The ticket counter hours of operation may vary and are subject to change, without notice,
What time does spirit bag drop open?
When do I need to be at the boarding gate? – Boarding closes at the following times for Spirit Airlines (NK) flights:
15 minutes before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights 30 minutes before scheduled departure time for international flights to/from the US
What time does spirit start check-in?
Check-in begins 24 hours before departure and ends an hour prior to departure.
What time should I arrive at the airport for Spirit Airlines?
Please be prepared and give yourself plenty of time for your upcoming trip. We recommend arriving at least two hours prior to your scheduled departure for domestic flights and at least three hours prior to a departure for an international flight. Also, the TSA screening requirements have recently changed and require that guests checking bags at the ticket counter or Bag Drop will need to do so at least 45 minutes before scheduled departure ( 60 minutes for international and U.S.V.I.
Flights), but no more than 4 hours prior to the scheduled departure time. Spirit may cancel a reservation or seat assignment for any guest without a boarding pass at least 45 minutes prior to a scheduled departure (60 minutes for international and U.S.V.I. flights). Please be available for boarding at the gate at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled domestic departure and 30 minutes prior to your international departure or you may lose your reservation.
In the event of a delay, we recommend that guests remain in the gate area for updates and possible early departures.
Does Spirit do early check-in?
Absolutely! We love it when you do that. It’s the easiest and least expensive way to check in. Online check-in begins 24 hours prior to departure and ends an hour prior to your flight’s scheduled departure. While you’re checking in online, you should purchase any additional bags and/or desired seat assignments.
- Bags cost more at the airport.
- Since bags purchased online don’t require assistance from an agent, we pass those savings on to you.
- If you check in online and purchase your bags in advance (that weigh 40 lbs.
- Or less), you are eligible for our Bag Drop service at the airport.
- PRO TIP : If you are traveling internationally, you’ll be required to enter your passport information before buying any bags or seats and printing your boarding pass.
Some guests may not be able to complete check-in online (see below). If this happens to be the case for you, check in at the airport ticket counter. Our Guest Service Agents will be happy to assist you. Shortcut Boarding may not be available at some stations.
Guests traveling with pets Guests traveling on a group reservation of 10 or more Unaccompanied minors Guests traveling with a lap infant Guests traveling with Military ID instead of a passport Guests traveling to or from certain international destinations Non-U.S. citizens departing from international locations Guests who purchased an extra seat or special items Guests that are unable to complete their check-in online will need to complete the process with a ticket counter agent (in this case the fee will be waived)
How early can I check my bags?
What’s the Earliest Time You can Check Your Luggage at the Airport? – Most commonly, the earliest time that you can check in your bags at the airport is 2-3 hours for domestic flights and 3-6 hours for international ones, depending on the airport and airline you’re flying with.
- Either way, your airline will notify you before the flight of their suggested arrival times.
- They are reluctant to allow earlier check-ins because they need to pay for extended storage of your bags, keep the check-in desks open for longer hours, and they fear potential security threats.
- Most airports and airlines within North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico) allow dropping off your checked bag 2-6 hours prior to your flight,
That said, some travelers have managed to check in their bags earlier, even 12 hours prior to the flight. This is sometimes allowed in major hub airports, where the check-in desks are open during the whole day, but it depends on the employee at the check-in desk, and they allow dropping off luggage only for same-day flights.
How early can you check in for a flight?
Check-in times – You can check-in online or from the app starting 24 hours before and up to 45 minutes before departure (90 for international).
Check-in online American Airlines app
To check-in and check bags at the airport, you must be there a certain amount of time before scheduled departure:
Within the U.S. – 45 minutes To or from destinations outside the U.S. – 60 minutes
Is Spirit check-in free?
Spirit Airlines Fees: What to Know Before You Fly It can be easy to be fooled into thinking you scored a deal after nabbing a $26 flight to Las Vegas on Spirit Airlines. But while the airfare itself is certainly cheap, there’s a good chance your total flight costs will far exceed $26.
- That’s because Spirit Airlines has one of the most comprehensive a la carte pricing models of any airline.
- Spirit seats on their own tend to be tantalizingly cheap, but things that other airlines typically include in the cost of airfare — like soft drinks and reserved seats — will cost you extra.
- Suddenly, your $26 flight might start to cost the same, or even more, than the fares listed for non-budget airlines.
» Learn more: Base fares include one personal item, like a laptop bag or purse. But don’t think you can get away with not having to pay by stuffing all your possessions into a backpack, as even that might not fit. Spirit defines a personal item as anything 18 by 14 by 8 inches or smaller.
- Even something like would be too large by Spirit standards.
