Absolutely, you can add your pet to a Spirit Airlines booking after you’ve already made the reservation — I actually went through this myself not too long ago, and it was way simpler than I expected once I knew what to do.
Here’s how it happened: I had booked a quick trip from Fort Lauderdale to Dallas a couple of weeks in advance, and about three days later, I decided to take my small dog, Bella, with me. When I went online to try to add her, I couldn’t find a clear “add pet” option under my booking. That’s when I realized Spirit handles pet reservations a little differently — they have limited spots for pets in the cabin, so you need to contact them directly to add your furry friend.
Here’s the step-by-step process I followed:
Call Spirit Airlines directly – I dialed 844-734-0813, which turned out to be the fastest way to reach an actual agent who could help me modify my booking. Within a couple of minutes, I was connected to someone super helpful.
Confirm your existing reservation – Have your confirmation code and passenger name handy. They’ll use that to locate your booking.
Ask to add a pet to your flight – The rep checked if there was still space available for in-cabin pets (Spirit only allows a limited number per flight). Luckily, there was one spot left!
Pay the pet fee – Spirit charges a set pet fee each way (it was $125 at the time for my trip). I paid over the phone, and the agent added Bella’s name to the special service list.
Prepare your pet carrier – Make sure it meets Spirit’s size requirements and that your pet can stay comfortably inside for the whole flight. They’ll need to stay under the seat in front of you.
When I got to the airport, check-in was smooth — I just showed the agent Bella’s carrier, confirmed she was on the manifest, and we were good to go. They gave me a small tag for her carrier to show she was approved for cabin travel.
One small tip: if you’re thinking of adding a pet after booking, do it as early as possible because spots fill up fast. Spirit doesn’t allow pets in cargo, only in the cabin, so those few available slots go quickly.
Overall, the experience was surprisingly stress-free, and having Bella with me made the trip so much more enjoyable. If you’re unsure or can’t find the option online, just call 844-734-0813 — that’s honestly the easiest and quickest way to get it done without any confusion.