Spirit Airlines shut down 72 hours ago. At Fort Lauderdale, it has never left.<\/p>\n
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is currently the epicentre of a massive aviation disruption in the United States. According to the latest real-time flight tracking data from May 5, 2026, a staggering 95 flights have been cancelled and 72 delayed, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The disruptions are primarily hitting the airport\u2019s two largest carriers, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue, which together account for over 80% of today\u2019s scrapped flights at the South Florida hub.<\/p>\n
This is not the same story as yesterday. On May 4 \u2014 Day 3 post-Spirit \u2014 FLL recorded 127 cancellations and 129 delays, the raw explosive aftermath of a carrier that had just shut down with no notice. Today, Day 4, the raw numbers are lower. But the operational picture is more disturbing \u2014 not less. Data analysis shows an overwhelming concentration of cancellations under Spirit Airlines. Because the airline has grounded its fleet, there are no \u201cdelays\u201d listed for Spirit \u2014 every scheduled flight has simply been scrapped. Spirit\u2019s ghost flights are still appearing in airport systems, on departure boards, in booking databases, and on the phones of confused passengers who drove to Terminal 4 this morning expecting to board an aircraft that ceased to exist three days ago.<\/p>\n
Passengers arriving at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport are still being dropped at Terminal 4 at the curbside, only to learn at the curb that their Spirit Airlines flights no longer exist. Three days after the shutdown. Passengers are still arriving. Ghost flights are still showing. Spirit\u2019s logo is still on the building. And there is still no Spirit staff anywhere in Terminal 4 to explain what has happened.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s 95 cancellations make Fort Lauderdale the worst post-Spirit airport in America for the fourth consecutive day. Fort Lauderdale stands out dramatically in the national disruption data, accounting for nearly 30% of all US flight cancellations today. This is not a broad, systemic failure of the US air traffic system. Instead, it is a carrier-specific collapse, with Fort Lauderdale standing as ground zero. And tomorrow \u2014 Wednesday May 6 \u2014 the rescue fares that have been keeping displaced Spirit passengers moving expire. JetBlue said it was offering $99 one-way rescue fares to travellers who could show proof of a valid Spirit itinerary on the same route through Wednesday May 6. That deadline is 24 hours from now.<\/p>\n
Published: May 5, 2026 \u2014 Tuesday Airport: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) \u2014 Florida, USA Day Post-Spirit Shutdown: Day 4 \u2014 Spirit ceased all operations 3:00am ET May 2, 2026 Day in Post-Easter Crisis: Day 35 FLL Total Disruptions Today: 167 (95 cancellations + 72 delays) FLL Cancellation Rate: ~26% of total FLL operations \u2014 3\u20134x normal baseline vs. Yesterday (May 4): 127 cancellations + 129 delays = 256 total \u2014 today\u2019s cancellations are lower but ghost flight crisis intensifies Worst Carrier: Spirit Airlines \u2014 80%+ of cancellations (ghost flights \u2014 permanent grounding) Second Worst Carrier: JetBlue \u2014 absorbing displaced passengers + recording delays Other Carriers Hit: American Airlines \u00b7 Southwest Airlines \u00b7 Frontier Airlines \u00b7 Allegiant Air Ghost Flights Active: Spirit flights still appearing in airport systems, booking databases, and departure boards \u2014 NO aircraft, NO staff, NO service JetBlue $99 Rescue Fare Deadline: TOMORROW \u2014 Wednesday May 6 \u2014 must show Spirit confirmation number + proof of payment Southwest Rescue Deal: Counter-only \u2014 expires Wednesday May 6 \u2014 physical airport counter only United Rescue Fares: Available online through May 16 \u2014 $200 cap one-way Frontier: 50% off base fares through May 10 \u2014 all routes Allegiant: Price freeze on overlapping routes \u2014 check allegiantair.com Routes Broken: New York (LGA\/EWR\/JFK) \u00b7 Puerto Rico (SJU) \u00b7 Chicago (ORD) \u00b7 Detroit (DTW) \u00b7 Baltimore (BWI) \u00b7 Boston (BOS) \u00b7 Houston (IAH) \u00b7 Caribbean FAA O\u2019Hare Summer Cap: May 17, 2026 \u2014 12 days away Passengers Affected at FLL Today: Est. 15,000\u201325,000 (Spirit ghost + live carrier disruptions)<\/p>\n