- For larger bags, like that backpack or rolling luggage, there’s a good chance that the cost to fly your stuff is more than the cost to fly yourself.
- Spirit doesn’t publish standard bag fees, as they can vary not only based on route but also on when you pay for them.
And the longer you wait, the more you’ll pay. If you’re paying at the gate, you could end up paying nearly twice as much as if you had paid the bag fee at the time of booking. While fees can fluctuate, here’s what Spirit bag fees look like for the aforementioned $26 flight between Seattle and Las Vegas:
| During Spirit.com booking | |||
| After booking, but before checking in online | |||
| At the airport (before the gate) | |||
And that’s assuming your baggage weighs 40 pounds or less. Here are the additional fees you’d pay per bag if transporting large or heavy items:
| Additional charge (on top of bag fee) | |
| Baggage weighing 41-50 lbs. | |
| Baggage weighing 51–70 lbs. | |
| Baggage weighing 71–100 lbs. | |
| Items measuring 63-80 linear inches (length + width + height) | |
| Items over 80 linear inches (length + width + height) | |
| Surfboard (maximum of 2 surfboards per bag) |
For customers enrolled in Spirit’s add-on membership program called Spirit Saver$ Club, there’s some good news: Bag fees are discounted. The membership costs $69.95 for 12 months, $99.90 ($5 savings) for 18 months and $129.90 ($10 savings) for 24 months. Here’s how much typical bag fees cost for that same flight if you’re a member of the Spirit Saver$ Club:
| During Spirit.com booking | |||
| After booking, but before checking in online | |||
| At the airport (before the gate) | |||
Depending on the size of your bag, it might not be considered a personal item, even if it fits under the seat in front of you. What’s more, you might not be able to carry it on, even if you think it’s a relatively small suitcase. Here’s how Spirit defines each type of bag:
Personal item: Maximum of 18 by 14 by 8 inches, including handles and wheels. Carry-on: Maximum of 22 by 18 by 10 inches, including handles and wheels. Checked bag: Maximum of 62 linear inches (length plus width plus height) including handles and wheels, and less than 100 pounds (overweight/oversize baggage fees apply).
Change fees are on hold temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally though, there’s a good chance that the cost to change or cancel your flight ends up being more than the cost of the flight itself. Spirit does not offer any sort of refundable fare, but it does provide some options to change and cancel reservations.
- Spirit typically charges $90 to cancel your reservation online and an even heftier $100 to cancel over the phone or at the airport.
- Perhaps what stings even worse than paying $90 to cancel your flight: You won’t get the amount you paid refunded back to your original form of payment.
- Instead, you get it as a Reservation Credit toward future Spirit flights.
And adding insult to injury is that those credits have an expiration date; typically, your new flight made with the Reservation Credit must be booked within one year from the original date of purchase. If you’re changing your flight within 24 hours of departure, you can pay $99 to stand by for an earlier flight.
- If you booked an award ticket, expect to pay even more.
- The change fee is $110, and you still must pay the difference of any additional miles required for your new itinerary.
- » Learn more: Act quickly.
- As long as you’re booking a flight at least seven days before departure, Spirit does not charge a fee if the flight is changed or canceled within 24 hours after the initial purchase.
Money is refunded to the original form of payment. Book a Flight Flex (though we don’t recommend it). Flight Flex is a sort of insurance program offered by Spirit Airlines that allows you to modify your flight once without having to pay a change fee. But Flight Flex comes with its own fee which, like bag fees, can vary by flight.
- For this $26 flight between Seattle and Las Vegas, the cost to add the Flight Flex option was $45.
- And Flight Flex comes with restrictions, including that you are entitled to only one change, and you need to make the change more than 24 hours before the scheduled flight.
- Plus, you’re still on the hook to pay for any difference in fares.
Here’s why Flight Flex is generally a bad deal: Say you’re changing your $26 flight to a new $100 flight. With Flight Flex, you would have paid $71 (that’s $45 for the Flight Flex option plus $26 for the original flight). You also still owe $74 to make up the fare difference, which means changing to a new $100 flight ends up costing $145 after all the fees.
- Flight Flex is also included as part of Spirit’s Bundle It Combo (more on that later), which removes the a la carte aspect and instead packages a bunch of add-ons for one fee.
- If you want the ability to change your flight and anticipate checking bags anyway, the bundle option can make more sense.
- There’s no fee to check in online for your Spirit flight.
Once checked in, print your boarding pass at home, too, because it’s free. But if you fail to plan ahead, you’ll have to pay up. If you need to print your boarding pass at an airport kiosk, it costs $2. If you’re a luddite who prefers bypassing the kiosk in favor of a human, it costs even more: $10 to have your boarding pass printed by an airport agent.
