TAMPA, Fla. — After Spirit Airlines shut down abruptly last week, former flight attendants say they’re struggling to get any type of answers from the now-defunct airline.
Flight attendant Kiera Mitchell says the end came with almost no warning. For nearly four years, she had built a career with Spirit Airlines, even capturing some of her travels through video blogs.
“We didn’t get any heads up about the shutdown,” she says. “Only an hour before, we got an email from the union — and still today, I haven’t heard anything from the company.”
The confusion runs deeper than just job loss. Mitchell says her cousin worked the final flight and didn’t even know the airline was shutting down until after the flight was completed. Others were stranded in cities during layovers, left to figure out next steps on their own.
Nearly a week later, Mitchell says she still hasn’t been able to reach anyone at the company.
“We haven’t heard anything, so I’m not sure what’s going to happen with our benefits, with our healthcare,” she says. “I did call to see what was going on with my 401K, and they did say they had to wait until they got official word from the company they were shut down, and it could take up to 30 days.”
Aviation consultant Kari Goetz says the airline played a key role in keeping airfare competitive. When Spirit entered a market, prices typically dropped. Without it, travelers may soon feel the difference financially.
“With Spirit out of the market, we are going to see fares increase,” Goetz says. “Fuel prices have more than doubled in the last two months, so we’re going to see increased fares through the summer and probably into the fall.”
For some passengers, Spirit wasn’t just another airline — it was the only way they could travel.
“Passengers who often fly Spirit either fly Spirit or don’t fly at all,” Goetz says. “It offered an accessible price point for people who don’t traditionally travel by air.”
Some low-cost carriers are already moving in to capture former Spirit customers. Avelo Airlines has begun honoring Spirit loyalty points, while Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air are rolling out discounts for former Spirit travelers.
Meanwhile, major carriers — including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines — have launched dedicated hiring portals to help former Spirit employees.