What Is a Spirit Ghost Flight \u2014 And Why They Are Still Breaking FLL<\/p>\n
This is the question that defines May 5 at Fort Lauderdale. Not \u201cwhy are there 95 cancellations?\u201d \u2014 the answer to that is simple: Spirit is shut down. The question that matters today is: why are passengers still showing up to fly?<\/p>\n
Because the airline has grounded its fleet, there are no \u201cdelays\u201d listed for Spirit \u2014 every scheduled flight has simply been scrapped. Spirit\u2019s reservation system loaded flights weeks and months in advance into every platform that consumers use to book travel: the Spirit app, Google Flights, Expedia, Kayak, Orbitz, TripAdvisor, corporate travel management systems. Cancelling those flights from every third-party system simultaneously is not instantaneous. It takes days. In some systems, it takes weeks.<\/p>\n
The result: a passenger who booked FLL\u2013LGA on Spirit for today \u2014 May 5 \u2014 may have received a Spirit cancellation confirmation on May 2. But their Google Flights itinerary still shows the flight. Their calendar reminder still triggers. Their Expedia booking page may still show \u201ccheck-in opens.\u201d Their credit card statement still shows the charge. And so they arrive at Terminal 4 at Fort Lauderdale at 5am, luggage in hand, ready to board a flight that does not exist, at a terminal staffed by no one.<\/p>\n
Passengers arriving at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport were still being dropped at Terminal 4 on Saturday, only to learn at the curb that their Spirit Airlines flights no longer existed. Ricardo Tejeda summed up the shock with three words: \u201cI just found out.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was Saturday \u2014 Day 1. Today is Tuesday \u2014 Day 4. Passengers are still arriving. Spirit\u2019s gates are empty. Spirit\u2019s 29,000 annual FLL flights are a void that no single carrier can fill overnight.<\/p>\n
If you are reading this before going to the airport today: Do not go to FLL expecting any Spirit staff, service, or assistance. Terminal 4 is unmanned by Spirit. There is no Spirit desk, no Spirit gate agent, no Spirit baggage handler, no Spirit customer service presence of any kind at Fort Lauderdale. The departure board will show your flight as cancelled. Every third-party booking platform should also show it as cancelled by now \u2014 but if yours does not, that is a ghost flight. It is not real. The aircraft does not exist at FLL.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcca The Complete FLL Carrier Breakdown \u2014 May 5, 2026<\/p>\n
The delays are primarily affecting airlines such as JetBlue, Spirit, American Airlines, and Southwest, while cancellations are overwhelmingly linked to Spirit Airlines, which has accounted for the bulk of the disruptions today. Passengers travelling through FLL are experiencing significant inconvenience, as flights to and from various domestic and international locations face either lengthy delays or outright cancellations. Travellers from cities like New York (LaGuardia), Chicago (O\u2019Hare), Dallas and Orlando are particularly affected.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\nCarrier
\nStatus
\nCancellations
\nDelays
\nKey Routes Hit
\nRescue Fare?
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nSpirit Airlines
\n\ud83d\udd34 PERMANENTLY DARK
\n~75 (80% of total)
\n0
\nALL FLL routes \u2014 dark permanently
\nN\/A \u2014 file refund
\n
\n
\nJetBlue Airways
\n\ud83d\udd34 Worst live carrier
\n~5\u20138
\nHigh
\nFLL\u2013JFK \u00b7 FLL\u2013BOS \u00b7 FLL\u2013SJU \u00b7 FLL\u2013LGB
\n\u2705 $99 \u2014 expires TOMORROW
\n
\n
\nSouthwest Airlines
\n\ud83d\udfe0 Elevated
\n\u2014
\nHigh
\nFLL\u2013BWI \u00b7 FLL\u2013BNA \u00b7 FLL\u2013MDW
\n\u2705 Counter-only \u2014 expires Wed
\n
\n
\nAmerican Airlines
\n\ud83d\udfe0 Elevated
\n2\u20133
\nModerate
\nFLL\u2013LGA \u00b7 FLL\u2013ORD \u00b7 FLL\u2013DFW