- Spirit waives those fees in a few circumstances, such as if you’re traveling as an unaccompanied minor, with a lap infant, or if you’re using a military ID instead of a passport and are unable to check in online.
- Whether you’re trying to avoid the middle seat or you just want to guarantee that you can sit next to your kid, it’s going to cost you to choose your seat ahead of time.
Spirit doesn’t have a published list of seat assignment pricing as it varies per flight, though the airline says all seat reservations start at a minimum of $5. But $5 is a liberal assumption for how much you’ll actually pay to reserve your seats. Here’s how much seat assignments cost on that same $26 flight between Seattle and Las Vegas: 
The “Big Front Seats” have more legroom, are wider (no middle seat in the row) and cost an additional $40. The often-coveted seats in the emergency exit rows cost $20, and even a middle seat near the back costs $12 to reserve. All refreshments sold in-flight on Spirit come with a fee, such as coffee ($2), sodas and juices ($3), beer and wine ($8) and snacks like Pringles or Oreos (starting at $3).
Spirit charges $110 per pet container, each way, with a limit of four pets total in the cabin. Spirit allows you to put two pets in one container. If you are traveling with a pet or two, they’ll always ride with you in-cabin, as Spirit does not transport pets in cargo. And even still, there are a number of limitations.
Pets need to be small, since the container must fit under the seat, and pets must be able to stand and turn around in the container. Plus, the combined weight of the pet and carrier must be 40 pounds or less. For an additional fee, you can whiz through security and be one of the first to board the plane.
Starting at $5.99, Spirit’s “Shortcut Boarding” access allows you priority boarding in Zone 2. Depending on the airport you’re departing from, you may also be able to pay for “Shortcut Security,” though we don’t recommend it. It’s not, but it will allow you to go through security in an expedited lane.
Costs vary per airport but don’t exceed $15, though it’s not a guarantee your airport even offers the Shortcut Security program. Is your kid flying alone? That’s an extra $100. You’ll get hit with that unaccompanied minor fee if the child is 5-14 years old.
On the bright side, Spirit will throw in a free snack and drink for your kid, a solid $6 value. Spirit won’t allow children to fly alone if they’re 4 or younger, or if they’re traveling on a connecting flight, international flights or domestic flights that include a scheduled change of aircraft. Spirit offers bundled packages during the booking process.
If you anticipate paying for a number of these fees anyway, then bundling them isn’t a bad deal. Going back to that same flight between Seattle and Las Vegas, it costs $52.99 more for the Boost It package and $64.99 for the Bundle It package. 
Here’s how much it would cost to order a la carte what you can get in the combo packages for one set price: Boost It package (costs $52.99):
Pick Your Seat: $20 (exit row!). Personal item: $0 (already included with airfare). Checked Bag plus 10 pounds extra: $33 (if the bag weighs 40 pounds or less) or $63 (if it weighs 50 pounds or less). Shortcut Boarding: $5.99.
The Boost It package is worth $88.99 in this scenario (if you take advantage of the 50 pound allowance), which is a $36 savings. If your bag is less than 40 pounds ($33) but you want to pick a seat ($20) and have Shortcut Boarding ($5.99), then you save only a few dollars on the Boost It bundle price.
Personal item: $0 (already included with airfare). Checked Bag plus 10 pounds extra: $33 (if the bag weighs 40 pounds or less) or $63 (if it weighs 50 pounds or less). Shortcut Boarding: $5.99.
*It’s tough to assign a value to Spirit miles because you accrue a different number of miles based on your status within the Free Spirit program. The 2x miles aside, the Bundle It package is worth $133.99 in this scenario, which is a $69 savings if you were to buy each item individually at booking.
- Spirit says it’s a $104 savings value, based on the company’s own mileage valuation.
- Again, if you are packing that oversize bag (between 40 and 50 pounds) or you want the Flight Flex option (which we don’t really recommend), then it’s worth it.
- But if you want only a few things — say one checked bag that weighs less than 40 pounds, the ability to choose your seat and shortcut boarding — keep buying a la carte.
In NerdWallet’s annual, Spirit ranked second-to-last for lowest average fees. The only airline that had higher fees was fellow budget airline Frontier. Spirit passengers can expect to spend an average of $137 on fees, including about $56 for a checked bag and $60 for a carry-on, plus $21 for seat selection.
Frequently asked questions What fees does Spirit Airlines charge? Spirit is a low-cost carrier, which means that the price you pay for the flight will include only the ticket itself. You will need to pay for everything you’d like to add such as bags, printing your boarding pass at the airport, selecting your seat, change fees, award redemption fees, meals on the flight, early boarding and more.
