards Work
The card earns points in a tiered structure — the highest rate on Spirit flights and inflight purchases, a bonus rate on dining and grocery store purchases, and a base rate on everything else. See the card page for current earning rates.
The limitation you need to know upfront: Free Spirit points can only be redeemed for flights on Spirit Airlines. There are no airline or hotel transfer partners. No cash-back option. Your points are entirely tied to Spirit's continued operation and route network.
This is the most important thing to understand about the card's rewards structure in 2026 — and it connects directly to the next section.
The Question Nobody Wants to Ask: What Happens If Spirit Doesn't Make It?
This deserves a direct answer rather than a diplomatic hedge.
Spirit is currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — its second filing in under a year. The airline filed for the first time in November 2024, emerged, filed again in August 2025, and as of April 2026 is in advanced discussions with the Trump administration about a potential federal rescue package that could include a loan of up to $500 million and a government equity stake. Spirit continues to operate flights and has stated it expects to emerge from bankruptcy by early summer 2026.
Here is what the bankruptcy means for each part of the card:
The Bank of America Mastercard itself: Entirely unaffected. The credit card is issued by Bank of America. If Spirit ceased operating tomorrow, your card would continue to work as a Mastercard for any purchase, anywhere. Bank of America's financial stability has nothing to do with Spirit's.
The tangible card benefits: The free checked bags, Zone 2 boarding, and in-flight rebate deliver value on a per-trip basis as long as Spirit is operating flights. Every trip you take while the airline is flying, you receive those benefits. They don't require a future redemption — the value is captured at the time of travel.
Your Free Spirit points balance: This is where the risk lives. Free Spirit points can only be redeemed for Spirit flights. If Spirit were to cease operations entirely, unredeemed points would become worthless. Bank of America has no obligation to honor Spirit's loyalty currency. A large unredeemed points balance is the financial exposure for co-branded airline card holders when the airline faces existential uncertainty.
The practical implication: If you hold this card during Spirit's bankruptcy period, keep your points balance low by redeeming regularly rather than saving for a larger award. Use the card for its tangible benefits, treat points as a secondary consideration, and don't let a significant balance sit unredeemed.
So Should You Actually Apply?
The honest answer depends on who you are.
Yes, applying makes sense if you:
- Already fly Spirit regularly and check bags — the free bag benefit delivers immediate, guaranteed value on every trip regardless of Spirit's financial situation
- Want to use the first-year annual fee waiver to test the card at zero cost before deciding whether to keep it
- Travel frequently to Spirit's strong markets — Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Latin American destinations
- Understand that you're primarily paying for tangible per-trip benefits, not an accumulating points balance
- Are comfortable with Spirit's situation and believe the airline will successfully emerge from bankruptcy
No, hold off if you:
- Rarely or never check bags — the primary value driver won't apply to your trips
- Fly Spirit once a year or less — the annual fee won't pay for itself
- Want points you can transfer to other airlines or hotel programs — Free Spirit points cannot
- Are uncomfortable with the uncertainty around Spirit's future and don't want a card tied to it
- Are evaluating this as a primary travel rewards card — a general travel card with flexible points will serve most people better
What Competitors Offer by Comparison
If Spirit's situation gives you pause, or if you want to compare before deciding, a few alternatives are worth considering.
For budget airline travelers who want free bags without airline-specific loyalty risk, a general travel card that earns flexible points can cover checked bag costs through statement credits or travel portal redemptions at any carrier. The flexibility is significantly higher and the points don't depend on any single airline's survival.
For Spirit travelers who want the perks without the annual fee, the Free Spirit® Travel Mastercard® carries no annual fee and still earns points on Spirit purchases — though at lower rates, without the companion voucher, and without the free checked bag benefit.
For travelers open to switching airlines entirely, the major legacy carrier co-branded cards — Delta, United, American — offer free checked bag benefits on more financially stable airlines, typically at comparable or slightly higher annual fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the free bag benefit apply to companions on my booking?
No. The free checked bag benefit is for the primary cardholder only. Companions on the same reservation board with you in Zone 2 but are subject to Spirit's standard bag fees.
What happens to my points if Spirit stops flying?
If Spirit were to cease operations entirely, unredeemed Free Spirit points would have no value. This is the core risk of holding co-branded loyalty currency from an airline in financial distress. Redeem points regularly rather than accumulating a large balance.
Is the annual fee really waived in year one?
Yes. New cardholders pay no annual fee in the first year. The $79 annual fee applies from year two onward. Year one is genuinely risk-free — all benefits including free checked bags are available at no cost.
Can I use the card anywhere, or only at Spirit?
The card functions as a World Elite Mastercard for any purchase. The Spirit-specific benefits — free bags, Zone 2 boarding, points earning — apply to Spirit bookings and flights. The card's general-purpose spending earns points at the base rate.
Do Free Spirit points expire?
No. Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. There is no time-based or activity-based expiration window.
Can Free Spirit points be transferred to other airlines?
No. Free Spirit points can only be redeemed for Spirit flights and select Spirit partner services. There are no transfer partners. This is a significant limitation compared to flexible travel credit cards.
How do I activate the free checked bag benefit?
You must be the primary cardholder. Book your Spirit flight on spirit.com or through the Spirit mobile app using your Free Spirit Travel More Mastercard. Standard size and weight limits apply — bags can weigh up to 50 lbs each. Sports equipment qualifies.
Is this the same as the free Spirit Travel Mastercard with no annual fee?
No. Spirit offers two credit cards. The no-annual-fee Free Spirit® Travel Mastercard® earns points at lower rates and does not include the free checked bag benefit or the companion voucher. The Travel More card is the premium version with the $79 annual fee (waived year one) and the upgraded benefits.
The Bottom Line
Spirit's decision to add two free checked bags to the Travel More Mastercard made an already decent card significantly more compelling for regular Spirit flyers. The value math is straightforward — a single round trip with checked bags can cover the annual fee, and the first-year waiver means you can evaluate the card at zero cost.
The honest complication in 2026 is Spirit's financial situation. The airline is operating under its second bankruptcy protection in under a year, and while the outlook for emergence is cautiously optimistic, the uncertainty is real. The credit card itself carries no elevated financial risk — Bank of America is the issuer — but your accumulated Free Spirit points are only as valuable as Spirit's ability to keep flying.
For current Spirit loyalists, the card earns its place in your wallet on the tangible per-trip benefits alone. Use it for the bags, board early, redeem your points regularly, and don't treat this as a long-term points accumulation strategy. For anyone on the fence about Spirit as an airline, this is not the moment to commit to a co-branded card. Wait until Spirit's path out of bankruptcy becomes clearer.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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