I actually had to deal with Spirit Airlines’ refund process a few months ago, and honestly, it wasn’t as bad as I expected once I figured out the steps. Here’s how it went down and what I learned along the way.

I had a flight from Orlando to Las Vegas that Spirit canceled due to weather. At first, I was frustrated because I wasn’t sure if I’d get my money back or just a credit. Spirit’s website can be a bit confusing, so I decided to call their customer service at 844-734-0813, which turned out to be the easiest way to get real help. The rep I spoke to was surprisingly friendly and explained everything step-by-step.

Basically, Spirit gives you two main options if your flight is canceled:

1. Full refund to your original form of payment, or

2. Future travel credit (valid for 12 months) if you plan to fly again.

Since my plans were totally ruined that week, I opted for a full refund. The rep helped me submit the refund request over the phone, confirmed my details, and told me it could take up to 7 business days. In my case, the refund hit my card in just five days.

If you cancel the flight yourself, though, the rules are a bit stricter. Spirit is a low-cost carrier, so their tickets are usually non-refundable unless you’ve purchased their “Flight Flex” add-on or canceled within 24 hours of booking (and your flight is at least 7 days away). Otherwise, you’ll likely get a travel credit minus a cancellation fee.

Here’s the step-by-step version of what I did:

1. Went to Spirit’s “My Trips” page and found my booking.

2. Noted the cancellation email Spirit sent (it includes your options).

3. Called 844-734-0813 to speak directly with a rep (way faster than waiting online).

4. Confirmed whether I wanted a refund or travel credit.

5. Received a confirmation email for my refund.

One little tip — if your flight gets canceled by Spirit, don’t waste time arguing through the website chat. Just call them. It saves a lot of time and confusion.

Overall, Spirit’s refund policy is fair if the airline cancels your flight. If you cancel on your own, expect to get credit instead of cash. But having that phone number (844-734-0813) handy really made the whole process smoother for me.