Travel Requirements, International & Domestic
Travel Policies > Travel Requirements, International
& Domestic
Domestic ID Requirements
All passengers (Adults 18 and over) will be required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued
photo ID that contains the following: name, date of birth, gender, expiration date
and a tamper-resistant feature. These IDs include:
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- U.S. Military ID
- Permanent Resident Card
- Border Crossing Card
- DHS-designated enhanced driver's license
- Drivers Licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor
Vehicles (or equivalent) that meets REAL ID benchmarks (All states are currently
in compliance)
- A Native American Tribal Photo ID
- An airline or airport-issued ID (if issued under a TSA-approved security plan)
- A Registered Traveler Card (that contains the following: Name; Date of Birth; Gender;
Expiration date; and a Tamper-resistant feature)
- A foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
Passengers who do not present an acceptable ID may be subject to additional screening.
For more detailed information on the types of identification that will be accepted
at airport checkpoints in the United States, visit the
TSA website.
Back to top
International Travel
Check-In
Check-in begins 3 hours prior to departure at the Spirit Airlines ticket counter.
Spirit reserves the right to cancel the reservation or seat assignment of any passenger
who does not have a boarding pass at least 60 minutes prior to departure for all
international flights.
Due to additional TSA screening requirements and/or international security procedures,
customers wanting to check baggage are required to do so at the ticket counter at
least 60 minutes prior to departure for international flights.
Customers presenting themselves at the boarding gate less than 30 minutes prior
to departure for international flights may lose their reservation and become ineligible
for denied boarding compensation.
Required Documents
Effective January 23, 2007, all U.S. citizens (including
infants and children) will need a valid passport to travel to and from Bermuda,
Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean (excluding Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Please visit the U.S. Department of State for further
details.
Passengers are advised to keep proper documentation on their person during travel.
It is the passenger's responsibility to ensure they have the correct documents needed
for travel to or from any international destination. Should documentation not be
adequate or sufficient, passengers will not be boarded.
Please visit the U.S. Department of State web site for detailed
information regarding documentation requirements for international travel.
Please visit the U.S. State Department’s
website for passport services and information.
Consulates
Because documentation requirements vary based on the countries included in your
travel, Spirit Airlines strongly recommends that you contact the nearest applicable
Consulate(s) for the latest updates.
Consulates are government offices located in a particular country. In case of any
problems such as deportation, or incarceration, the Consulate General should be
contacted immediately. In the event of an emergency, or in cases where travelers
have lost or have had stolen their citizenship or identity documentation, travelers
should be directed to the local Consulate. The Consulate can assist travelers in
getting in touch with other family members should the need ariseFor travel to the
U.S., we recommend that you contact the nearest United States Embassy or Consulate for the most current
updates.
Visa information
U.S. citizens may visit the U.S. State Department’s website to see the entry requirements
for any country.
Traveling to the United States? Effective January 12, 2009 the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) requires travelers to submit an online request for travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States.
This is being done to allow visitors from participating countries to get speedy approval for travel to the U. S. for business or pleasure for 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa. For more information you can visit the VWP website or download a fact sheet about the program.
Children / Minors
In order to travel internationally, all children (regardless of age) must have a
passport and the travel documents required by the countries visited on an international
itinerary.
Customers must be able to present valid passports/travel documents proving citizenship, and visas when required.
In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated
procedures at entry and exit points, which may include requiring documentary evidence
of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or legal
guardian not present. Spirit Airlines encourages all parents/guardians of children
travelling internationally to check with the respective governments of the countries
to which they are travelling for more specific information.
- Customers 14 years of age and younger MUST be accompanied by a passenger who is
at least 15 years of age.
| MINORS TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY |
| Age of Minor |
Accompanied Minors |
Unaccompanied Minors |
| 14 years old and younger |
Accompanied minors 14 years old and younger must travel with the following:
1) a passport, and
2) any travel documents required by the countries on the international itinerary. |
Spirit Airlines does not offer Unaccompanied service on international flights.
Children 14 years of age and younger may not travel alone on international flights under any circumstances. Another customer at least 15 years of age must accompany them. |
| 15 years and older
|
Customers 15 years of age and older must travel with the following:
1) a passport, and
2) any travel documents required by the countries on the international itinerary. |
How Can Customers Check Documentation Requirements Before They Travel?
