Spirit Airlines collapse strands travelers: What to know about refunds, rebooking and fares

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Passengers arriving at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Saturday were still being dropped off for flights that no longer existed — learning only at curbside that Spirit Airlines had shut down overnight.“I just found out,” Ricardo Tejeda said after stepping off a shuttle.Within hours, thousands of flights had been canceled, leaving travelers stranded midtrip or scrambling to rebook as the airline halted operations with little notice. Check-in counters sat empty, customer service lines were unavailable and many passengers said they had received no warning before arriving at the airport.Here’s what to know about what happens next and what travelers can do right now.Refunds promised, but some may have to waitIn its official announcement, Spirit Airlines said the shutdown took effect immediately and urged passengers not to go to the airport.The airline said it will automatically refund tickets purchased directly with a credit or debit card, while those who booked through third parties must contact their travel agent.Compensation for customers who used vouchers, credits or loyalty points will be determined later as part of the bankruptcy process.Loyalty points may be worthlessClint Henderson, a travel expert with The Points Guy, said many Spirit Airlines customers could see the