Spirit Airline’s customer service is no longer operational (Image: Joe Raedle, Getty Images)
A Houston household says they can’t discover their baggage following a Spirit Airlines flight, however the provider has ceased operations and is unavailable to help.
Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2 after failing to secure a $500 million funding package deal from the Trump administration. The provider, which had operated for 34 years, filed for chapter twice within the previous yr and was unable to get better, canceling hundreds of flights and affecting roughly 17,000 jobs.
Houston resident Paul Ahrens instructed KHOU11 that his relations took a Spirit flight to Orlando, Florida, over the weekend, however their bags by no means arrived at their vacation spot.
“My son and daughter-in-law and my granddaughter flew out to Orlando yesterday morning, early, and got to Orlando and their luggage didn’t make it,” Ahrens instructed the outlet.
The household traveled to Florida for a cheerleading competitors, they usually suspect the bags stay in Houston.
“He’s filed a claim, and their luggage is still here at [George Bush Intercontinental Airport],” Ahrens mentioned. “I’ve gone to their office and it’s locked up and there’s nobody we can talk to about getting into the office and get his lost luggage.”
In Spirit’s May 2 assertion, the airline indicated that “customer service is no longer available.” This has sophisticated efforts to find Ahrens’ household’s belongings.
Spirit Airlines has formally shut down (Image: Getty)
Ahrens talked about he went to the airport at 6:30 a.m. over the weekend making an attempt to retrieve his granddaughter’s bag, which contained her cheerleading uniform. At that time, he was not “able to talk to anybody from Spirit.”
Why did Spirit Airlines shut down?
The airline revealed its closure on Saturday with the next assertion:
“It is with great disappointment that on May 2, 2026, Spirit Airlines started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately. To our Guests: all flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available. We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our Guests for many years to come.”
Approximately 17,000 jobs may very well be affected by the closure, in accordance to Spirit lawyer Marshall Huebner.
Spirit has confronted financial difficulties because the COVID-19 pandemic, burdened by rising operational bills and mounting debt. When it filed for Chapter 11 safety in November 2024, Spirit had collected losses exceeding $2.5 billion since early 2020.
Rival airways have stepped in to help Spirit prospects (Image: Getty)
The price range airline filed for chapter safety a second time in August 2025, disclosing $8.1 billion in liabilities and $8.6 billion in property, based mostly on court docket paperwork.
Competing airways lengthen help to Spirit passengers
After Spirit’s closure, competing carriers began offering discounted tickets and rebooking alternate options to Spirit passengers affected by cancellations. They additionally reserved standby seats on flights to help Spirit pilots and cabin crew return home.
American Airlines diminished ticket costs on routes that overlap with Spirit Airlines. “We immediately put rescue fares into place on Spirit routes where American also offers nonstop service. American serves 70 of the 72 airports Spirit presently serves, and 67 of the specific routes Spirit currently operates,” the airline’s web site states.
Delta is offering discounted fares for 5 days throughout U.S. and Latin American routes, accessible to vacationers via the usual reserving course of.
Major Spirit Airlines rival Frontier is extending a 50% low cost off base fares on choose flights for Spirit passengers, with purchases required by May 10 and travel legitimate via Nov. 19.
Southwest Airlines is offering Spirit passengers capped one-means fares, accessible in particular person at ticket counters with proof of a canceled Spirit Airlines ticket.
Available via May 6 on home routes the place Southwest beforehand competed with Spirit, one-means fares are priced between $200 and $400, decided by travel distance.
