If you book an award flight more than 28 days prior to departure, there is no redemption fee. For those looking to travel with less than 28 days' notice, the redemption fee is $50 per guest. Free Spirit Silver and Gold elite members and primary cardholders of the Free Spirit World Elite card do not pay redemption fees.

To avoid the Spirit Airlines "Award Redemption Fee" in 2026, the most effective strategy is to book your award flight at least 28 days in advance. Spirit currently charges a sliding scale fee for bookings made closer to the departure date to encourage early planning. Another foolproof way to bypass this fee is to hold the Free Spirit Travel More Silver or Gold status, as elite members are exempt from redemption fees regardless of when they book. Furthermore, being a primary cardholder of the Free Spirit® Travel More Mastercard® often provides a waiver or a significant reduction in these fees. If you don't have status or the credit card, you must be disciplined with your timing; even booking 27 days out instead of 28 can trigger a fee that can be as high as $50 per person. It is important to note that this fee applies per guest, so for a family of four, booking early can save you $200. Always double-check the final breakdown on the payment page to ensure the "Redemption Fee" line item is at $0 before you confirm your Free Spirit points transaction.