Spirit Airlines expands military benefits to include families

Spirit Airlines announced Thursday it is extending its existing free baggage benefits for active-duty U.S. military members to also include their spouses and children when traveling together.

Effective immediately, military spouses and children can receive two free standard checked bags, one free carry-on bag, and one free personal item per person when accompanying the service member.

“We applaud and appreciate our military families who make sacrifices every day to support their loved ones who are in service to our country, and we’re happy to extend our gratitude to them with new inclusion in our military benefits,” said Matt Klein, Spirit’s Chief Commercial Officer.

In addition to the free baggage allowance, active-duty military members and their families will also receive complimentary priority boarding when traveling on Spirit flights.

The airline says the expanded benefits aim to make travel more accessible and affordable for military households.

Spirit has offered free checked and carry-on bags for active-duty military members for several years.

The new policy extends that courtesy to spouses and children traveling with the service member.

The budget carrier partners with several non-profit organizations that support military members, veterans and their families.

This includes providing free flights for family members to visit injured service members through Luke’s Wings and Wounded Warrior Project initiatives.

Spirit also works with the Honor Flight Network to fly World War II, Korean War and terminally ill veterans to visit memorials in Washington D.C.

In spring 2023, the airline transported over 80 veterans as part of an Honor Flight from South Florida.

The Spirit Charitable Foundation has donated more than $600,000 over the past five years to nonprofits that support active-duty military and veterans through its Service Member pillar.

“These expanded free baggage benefits, coupled with Spirit’s low fares to more than 85 destinations, make travel for our U.S. military families more accessible and offers them the opportunity to make new memories together more often,” Klein said.

Spirit employs hundreds of military reservists and veterans across its workforce. The airline has a Veterans Resource Group to support team members with military connections.