\n\u2705 Reduced fares \u2014 check aa.com
\n
\n
\nFrontier Airlines
\n\ud83d\udfe1 Absorbing refugees
\nMinimal
\nModerate
\nFLL\u2013DEN \u00b7 FLL\u2013LAS \u00b7 FLL\u2013ATL
\n\u2705 50% off \u2014 expires May 10
\n
\n
\nAllegiant Air
\n\ud83d\udfe1 Price frozen
\n\u2014
\nMinimal
\nFLL\u2013leisure routes
\n\u2705 Price freeze active
\n
\n
\nDelta Air Lines
\n\ud83d\udfe1 Low volume at FLL
\nMinimal
\nMinimal
\nFLL\u2013ATL connections
\nReduced fares \u2014 check delta.com
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udea8 THE RESCUE FARE DEADLINES \u2014 YOU HAVE 24\u201372 HOURS<\/p>\n
This is the most time-critical section of this article. The rescue fares that have kept displaced Spirit passengers moving since May 2 are expiring within the next 24 to 72 hours. If you are a Spirit passenger who has not yet rebooked \u2014 or a non-Spirit passenger who can use these fares \u2014 the clock is running.<\/p>\n
JetBlue \u2014 $99 One-Way \u2014 EXPIRES TOMORROW WEDNESDAY MAY 6<\/p>\n
JetBlue said it was offering $99 one-way rescue fares to travellers who could show proof of a valid Spirit itinerary on the same route through Wednesday May 6, and it planned to add 11 destinations from Fort Lauderdale.<\/p>\n
$99 one-way is an extraordinary fare for any route out of Fort Lauderdale. The JetBlue rescue fare is the best value currently available for Spirit refugees on FLL routes \u2014 and it expires in less than 24 hours.<\/p>\n
To access the JetBlue $99 fare:<\/p>\n
\n \tHave your Spirit confirmation number ready (from your original Spirit booking email)
\n \tHave proof of payment ready (credit card statement, bank statement, or Spirit receipt)
\n \tGo to jetblue.com \u2192 search your FLL route \u2192 the rescue fare should appear automatically for qualifying itineraries
\n \tOr call JetBlue: 1-800-538-2583 \u2014 quote your Spirit confirmation number
<\/p>\n
JetBlue is absorbing 19% of its FLL flights as delayed today \u2014 the rescue fare surge is straining JetBlue\u2019s own FLL operation simultaneously. Book now. The fare disappears at midnight Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Southwest Airlines \u2014 Flat Fare \u2014 COUNTER ONLY \u2014 EXPIRES WEDNESDAY MAY 6<\/p>\n
Southwest\u2019s deal was available only in person at airport ticket counters through Wednesday May 6.<\/p>\n
Southwest\u2019s rescue fare requires physical presence at an airport ticket counter. You cannot book it online or by phone. If you are at FLL today, go to the Southwest counter in Terminal 1 and ask specifically for the Spirit rescue fare. You must show your Spirit confirmation number and proof of payment. The fare is a flat rate \u2014 confirmed by the DOT announcement of approximately $200 one-way cap across all rescue carriers.<\/p>\n
Southwest FLL counter location: Terminal 1 \u2014 check-in level. Phone (national): 1-800-435-9792 \u2014 but the counter-only requirement means you must be physically present to access this specific rescue fare.<\/p>\n
United Airlines \u2014 Up to $200 Cap \u2014 ONLINE \u2014 EXPIRES MAY 16<\/p>\n
United allowed bookings online for up to two weeks \u2014 the longest-running rescue fare window of any carrier. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the rescue fares are expected to be about $200 for a one-way ticket, and that the offers are not going to be open forever.<\/p>\n
United does not have a major FLL presence \u2014 but for Spirit refugees who need to route via a United hub (Newark, Houston, Chicago O\u2019Hare, Washington Dulles), United\u2019s rescue fare at $200 cap one-way is available through May 16.<\/p>\n
Access at: united.com \u2192 book your route \u2192 rescue fare should appear with Spirit confirmation number entry. Phone: 1-800-864-8331.<\/p>\n
Frontier Airlines \u2014 50% Off Base Fares \u2014 EXPIRES MAY 10<\/p>\n
Frontier Airlines is offering 50% off base fares across its network until May 10. Frontier is Spirit\u2019s closest operational equivalent \u2014 ultra-low-cost, same routes, same unbundled fare model. A 50% Frontier base fare on a Spirit route is likely the closest you will get to the pre-shutdown Spirit price.<\/p>\n