The fees fluctuate based on when you purchase these add-ons, so a bag purchased at booking will be cheaper than if you purchase it at the gate. Is Spirit really cheaper? Because Spirit is a low-cost carrier, you will need to pay extra for everything other than the flight.
So, if you’ll be checking a bag, printing your boarding pass at the airport, purchasing food on the plane and paying for a seat up front, you’ll end up paying for each of these add-ons, which will increase the price of your ticket. If you often fly with Spirit and value these extras, the carrier offers the Spirit Saver$ Club, which provides discounts on bags, seats and more.
Do you have to pay for seats on Spirit? Spirit will assign a random seat to you during the check-in process. However, if you’d like to choose your own seat or select one at booking, you will need to pay for it. The proximity to the front of the plane also affects the cost of the seat.
If you’re interested in the Big Front Seat, which is Spirit’s equivalent of domestic first class, it will be cheaper to purchase this seat in advance instead of at the airport. Is a backpack free on Spirit? You are allowed one personal item (e.g., purse, small backpack) free of charge. The dimensions must not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) including handles and wheels.
If your backpack is larger, refer to the carry-on and checked bag price list. What fees does Spirit Airlines charge? Spirit is a low-cost carrier, which means that the price you pay for the flight will include only the ticket itself. You will need to pay for everything you’d like to add such as bags, printing your boarding pass at the airport, selecting your seat, change fees, award redemption fees, meals on the flight, early boarding and more.
The fees fluctuate based on when you purchase these add-ons, so a bag purchased at booking will be cheaper than if you purchase it at the gate. Is Spirit really cheaper? Because Spirit is a low-cost carrier, you will need to pay extra for everything other than the flight. So, if you’ll be checking a bag, printing your boarding pass at the airport, purchasing food on the plane and paying for a seat up front, you’ll end up paying for each of these add-ons, which will increase the price of your ticket.
If you often fly with Spirit and value these extras, the carrier offers the Spirit Saver$ Club, which provides discounts on bags, seats and more. Do you have to pay for seats on Spirit? Spirit will assign a random seat to you during the check-in process.
However, if you’d like to choose your own seat or select one at booking, you will need to pay for it. The proximity to the front of the plane also affects the cost of the seat. If you’re interested in the Big Front Seat, which is Spirit’s equivalent of domestic first class, it will be cheaper to purchase this seat in advance instead of at the airport.
Is a backpack free on Spirit? You are allowed one personal item (e.g., purse, small backpack) free of charge. The dimensions must not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) including handles and wheels. If your backpack is larger, refer to the carry-on and checked bag price list.
- Book your $26 flight, but expect to spend a lot more than that.
- You might have thought you could get away without a carry-on when you booked the flight, but as you start packing, you realize you’ll need a small rolling suitcase.
- That’s an extra $45 at check-in.
- You don’t have a printer, so you’ll have to pay $2 to print your boarding pass at the airport kiosk.
You don’t want the middle seat so you accept you’ll pay $14 to choose an aisle, but why pay $14 for an aisle when it’s only $6 more for the exit row aisle? You pay $20 to choose a good seat. Once flying, you pay $3 for a ginger ale. While your credit card is already out, you throw in Sea Salt PopCorners for $4.
- Suddenly, your $26 flight has become $100.
- That’s not even including a number of other fees you might end up paying too, like pet fees, priority boarding, cancellation fees and more.
- Don’t be fooled into thinking Spirit has ultra-cheap fares.
- Traveling with Spirit is cheap if you pack uber-light — and pack your own snacks.
For budget travelers who can plan ahead, Spirit can be a deal. But pay attention when booking, because your “cheap” Spirit flight might cost more than a ticket on any of the other airlines. : Spirit Airlines Fees: What to Know Before You Fly
How heavy can your bag be on Spirit?
