Spirit Airlines has just launched a new Free Spirit Debit Card, offering perks like priority boarding and the ability to pool points with other travelers, but it comes with a $6.99 monthly fee. At RewardSmart, we're all about maximizing your rewards, so let's dive deep to see if this card fits the bill.

Understanding the Free Spirit Debit Card

This debit card isn't your typical credit card. Instead of building credit, it draws directly from your bank account. The key benefits include:

  • Priority Boarding: Beat the rush and settle into your seat early.
  • Points Pooling: Combine your Free Spirit points with friends or family to reach award redemption faster.
  • Limited-Time Points Bonus: Reportedly, cardholders receive 200 Free Spirit points per month for the first year.

The Cost-Benefit Analysis

The $6.99 monthly fee translates to roughly $84 per year. To justify this cost, you need to assess the value of the benefits to you:

  • Priority Boarding Value: If you regularly fly Spirit and value avoiding the boarding chaos, assigning a monetary value to this benefit is crucial. Would you pay $10, $15, or $20 extra for priority boarding on each flight? Multiply that by the number of Spirit flights you take annually.
  • Points Pooling Value: This feature is most valuable for families or groups who travel together. If you struggle to accumulate enough points individually, pooling can significantly accelerate your award redemption timeline. However, consider if you already have other strategies for earning points quickly.
  • Welcome Offer Value: The 200 points per month translates to 2,400 points in the first year. Check the Free Spirit award chart to see what you can redeem those points for. Is it enough for a one-way flight, or just a small discount?

Maximizing Your Rewards (Even Without This Card)

Even if this debit card doesn't make sense for you, there are other ways to boost your Free Spirit points:

  • Consider the Free Spirit Credit Card: Spirit also offers credit cards with potentially more lucrative rewards structures and welcome bonuses. Compare the annual fees, earning rates, and benefits to see if a credit card is a better fit. Look for welcome bonuses that can quickly earn you tens of thousands of points.
  • Shop Through the Free Spirit Online Mall: Earn bonus points on everyday online purchases by starting your shopping trips at the Free Spirit online mall. Many retailers participate, offering extra points per dollar spent.
  • Dine with Free Spirit Dining: Register your credit card with the Free Spirit Dining program and earn points when you dine at participating restaurants.
  • Transfer Points from Other Programs: Some credit card programs allow you to transfer points to Free Spirit, although this is often at a less favorable ratio. Check your existing cards for transfer options.

The Verdict

The Spirit Free Spirit Debit Card could be worthwhile only if you frequently fly Spirit, highly value priority boarding, and benefit significantly from points pooling. Carefully calculate the value of these benefits against the annual cost to determine if it aligns with your travel goals. For many, alternative strategies like using a Free Spirit credit card or maximizing other points-earning opportunities will prove more rewarding.