Spirit Airlines Shutdown: Your Rights And What To Do If Flights Canceled

Spirit Airlines has entered bankruptcy, meaning thousands of flights have been canceled and tens of thousands of passengers no longer have their scheduled travel plans. But what rights do they have?The budget carrier, which had been operating since 1992, confirmed it has begun an immediate and “orderly wind-down of operations,” canceling all flights and advising customers not to head to the airport, meaning travelers from today with booked services will need to make alternative arrangements.What Are Your Rights?Under U.S. rules, passengers are entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled and they choose not to travel. The Department of Transportation states that this right applies regardless of the reason for the cancelation.Airlines must also inform passengers of both the cancelation and their eligibility for a refund. In this case, Spirit has said it will automatically process refunds for tickets purchased directly using a credit or debit card.The airline said on a website dedicated to the shutdown: “While we are not able to help rebook your flight on another airline, we will automatically process refunds for any flights purchased through Spirit with a credit or debit card to the original form of payment.”Passengers who booked through third parties are being