Spirit Airlines Cardholders: Your Card Is Becoming a Cash Back Card — Here's What to Expect

If you're still holding a Spirit Airlines credit card, you might have received an email from Bank of America recently. The airline may be gone, but your card isn't just disappearing — it's being transformed into a completely different product. Here's the lowdown on what's happening, what you get, and what you should think about before the switch.

What’s Changing?

Bank of America is automatically converting existing Spirit Airlines credit card accounts to its Customized Cash Rewards card. This isn't something you need to apply for — it's happening on their end. You'll get a new card in the mail, and until it arrives, your old card will keep working.

The good news? Your account number, APR, and credit limit stay exactly the same. So you don't have to worry about updating automatic payments or memorizing a new number. Also, the new card has no annual fee, which is a nice change from the Spirit card's annual fee.

One thing to note: the new card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, which is actually a perk. The old Spirit card had a 3% foreign transaction fee, so this is a welcome upgrade for travelers.

The Bonus and Extra Cash Back — Who Gets Them?

Some cardholders will see a $250 cash rewards bonus added to their account. Based on what we're hearing, this seems to be aimed at people who never earned the original Spirit Airlines sign-up bonus. If you already got that bonus, you might not see the $250.

Similarly, there's an extra 2% cash back on all purchases through September 30, 2026, but it's not clear if everyone gets that or just some. The email from Bank of America doesn't spell out the exact criteria, so you'll have to check your own account or wait for the new card to arrive to see if you're eligible.

If you do get the extra 2%, that stacks on top of the regular earning rates. So, for example, if you choose dining as your 3% category, you'd earn 5% on dining until the end of September 2026. That's a solid deal, even if it's temporary.

How the Customized Cash Rewards Card Works

Once the conversion is complete, your card will earn cash back like this: you pick one category to earn 3% on, up to $2,500 in spending each quarter. After you hit that limit, you'll earn 1% on that category. Everything else earns 1%.

The categories you can choose from are pretty broad: gas (and EV charging stations count), online shopping (which now includes cable, streaming, internet, and phone plans), dining, travel, drugstore, and home improvement/furnishings. That's a nice mix, and you can change your choice once a month if your spending habits shift.

For most people, the online shopping category is probably the most valuable, since it covers so many everyday bills. But if you drive a lot, gas might be the better pick. Just remember the $2,500 quarterly cap on the 3% rate — after that, it drops to 1%.

What to Watch Out For

First, don't assume you're getting the $250 bonus or the extra 2% — it's not guaranteed for everyone. Check your account or the email you received to see if you're included.

Second, if you had a balance on your Spirit card, the terms of that balance (like the APR) stay the same, but the new card might have different grace periods or payment due dates. Keep an eye on your statements.

Third, if you were using your Spirit card for any specific benefits (like free checked bags or priority boarding), those are gone. The new card doesn't have airline perks, so you'll need to adjust your travel plans accordingly.

Finally, if you don't want the new card, you can always close the account. But before you do, consider whether the Customized Cash Rewards card is useful to you — it's a decent no-annual-fee cash back card, so it might be worth keeping even if you're not thrilled about the change.

Bottom Line

• Your Spirit Airlines card is being converted to a Customized Cash Rewards card automatically — no action needed.
• Some cardholders get a $250 bonus and extra 2% cash back through September 2026, but eligibility varies.
• The new card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, which are both improvements.
• You can choose your 3% category, and online shopping includes streaming and phone plans — a solid everyday earner.

Common Questions