Access at: flyfrontier.com \u2192 book your route \u2192 discount code or automatic pricing \u2192 applies through May 10. Phone: 1-801-401-9000.<\/p>\n
American Airlines and Delta \u2014 Reduced Fares<\/p>\n
American Airlines and Delta are offering reduced fares on high-volume Spirit routes. These are not the steep $99 JetBlue discounts \u2014 they are more modest reductions from the surge-priced post-Spirit rates. Still worth checking as alternatives, particularly for routes to New York, Chicago, and Dallas where American and Delta have strong FLL frequencies.<\/p>\n
American: aa.com \u2192 check FLL routes. Phone: 1-800-433-7300. Delta: delta.com \u2192 check FLL routes. Fly Delta app \u2192 My Trips.<\/p>\n
Allegiant Air \u2014 Price Freeze<\/p>\n
Allegiant Air has frozen prices on overlapping routes. Allegiant serves primarily leisure markets from FLL to secondary destinations \u2014 if your Spirit route connects to a leisure destination Allegiant serves (Asheville, Flint, Moline, Wilmington, Tulsa), the price freeze makes Allegiant worth checking.<\/p>\n
Access at: allegiantair.com \u2192 book your overlapping Spirit route.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udd34 JetBlue at FLL \u2014 Rescue Carrier Under Maximum Strain<\/p>\n
JetBlue said it was offering $99 one-way rescue fares through Wednesday May 6, and planned to add 11 destinations from Fort Lauderdale.<\/p>\n
JetBlue\u2019s decision to extend its FLL network by 11 destinations is both generous and commercially logical: Spirit\u2019s shutdown has permanently removed a competitor from JetBlue\u2019s most important hub. Richard Quest, CNN Business\u2019 editor-at-large, said Spirit \u201cwas a drain on the industry, making it unprofitable for some other airlines such as JetBlue \u2014 who now, because Spirit has gone, arguably can put themselves in a marginally better position.\u201d<\/p>\n
The irony of May 5 at Fort Lauderdale: JetBlue is simultaneously the primary beneficiary of Spirit\u2019s collapse (gaining market share, gates, and eventually routes) and the primary victim of it (absorbing thousands of Spirit refugees with no advance preparation, straining its own operation, recording its own elevated delay rate).<\/p>\n
JetBlue is absorbing 19% of its FLL flights as delayed today \u2014 the highest delay rate of any operating carrier at the airport. The 11 new FLL destinations JetBlue announced are not operational today. They are planned additions \u2014 meaning the expanded JetBlue FLL network is coming, but it is not yet here. Today\u2019s JetBlue at FLL is the old JetBlue, running at full capacity, absorbing Spirit\u2019s former passengers, and running 19% of its own flights late in the process.<\/p>\n
JetBlue passengers at FLL today: If your JetBlue flight is delayed by more than 3 hours due to operational (not weather) causes \u2014 request meal vouchers at the gate. Use these words: \u201cMy JetBlue flight has been delayed [X] hours due to operational causes. Under JetBlue\u2019s Customer Bill of Rights I am requesting meal vouchers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ghost Flight Crisis \u2014 72 Hours In, Still Not Resolved<\/p>\n
The defining operational problem at Fort Lauderdale on May 5 is not the 95 cancellations. It is the phantom infrastructure of a dead airline that has not yet been fully removed from the systems passengers use to navigate their travel.<\/p>\n
Consider what a Spirit passenger experiences at FLL today if they did not see the shutdown news:<\/p>\n
Monday morning: Their phone buzzes with a Spirit check-in reminder \u2014 Spirit\u2019s automated system was never deactivated.<\/p>\n
They click the link: The Spirit app opens. The booking is still showing. The \u201ccheck in\u201d button may or may not be greyed out depending on the app version.<\/p>\n
They call Spirit: There is no one there. The number plays a recorded message.<\/p>\n
They search their flight on Google: The flight shows as \u201ccancelled\u201d but the booking reference still exists in the Google Flights record.<\/p>\n
They call an Uber to Terminal 4: The driver drops them at the Terminal 4 kerb \u2014 Spirit\u2019s old terminal. The Spirit logos are still on the building. The Terminal 4 sign still says Terminal 4.<\/p>\n
