SPIRIT AIRLINES FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR TRAVELERS?

Spirit Airlines, the largest budget carrier in the U.S., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week. The airline said customers should not see any disruption to their travel plans while the process unfolds.

The bankruptcy proceedings are aimed at restructuring the company and shoring up its finances. Still, unease around the bankruptcy petition may have some travelers looking elsewhere for flights ahead of the busy holiday travel season.

Here’s what you need to know.

WILL THE CHAPTER 11 AFFECT MY BOOKING OR LOYALTY POINTS WITH SPIRIT?

For now, it’s business as usual. Spirit says it expects to continue operating normally throughout the bankruptcy process, and that travelers can continue making reservations and taking flights without interruptions.

All existing tickets, credits and loyalty points remain valid, as do the airline’s affiliated credit cards and other membership perks, the company said.

Reassuring customers that the bankruptcy won’t impact their travel plans or loyalty programs will be crucial to Spirit’s short-term ability to preserve business, according to Sarah Foss, global head of legal at financial services company Debtwire.

The filing followed years of struggles for the Florida-based airline, which is known for its no-frills, low-cost flights. Spirit failed to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, largely due to rising operating expenses and stiffer competition. The airline has lost more than $2.5 billion since the beginning of 2020 while also racking up mounting debt.

“If you’re someone that’s booking your holiday December travel ... are you going to book Spirit, which is in bankruptcy? Or are you going to choose maybe Southwest or Delta — or something else that you view as potentially being more stable?” Foss said.