To keep ticket prices low for everyone, we charge for carry-ons and checked bags. We charge more for checked bags over 40 lbs. This is because the added weight requires more gas for the plane. One personal item that fits entirely in the smaller sizer box (like a purse, small backpack, etc.) is included with your ticket. Carry-on bag: Maximum of 22 x 18 x10 inches (56 x 46 x 25 cm) including handles and wheels. We may require a carry-on bag to travel as a checked bag if it cannot be safely stowed on a particular flight. Checked bags: Maximum of 62 linear inches (length + width + height; 158 cm) including handles and wheels and maximum of 40 pounds in weight (18.1 kg). Any bag that exceeds these dimensions or weight limit is considered oversized/overweight and has a corresponding charge. View the current bag prices for carry-ons, checked bags, and sporting equipment. Guests traveling to or from the international airports may have additional size and weight restrictions for their bags, see below. Bag Restrictions
| REGION | DATES | RESTRICTIONS |
| South America
Lima, Peru (LIM) |
ALL YEAR (Additional Restrictions Apply – December 1st through January 10th) |
One (1) paid checked item will be accepted per guest. Additional checked items may be purchased based on inventory. Overweight items may not exceed the maximum overweight limit of 100lbs (45kg) and are subject to overweight baggage charges beginning at 41lbs (18 kg). Oversized items may not exceed 80 linear inches (203cm) in overall dimensions and are subject to oversized baggage charges beginning at 63 linear inches (158 cm). Certain items (e.g. Sporting Equipment) may exceed 80 linear inches in overall dimensions; however, the item may not weigh more than 100lbs (45kg). This item counts towards the maximum of one (1) checked item allowed per person. Separate charges may apply. From December 1st through January 10th, items that exceed 80 linear inches will not be accepted. |
| South America
Colombia (AXM, BAQ, BGA, CLO, CTG, MDE) Ecuador (GYE) |
ALL YEAR (Additional Restrictions Apply December 1st – January 10th) |
One (1) paid checked item will be accepted per person. Additional checked items may be purchased on a first-come-first-serve basis. |
| All International Destinations | December 1st – January 10th |
One (1) paid checked item will be accepted per person. Additional checked items may be purchased on a first-come-first-serve basis. Overweight items are subject to overweight baggage charges beginning at 41 pounds (18 kg). Oversized items may not exceed 80 linear inches (203cm) in overall dimensions and are subject to oversized baggage charges beginning at 63 linear inches (158 cm). |
Are Spirit flights usually delayed?
Surprising Top Performers For Flights – The best-performing airlines for cancellations and delays may surprise you. Out of the nine carriers, Spirit Airlines was the best performing airline for dela ys, with an 18.1% flight delay rate (2,609 total). Their average delay time was 53 minutes, which is only two minutes more than the average of all the airlines combined. 
The aviation industry has been hectic this year. It will likely continue running into operational issues in the coming months, as the core problem of short-staffing remains. As demand eases into the shoulder season, the chaos may temporarily subside. However, until airlines and the aviation industry overall can recover their staffing, travelers should expect disruptions. 
Can I bring a pillow on Spirit Airlines?
Current bag prices are available here. One personal item that fits in the smaller sizer box (like a small backpack) is included with your ticket. Another personal item or anything larger like a standard carry-on or checked bag will need to be paid for.
- PRO TIP : If you know you’re going to need a carry-on or a checked bag, buy it right when you book your flight to save major moola.
- Check out size and weight limits for bags here, as well as embargo restrictions.
- Remember: You can bring one personal item and bring items like an umbrella, camera, infant diaper bag, assistive devices, outer garments (e.g., coats, hats and wraps), reading material and food for the flight for no additional charge.
Neck and head pillows can be carried on the aircraft as long as they fit completely in your personal item bag. In some cases wheelchairs, car seats and strollers may be checked or carried on free of charge.
Is the first checked bag free on Spirit?
Spirit Airlines passengers are not entitled to any free checked baggage allowance. Again, this is so that the airline can keep their ticket prices low for everyone. Checked baggage must not weigh more than 45kg/99lbs or measure more than 203cm/80in in overall dimensions.
Can I check-in my bags 5 hours early?
When do I need to be at the boarding gate? – For flights within the U.S., all customers must be on board the aircraft 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. We recommend being at the boarding gate at least 15 minutes before departure to ensure that you’re on the aircraft before the doors are closed.
- Brussels (BRU): 60 minutes
- Dublin (DUB): 30 minutes
- Guam (GUM) to Honolulu (HNL): 60 minutes
- Koror (ROR): 60 minutes
- Kosrae (KSA): 60 minutes
- Kwajalein (KWA): 60 minutes
- Lima (LIM): 30 minutes
- Majuro (MAJ): 60 minutes
- Pohnpei (PNI): 60 minutes
- Sydney (SYD): 60 minutes
- Truk (TKK): 60 minutes
- Yap (YAP): 60 minutes
To learn more about boarding a United flight, please visit our Boarding Process page.
Do you really need to arrive 2 hours before a flight?
When you’re traveling within the United States, we make the suggestion to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure. For most airports, you must be checked in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time (airports requiring additional time are listed below, Go to footer note ).
Is it OK to arrive 2 hours before international flight?