They walk inside: Empty. Dark. No Spirit staff. No Spirit desk. The departure board shows their flight \u2014 NK4287 or whatever it is \u2014 with one word beside it: CANCELLED.<\/p>\n
This is the ghost flight crisis at FLL on Day 4. It is not a technology failure in the traditional sense. It is the unavoidable consequence of a carrier with 29,000 annual FLL flights shutting down with 2 hours\u2019 notice in the middle of the night, without any infrastructure to decommission its systems from every consumer touchpoint simultaneously.<\/p>\n
Because Spirit utilized Fort Lauderdale as its primary mega-hub, the grounding of 95 outbound and inbound flights has instantly stranded tens of thousands of passengers. The ripple effect is being felt across the country, primarily in destination cities that rely heavily on Spirit\u2019s FLL connectivity: New York (LGA\/EWR) \u2014 missing inbound aircraft from Florida; Chicago (ORD) \u2014 passengers stranded waiting for return legs; Texas (DFW\/IAH) \u2014 connectivity to Latin America via FLL is severed; Michigan (DTW) \u2014 key northern leisure routes to Florida eliminated.<\/p>\n
The FLL Post-Spirit Timeline \u2014 4 Days of Collapse<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\nDate
\nFLL Cancellations
\nFLL Delays
\nTotal
\nCharacter of Day
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nMay 2 (Day 1)
\n95
\n72
\n167
\nShock \u2014 passengers still arriving at Terminal 4
\n
\n
\nMay 3 (Day 2)
\n26% of US cancellations
\nSevere
\nEst. 200+
\nRaw displacement \u2014 rescue fares announced
\n
\n
\nMay 4 (Day 3)
\n127
\n129
\n256
\nWorst absolute total \u2014 Spirit refugee flood peak
\n
\n
\nMay 5 (today, Day 4)
\n95
\n72
\n167
\nGhost flights persist \u2014 rescue fare deadlines loom
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The easing from May 4\u2019s 256 total to today\u2019s 167 reflects genuine improvement in JetBlue and Southwest\u2019s absorption of Spirit passengers \u2014 rescue fares are working, people are rebooking. But the 95 cancellations today are almost entirely Spirit ghost flights \u2014 the dead airline\u2019s schedule still haunting the departure board.<\/p>\n
The Routes That Are Dark \u2014 What Spirit Flew From FLL<\/p>\n
Spirit\u2019s 29,000 annual FLL flights represent a void that no single carrier can fill overnight. The specific routes most affected by Spirit\u2019s absence at Fort Lauderdale:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\nRoute
\nFrequency (was Spirit)
\nBest Alternative NOW
\nRescue Fare Available?
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nFLL\u2013LGA (LaGuardia)
\n4\u20136 daily
\nJetBlue \u00b7 American
\n\u2705 JetBlue $99 \u2014 expires tomorrow
\n
\n
\nFLL\u2013EWR (Newark)
\n3\u20134 daily
\nUnited \u00b7 JetBlue
\n\u2705 United $200 online \u2014 May 16
\n
\n
\nFLL\u2013ORD (Chicago)
\n2\u20133 daily
\nAmerican \u00b7 United
\n\u2705 Reduced fares \u2014 check aa.com
\n
\n
\nFLL\u2013DTW (Detroit)
\n3\u20134 daily
\nDelta \u00b7 Spirit (gone)
\n\u2705 Delta reduced \u2014 check delta.com
\n
\n
\nFLL\u2013SJU (San Juan)
\n4\u20135 daily
\nJetBlue dominant
\n\u2705 JetBlue $99 \u2014 expires tomorrow
\n
\n
\nFLL\u2013BWI (Baltimore)
\n3\u20134 daily
\nSouthwest counter
\n\u2705 Southwest flat \u2014 counter Wed
\n
\n
\nFLL\u2013BOS (Boston)
\n2\u20133 daily
\nJetBlue \u00b7 American
\n\u2705 JetBlue $99 \u2014 expires tomorrow
\n
\n
\nFLL\u2013IAH (Houston)
\n2 daily
\nUnited \u00b7 Southwest
\n\u2705 United $200 online
\n
\n
\nFLL\u2013SDQ (Dominican Republic)
\n3 daily
\nJetBlue \u00b7 American
\nReduced \u2014 check both
\n
\n
\nFLL\u2013SJO (Costa Rica)
\n2 daily
\nAmerican
\nReduced \u2014 check aa.com
\n
\n
\nFLL\u2013GUA (Guatemala)
\n2 daily
\nAmerican
\nReduced \u2014 check aa.com
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The crucial priority list for FLL Spirit passengers today:<\/p>\n
\n \tFLL\u2013SJU (Puerto Rico) passengers: Book JetBlue $99 TODAY \u2014 this expires tomorrow and JetBlue is the primary FLL\u2013SJU operator. After May 6, this route will be priced at standard JetBlue fares which are significantly higher.