Customers must check with the local respective Consulate of the country to which they are traveling. Spirit also advises customers to check the U.S. State Department’s website at http://travel.state.gov/. The customer should select the specific country they are traveling to, and check for particular entry and exit requirements for minors. For example:
- Select the specific country. For example:
Colombia.
- Entry/Exit Requirements.
- Additional Exit Requirements for Minors.
For those countries requiring a notarized Letter of Consent per a Consulate, Spirit provides a generic Consent for International Travel form by clicking here.
Baggage
Please review our baggage section for baggage guidelines.
Pet Acceptance
Spirit Airlines does not accept pets for travel in the cabin or in cargo on international
flights. Spirit does accept service animals, but country specific requirements apply
and additonal documentation regarding the service animal may be required. Checking
with your local consulate is recommended for the most up to date information, or
contact Spirit Customer Service at 1-800-772-7117 and one of our agents will be
happy to check destination regulations for you.
Other Important Sites
U.S. Customs
and Border Protection View the latest updates on restricted/prohibited goods, and leaving and arriving
in the United States.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Find out about restrictions regarding bringing agricultural products into the United
States.
Currency Converter Use the
Universal Currency Converter to check exchange rates in your destination country.
Back to top
International
Travel Tips
Customers checking in for flights must present themselves at the gate and be ready
to board their flight no later than 15 minutes prior to departure on domestic flights
and 30 minutes prior to departure for international flights, even if they have previously
checked in. Customers not in the boarding area by this specified time prior to scheduled
departure are subject to seat cancellation and non-transport of their checked baggage
(if applicable).
Here are a few tips to help ensure a stress free airport check-in experience:
- It is highly recommended that you utilize the convenience of online check-in for
your domestic flights whenever possible in order to expedite processing time at
the airport on the day of departure. Please visit
www.spiritair.com and go to Online Check-In. Obtaining a boarding pass in
advance will enable you to bypass ticket counter check-in and help get you to the
departure gate quicker. (If you have baggage to check, you may do so curbside where
available or at the Spirit Airlines ticket counter).
- Allow more than enough time to check in and get to the gate. Some airports may require
as much as three (3) hours for passenger processing.
- Whenever possible, check in and obtain boarding passes at one of Spirit Airlines'
self-check in kiosks (available in Atlantic City, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, LaGuardia,
Orlando, Myrtle Beach, and Fort Myers.).
- Remember that Federal law prohibits carrying sharp or other dangerous objects, which
could be used as weapons aboard the aircraft. Pack appropriately to avoid inconvenience
at security checkpoints.
Packing Tips and Security Procedures
TSA no longer bans common lighters in carry-on luggage as of August 4, 2007. Torch lighters remain banned in carry-ons.
You may not bring matches in your checked baggage because of safety regulations. You may, however, bring one (1) book of safety (non-strike anywhere) matches in your carry-on baggage or on your person.
For safety reasons, you may not bring "strike anywhere" matches at all.
For more information about lighters and matches please visit the Transportation Security Administration Web Site at www.TSA.gov.
Both checked baggage and carry-on baggage will be screened. Please pack accordingly.
Please be aware of items that are not allowed. Some items are prohibited in carry-on
bags, some are prohibited in checked bags, and some items are prohibited in both.
The most commonly overlooked items are scissors, pocketknives and sharp or pointed
tools. Please check
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?t heme=175 for an updated list of permitted
and prohibited items.
Please be aware of items that may cause delays during the passenger screening process.
Jewelry, belt buckles, keys, cell phones, pagers, PDA's, etc. should be placed in
carry-on baggage and not left on your person.
Film should be packed in carry-on baggage as equipment used to screen checked luggage
will damage undeveloped film. Wrapped gifts that you intend to carry-on may be opened
during security check points, so please pack holiday gifts unwrapped.
Back to top
TSA Secure Flight Program
Secure Flight is a program required by the Transportation Security Administration to improve security for the watch list matching process. Secure Flight works behind the scenes and will enhance the travel experience for all passengers, including those who have been misidentified in the past.
Under the new Secure Flight rule, the TSA mandates that air carriers request passengers to provide specific information when making a reservation. This applies to all domestic and international flights.
- Full name (as it appears on the passenger’s non expired government issued ID)
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Redress number (visit the TSA website for more information about it)
The process of collecting Secure Flight Passenger Data is currently in effect for all new bookings on Spirit Airlines.
For more information about the TSA Secure Flight program, visit the TSA’s Secure Flight website.
Back to top