Check-in Time Requirements When you’re traveling outside of the United States, we make the suggestion to arrive at least 3 hours prior to your departure. You must be checked in at least 1 hour before your scheduled departure. Additionally, we recommend being at the gate and ready to board 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
When can I check-in for a 5am flight?
How early should I arrive for my flight? If I have a 5am flight, do I still need to arrive early? What time does the airport open? TSA and the airlines recommend that all travelers arrive at the airport at least two hours in advance of their flight departure time to ensure they have enough time to check in with their airline and go through security.
- There are numerous flights that depart in the morning hours and arriving early ensures as smooth of a travel experience as possible.
- The airport itself is open 24 hours/day 7 days/week.
- Airline ticket counters and the TSA security generally start assisting travelers waiting in line at 4am and 4:15am, respectively.
: How early should I arrive for my flight? If I have a 5am flight, do I still need to arrive early? What time does the airport open?
Can I enter airport 5 hours before flight?
Most Airlines require travellers to check in 2 or three hours before the flight. Check with the Airlines for their regulations. Accordingly ensure you reach the Airport at least 2 or 3 hours before the scheduled departure of the Aeroplane.
Do I need proof of vaccination to fly in US?
How the 14 days are calculated: –
- Your last dose must have been given a full 14 days before the day you board your flight to the United States.
- You are considered fully vaccinated on the 14th day after the vaccination series was completed. For example, if your last dose was any time on October 1st, then October 15th would be the first day that you meet the 14-day requirement.
The requirements outlined in the Presidential Proclamation and CDC’s Amended Order apply to anybody who is considered a noncitizen nonimmigrant and is traveling to the United States by air. These people are referred to in the Proclamation and the Amended Order as ” Covered Individuals. ” Covered Individuals include:
- Any non-U.S. citizen seeking to enter the United States by air travel with a nonimmigrant visa listed in “Nonimmigrant Visa Categories” on the U.S. Department of State’s webpage, as well as K nonimmigrant visa holders;
- Any non-U.S. citizen seeking to enter the United States by air travel who has been granted an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) as part of ;
- Any non-U.S. citizen seeking to enter the United States by air travel as a nonimmigrant under the Guam-Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program; and
- Any non-U.S. citizen otherwise seeking to enter the United States by air travel as a nonimmigrant in any other category exempt from the general requirement to present a nonimmigrant visa for admission (e.g., certain Canadian nationals).
No, U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and immigrants, are not Covered Individuals ; therefore the Presidential Proclamation and CDC’s Amended Order Implementing the Presidential Proclamation do not apply. See, requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination does not apply to Ukrainians who are approved as part of the,
While CDC’s Order does not apply to Ukrainians who are approved under the Uniting for Ukraine program, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified health requirements as a component of the program, which include receiving measles, polio, and at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. For more information about the health requirements of the program, how to apply to the program, and the processes to receive travel authorization to come to the United States please visit DHS’ website for the,
For information not found on DHS’ website, please contact the, Yes, the Amended Order applies to any noncitizen nonimmigrant on a flight to the United States from a foreign country, regardless of whether the United States is the final destination or a connection to another country.
- Quarantine means to separate and restrict the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick,
- Isolation means to separate sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick,
- Self-quarantine is no longer required after excepted noncitizen nonimmigrants arrive in the United States.
Yes, at this time all noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers traveling to the United States, regardless of antibody status, are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. At this time, CDC’s Amended Order only requires that noncitizen nonimmigrants are with the primary series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States.
- A booster dose is not needed to meet this requirement.
- CDC recommends that people stay on their COVID-19 vaccines by getting booster shots when eligible.
- However, CDC’s Amended Order is keeping the requirement to only have to show proof of being fully vaccinated with a primary series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine at this time to board a flight to the United States.
While booster doses for COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration are widely available for those eligible in the United States, many other countries do not offer booster doses because of limits on available vaccines.
- Therefore, for the purpose of boarding a flight to the United States as a noncitizen nonimmigrant, being fully vaccinated will remain the only COVID-19 vaccination requirement at this time.
- People are considered fully vaccinated for the purposes of traveling to the United States 2 weeks (14 days) after a dose of an or 2 weeks (14 days) after the second dose of an, regardless of prior COVID-19 disease history.
If you have received both doses of an accepted 2-dose vaccine series, regardless of how long it has been between doses, you are considered fully vaccinated. This means if you received a single dose of an accepted 2-dose series and then a booster dose of an accepted vaccine, you would be considered fully vaccinated under CDC’s Amended Order because you have received two total doses.