\n \tFLL\u2013LGA (New York LaGuardia) passengers: JetBlue $99 available today and tomorrow. American has reduced fares. After Wednesday, expect normal market pricing.
\n \tFLL\u2013DTW (Detroit) passengers: Delta is your primary alternative. Reduced fares available \u2014 check delta.com. Spirit served this heavily from FLL.
<\/p>\n
\u2705 Spirit Airlines Passengers at FLL \u2014 Complete Rights Emergency Guide
\nStep 1 \u2014 Do Not Go to Terminal 4<\/p>\n
Passengers arriving at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport were still being dropped at Terminal 4, only to learn at the curb that their Spirit Airlines flights no longer existed. Tell your driver, your family, your ride \u2014 do not go to Terminal 4. Spirit has no staff. No one will help you there.<\/p>\n
Step 2 \u2014 Secure Your Refund Simultaneously With Booking Alternative<\/p>\n
Do both at the same time. Do not wait for the refund to arrive before booking your alternative \u2014 fares are rising and rescue fare deadlines are expiring.<\/p>\n
Credit\/debit card payment: Spirit said passengers who bought tickets directly with a credit or debit card would be refunded automatically. Travellers who booked through a travel agency must seek reimbursement from that agency, while reimbursement for tickets bought with loyalty points, vouchers or prior credits will be sorted out later in bankruptcy.<\/p>\n
Also file a credit card chargeback immediately: \u201cI am filing a chargeback for services not rendered under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Spirit Airlines permanently ceased operations on May 2, 2026 \u2014 my flight on [date] from Fort Lauderdale was cancelled and the carrier confirmed no alternative arrangements.\u201d<\/p>\n
The US Department of Transportation says passengers may also pursue a credit-card chargeback under the Fair Credit Billing Act when service is not delivered, and its guidance says major cancellations or schedule changes can create refund rights on flights within, to or from the United States.<\/p>\n
Vouchers, loyalty points, cash: Reimbursement for tickets bought with loyalty points, vouchers or prior credits will be sorted out later in bankruptcy. File a proof of claim with the bankruptcy court at spiritairbankruptcy.com.<\/p>\n
Travel agent booking: Contact your travel agent immediately for a refund.<\/p>\n
Step 3 \u2014 Book Your Rescue Fare NOW \u2014 By Priority
\n
\n \tJetBlue $99 \u2014 if on an FLL route JetBlue serves \u2014 expires TOMORROW
\n \tFrontier 50% off \u2014 closest Spirit equivalent \u2014 expires May 10
\n \tSouthwest flat rate \u2014 counter only at FLL Terminal 1 \u2014 expires Wednesday
\n \tUnited $200 cap \u2014 online \u2014 expires May 16
\n \tAmerican\/Delta reduced fares \u2014 check both carrier websites
<\/p>\n
Step 4 \u2014 Travel Insurance<\/p>\n
If purchased before May 2, 2026: look for \u201ccarrier insolvency\u201d or \u201cairline failure\u201d cover. This is the named trigger. Call your insurer today.<\/p>\n
Step 5 \u2014 DOT Complaint<\/p>\n
If your automatic Spirit refund does not arrive within 30 days: file at aviation.consumer.complaints@dot.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n FLL Terminal Guide \u2014 Where Everyone Is Now<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n JetBlue operates from Terminal 4 \u2014 the same terminal Spirit used. This creates daily confusion: passengers see \u201cTerminal 4\u201d on their JetBlue rescue ticket and assume it is a Spirit terminal. It is not. JetBlue has always operated from Terminal 4 at FLL. Spirit operated from the same terminal. Now only JetBlue operates there from FLL\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n Getting to FLL:<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udd11 Complete Resource Directory<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Bottom Line<\/p>\n Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is the epicentre of a massive aviation disruption today, May 5, 2026, with 95 cancellations and 72 delays, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Spirit Airlines and JetBlue account for over 80% of today\u2019s scrapped flights. Day 4 post-Spirit. The ghost flights are still appearing. Passengers arriving at Fort Lauderdale are still being dropped at Terminal 4 at the curbside, only to learn at the curb that their Spirit Airlines flights no longer exist. JetBlue $99 rescue fares expire Wednesday May 6. Southwest\u2019s counter deal expires Wednesday. Frontier\u2019s 50% off expires May 10. United\u2019s $200 cap runs through May 16. Spirit\u2019s low-cost model forced other major airlines to offer competing fares \u2014 now that it is gone, that pressure no longer exists, and fares will rise. Book your replacement today. File your chargeback today. The rescue fares will not last.<\/p>\n Your six-point FLL emergency plan RIGHT NOW:<\/p>\n
Related Articles:<\/p>\n Posted By : Vinay\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\nTerminal
\nCurrent Status
\nPrimary Carriers
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nTerminal 1
\n\u2705 Fully operational
\nSouthwest \u00b7 Alaska \u00b7 Cape Air
\n
\n
\nTerminal 2
\n\u2705 Fully operational
\nDelta \u00b7 United
\n
\n
\nTerminal 3
\n\u2705 Fully operational
\nAmerican Airlines
\n
\n
\nTerminal 4
\n\u274c Spirit DARK \u2014 partially operational for others
\nJetBlue (operating) \u00b7 Spirit (DARK)
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n \tBroward County Transit Route 1: Bus from Fort Lauderdale downtown to airport. $2. Slow but reliable.
