Spirit Airlines’ abrupt shutdown has left many travelers scrambling for answers, especially when it comes to getting their money back.

The budget carrier announced Saturday that it was canceling all flights as it started winding down operations “effective immediately.” Customers who booked directly with Spirit using a credit or debit card will be automatically refunded to their original form of payment, the airline said.

“All flights booked with credit and debit cards are in the process of being automatically refunded,” a spokesperson for Spirit told FOX Business. “The majority of guests who booked travel on a credit or debit card were refunded as of Saturday evening, with a small percentage continuing to process. Refunds may take time to appear in a guest’s account.”

Meanwhile, those who purchased tickets through third-party vendors — including travel agencies — will need to reach out to those providers to request refunds, according to the airline.

SPIRIT AIRLINES TO CEASE OPERATIONS AFTER FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BAILOUT FAILS TO MATERIALIZE

Spirit Airlines announced Saturday that it was canceling all flights. (Mike Blake/Reuters / Reuters)

Passengers who used vouchers, travel credits or loyalty points to book face more uncertainty. 

Those claims will be handled through Spirit’s bankruptcy process. Customers can find more details on the airline’s restructuring website, the airline said.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) warns that refunds could become complicated as proceedings move forward, and outlines steps travelers can take to try to recover their money.

Options include contacting your credit card company to request a “chargeback,” checking traveling insurance coverage, or submitting a claim in bankruptcy court, according to DOT.

TRUMP TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY DUFFY ANNOUNCES RELIEF FOR SPIRIT AIRLINES FLYERS, EMPLOYEES

Passengers who used vouchers, travel credits or loyalty points to book their flights face more uncertainty.  (Quinn Glabicki/Reuters / Reuters Photos)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed that guidance during a Saturday press conference, while also pointing travelers to some rebooking options.

Major U.S. airlines — including United, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest — are capping rebooking fares. Affected Spirit customers may be eligible for one-way tickets priced around $200, provided they can verify their original booking, according to Duffy.

“I would recommend that if you have a ticket with Spirit that you actually try to book with these airlines as soon as possible,” Duffy said. “These offers are not going to be open forever.”

American and Delta are also offering reduced fares on high-traffic Spirit routes, Allegiant has frozen prices on overlapping routes, and Frontier is offering up to 50% off base fares through May 10, Duffy wrote on X.

Spirit said the shutdown follows failed restructuring efforts, citing rising fuel costs and an inability to secure funding.

RETIRING SPIRIT PILOT WHOSE FINAL FLIGHT WAS CANCELED GETS TRIBUTE FROM COMPETITOR AIRLINE

“I would recommend that if you have a ticket with Spirit that you actually try to book with these airlines as soon as possible,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“For more than 30 years, Spirit Airlines has played a pioneering role in making travel more accessible and bringing people together while driving affordability across the industry,” Spirit’s President and CEO Dave Davis said in a statement. 

“… Sustaining the business required hundreds of millions of additional dollars of liquidity that Spirit simply does not have and could not procure,” Davis added. “This is tremendously disappointing and not the outcome any of us wanted.”

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The DOT did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

FOX Business’ Robert McGreevy contributed to this report.

This article was written by

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McDonald’s is quietly ending the era of self-serve soda fountains nationwide.

The shift, years in the making, is part of a broader effort by McDonald’s to modernize its restaurants, reduce labor and maintenance demands, and adapt to changing consumer habits that increasingly favor takeout, delivery and drive-thru service over dining in.

MCDONALD’S GOES ALL-IN ON AFFORDABILITY: FULL MENU REVEALED FOR NEW UNDER $3 AND $4 DEALS

A self-serve soda fountain at a McDonald’s restaurant, a feature the company is phasing out nationwide. (Mario Tama/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The company plans to complete the transition away from self-serve beverage stations in U.S. dining rooms by 2032, with the changes expected to roll out gradually over the next several years as restaurants are remodeled or updated.

In many locations, drinks are already being prepared behind the counter rather than poured by customers, marking a clear departure from a long-standing self-service model that has been a staple of fast-food dining rooms for decades.

For customers, the change marks the end of a familiar convenience, as self-serve stations have traditionally allowed easy refills and drink customization.

MCDONALD’S PLANS MASSIVE OVERHAUL WITH MAJOR CHANGES TO RESTAURANTS AND MENUS

An exterior view of a McDonald’s fast food restaurant on May 24, 2024. (Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket / Getty Images)

The move also gives McDonald’s greater control over beverage portions, cleanliness and inventory, while cutting maintainance costs for the self-serve machines.

The shift reflects a broader trend across the fast-food industry, where companies are prioritizing speed, efficiency and digital ordering over traditional dine-in experiences.

At the same time, McDonald’s has rolled out an expanded menu featuring new “dirty sodas” and refreshers as consumer demand shifts beyond traditional soft drinks and coffee.

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McDonald’s is currently rolling out new drink options, to include ‘dirty sodas.’ (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images / Getty Images)

In a statement to FOX Business, McDonald’s signaled the shift, saying: “Our fans’ love for McDonald’s beverages runs deep… Next month, we’re building on that passion with a new era of beverages, featuring a variety of Refreshers and crafted sodas rolling out nationwide.”

The company added that it will share more details soon.

McDonald’s did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment regarding the removal of the fountain machines.