- The second dose does not have to be the same vaccine as the first, but both doses must be one of the accepted vaccines for you to be considered fully vaccinated.
- Yes, of COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use or approved by the U.S.
- Food and Drug Administration or listed for emergency use by WHO are accepted.
Examples include:
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines (e.g., COMIRNATY, Tozinameran)
- AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccines (e.g., Covishield, Vaxzevria)
- Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Takeda, Spikevax)
- Bharat Biotech International COVID-19 Vaccines (e.g., BBV152, COVAXIN)
Airlines and other aircraft operators must be able to confirm proof of vaccination and review other required information and should determine when translation is necessary for these purposes. If your documents are in a language other than English, you should check with your airline or aircraft operator before travel.
- Persons on diplomatic or official foreign government travel
- Children under 18 years of age
- Persons with documented medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
- Persons issued a humanitarian or emergency exception
- Persons with valid visas who are citizens of a foreign (See list effective as of April 14, 2022)
- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age)
- Sea crew members traveling pursuant to a C-1 and D nonimmigrant visa
- Persons whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, or Secretary of Homeland Security (or their designees)
If you are a noncitizen, nonimmigrant who does not fall under any of these exceptions, you must show proof of being fully vaccinated before boarding a flight to the United States. No, there are no exceptions under the Presidential Proclamation and CDC’s Amended Order for religious reasons or other moral convictions.
Any noncitizen seeking entry into or transiting the United States under one of the following nonimmigrant visa classifications: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (as a foreign government official or immediate family member of an official), E-1 (as an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee’s immediate family members), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 (or seeking to enter as a nonimmigrant in one of those NATO classifications)
Any noncitizen whose travel falls within the scope of Section 11 of the United Nations Headquarters Agreement or other travel pursuant to U.S. legal obligation (as evidenced by a letter of invitation from the United Nations or other documentation showing the purpose of such travel).
You will need to show that you are traveling under one of the visa categories (listed above); or travel with an official letter, such as letter from the U.S. government or foreign government. If you have been invited by the United Nations, you will need a letter of invitation from the United Nations or other documentation showing the purpose of such travel.
- You will also be required to complete the attestation, attesting to arranging to get a viral test 3-5 days after arrival and that you will self-isolate if the results of the test are positive or if you develop COVID-19 symptoms.
- You must show a letter from a licensed physician documenting the medical contraindication to the airline or aircraft operator before boarding a flight to the United States.
The letter
- Must be signed and dated on official letterhead that contains contact information (name, address, and phone number) of a licensed healthcare provider.
- Must clearly state that you have a medical contraindication to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The name of the COVID-19 vaccine product and the medical condition must both be listed.
- to COVID-19 vaccination include immediate or severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or component of a COVID-19 vaccine or known allergy to a component of a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Must have sufficient personally identifiable information (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number) to confirm that the letter matches with your passport or other travel information.
If your letter is in a language other than English, check with your airlines or aircraft operator to find out if translation of the letter is necessary for their review. CDC has provided a list of qualifying COVID-19 vaccine candidates that meet CDC’s criteria for this exception.
- Documentation you participated in a phase 3 trial of with a qualifying COVID-19 vaccine candidate
- Documentation you received the full series of an active (non-placebo) qualifying COVID-19 vaccine candidate or, with the name of the vaccine product and the date(s) received (showing it has been at least 2 weeks since you completed the series)
- Personal identifiers in the clinical trial documentation (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number) that match with your passport or other travel documentation.
CDC may grant a humanitarian or emergency exception in very limited circumstances only when an individual must travel to the United States to preserve health (e.g., emergency medical evacuations, life-saving medical treatment) or safety (e.g., violence) and is unable to become fully vaccinated before travel.
- Individuals who fit the exception criteria described in the and CDC’s Amended may contact the U.S.
- Embassy or consulate in or nearest the country from which they are departing for the United States.
- The embassy will then transmit the information to the CDC for consideration.
- Please review the procedures for applying for a humanitarian or emergency exception as listed on the webpage of the embassy or consulate where you will apply.
This link will lead you to the relevant embassy or consulate: To facilitate the review of a humanitarian or emergency exception request, individuals should submit the following information to the embassy or consulate for transmission to the CDC. All information needs to be completed in full and in English for the request to be sent to CDC,
- Name (family name/surname, given name)
- Age
- Nationality on passport used for travel
- Indicate Visa Type or if passenger has Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
- Cell phone number (including country code) of passenger or head of household if family unit
- Email address of passenger or head of household if family unit
- US destination address
- Is US destination home address?