\n \tBrightline (train) + shuttle: Brightline to Fort Lauderdale station, then airport shuttle or rideshare. Approximately 15 minutes from the station.
\n \tUber\/Lyft: Allow 30\u201345 minutes from downtown Miami, 15\u201320 minutes from Fort Lauderdale. Surge pricing active during peak departure windows.
\n \tRental car return: Go to your specific company\u2019s return lot \u2014 Spirit passenger volumes mean general traffic at FLL is elevated.
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\nAction
\nContact \/ Link
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nSpirit refund status (credit\/debit)
\nspirit.com \u2192 booking reference
\n
\n
\nSpirit bankruptcy claims
\nspiritairbankruptcy.com
\n
\n
\nCredit card chargeback (Spirit)
\nCall card issuer \u2014 \u201cservices not rendered\u201d
\n
\n
\nJetBlue $99 rescue fare (expires TOMORROW)
\njetblue.com or 1-800-538-2583 \u2014 Spirit confirmation required
\n
\n
\nSouthwest rescue fare (counter only, Wed)
\nFLL Terminal 1 counter \u2014 Spirit confirmation required
\n
\n
\nUnited rescue fares (online, May 16)
\nunited.com \u2192 1-800-864-8331
\n
\n
\nFrontier 50% off (May 10)
\nflyfrontier.com \u2192 1-801-401-9000
\n
\n
\nAllegiant price freeze
\nallegiantair.com \u2192 1-702-505-8888
\n
\n
\nAmerican reduced fares
\naa.com \u2192 1-800-433-7300
\n
\n
\nDelta reduced fares
\ndelta.com \u2192 1-800-221-1212
\n
\n
\nGoogle Flights (all alternatives)
\nflights.google.com
\n
\n
\nFLL Airport live status
\nbroward.org\/BCB\/FLL
\n
\n
\nFlightAware \u2014 FLL live
\nflightaware.com\/live\/airport\/KFLL
\n
\n
\nDOT complaint (refund not received)
\naviation.consumer.complaints@dot.gov<\/a>
\n
\n
\nTravel insurance (Spirit insolvency)
\nCall insurer today \u2014 \u201ccarrier insolvency\u201d trigger
\n
\n
\nUS DOT Spirit guidance
\ntransportation.gov\/spirit-airlines<\/a>
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n \tDo NOT go to Terminal 4 expecting Spirit. No staff. No service. No flights. The ghost flights on the departure board are cancelled. Every one of them.
\n \tJetBlue $99 rescue fare expires TOMORROW \u2014 if you are displaced from an FLL route JetBlue serves: book at jetblue.com today with your Spirit confirmation number.
\n \tSouthwest counter deal expires Wednesday \u2014 if you need Southwest: go to Terminal 1 counter today or tomorrow with your Spirit confirmation number. Cannot be done online or by phone.
\n \tFile your credit card chargeback now \u2014 simultaneously with booking your alternative. Do not wait for Spirit\u2019s automatic refund. Both protections should be active simultaneously.
\n \tFrontier 50% off, Allegiant price freeze, United $200 online \u2014 all valid alternatives \u2014 check all carrier websites today for your specific FLL route.
\n \tTravel insurance? Call your insurer today \u2014 \u201ccarrier insolvency\u201d is the trigger. Must have been purchased before May 2.
<\/p>\n