- Flight itinerary, including any connecting flights
- Airline
- Flight #
- Departure airport and date of departure
- Arrival airport and date of arrival
- Any COVID-19 vaccines received to date, if applicable:
- Name of vaccine product (or products if a combination)
- Date of first dose
- Date of second dose (if a two-dose series) PDF or photograph of vaccination record
- Purpose of travel to the US and a brief explanation of why urgent travel is needed
- Justification for humanitarian or emergency exception to providing proof of being fully vaccinated (e.g., vaccine availability, passenger ineligible for vaccine at location, insufficient time to become fully vaccinated)
- Documentation to support justification (e.g., medical records, orders for emergency evacuation)
- Information regarding any other solutions that were sought prior to application (e.g., assistance in obtaining vaccination, etc.)
You will need to show
- A passport or other proof of citizenship from a country on the list provided by CDC; AND
- A valid nonimmigrant visa that is not a B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visa.
No, to qualify for this exception, you must show a passport or other proof of citizenship of a country determined to have limited COVID-19 vaccine availability. CDC uses vaccination coverage as a proxy indicator of vaccine availability. CDC realizes that vaccine availability might be limited by multiple factors, including limited access, service delivery issues, and low vaccine supply relative to demand.
- CDC considers a country to have limited COVID-19 vaccine availability if less than 10% of the total population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with any vaccine, as reported in official source data in (OWID).
- CDC reviews OWID country-level data on the proportion of a population that is fully vaccinated and updates the list of countries with limited vaccine availability every three months.
If country data are missing from OWID, CDC reviews other official sources of information to determine a countries’ vaccination coverage (percent of the population fully vaccinated with available COVID-19 vaccines). You will need to show a U.S. military identification document, such as a military ID or Common Access Card (CAC) or a DEERS ID Card, or other proof of status as a member or spouse or child (under 18 years of age) of a member of the U.S.
- Your C-1 and D visa; AND
- An official letter from your employer (paper or digital) indicating your entry to or transit through the United States is required for the purpose of operating a vessel or return travel after disembarking the vessel consistent with your visa and official letter.
Sea crew members are subject to the post-arrival requirements of the attestation as long as they remain in the United States, including U.S. waters. You will need to show an official U.S. Government letter (paper or digital) documenting approval of the exception. An attestation is a statement, writing, entry, or other representation subject to 18 U.S.C. § 1001 that confirms that the information provided is true. Willfully providing false or misleading information may lead to criminal fines and imprisonment. All airlines or other aircraft operators will provide and collect the passenger attestation on behalf of the U.S. Government prior to boarding. As required by United States federal law, all airlines or other aircraft operators will provide and collect the passenger attestation on behalf of the U.S. Government prior to boarding. Please check with the airline or aircraft operator for your flight to learn how the airline or aircraft operator will collect your attestation. Noncitizen nonimmigrants that plan to take a connecting flight in the United States to another country may continue on their itinerary; however, they are still required to complete and sign the attestation in case their travel plans are changed or delayed. If they take their connecting flight and leave the United States, they are no longer subject to the requirements of the attestation. Noncitizen nonimmigrants who are not fully vaccinated and meet an exception do not have to get a COVID-19 test if they are in the United States less than 3 days. They also must complete and sign the attestation in case their travel plans are changed or delayed. If they leave the United States less than 3 days after arrival, they are no longer subject to the requirements of the Amended Order and attestation.
Does Spirit have bag drop?
Bag Drop is a service available to guests who check in online and pre-purchase their bags before arriving at the airport. When you get to the airport, just follow the signs to the Fast Bag Drop area. You can drop off your bags and proceed through security – saving you a good chunk of time. NOTE : Baggage will not be accepted more than four (4) hours before scheduled departure time.
How often does Spirit lose checked bags?
Spirit Airlines – Kiattisak/Adobe 
Although Spirit Airlines mishandled only 3,516 bags in the reported month, it’s mostly a reflection of their low flight numbers and the number of passengers actually checking bags. The share of bags lost, stolen, delayed, or damaged is 4.21 per 1,000 bags, which is similar to Southwest Airlines.
How does bag drop off work?
Time flies at Terminal 5 – Save time by using the dedicated bag drop areas at Heathrow T5 and use that time to do something different before your flight: from shopping to dining, to people watching and more. Heathrow experience
Bag Drop – and go At the Bag Drop point, you simply place your bag on the baggage belt to start. You’ll then be prompted to scan your boarding pass and follow the instructions on the screen to check in your bags. Each bag tag will have any connections, priority or heavy bag information automatically printed on it and you will get a receipt at the end of the transaction.
- Don’t worry if you have any issues, as the British Airways team are there to help you at any time, if you need it.
- Once you’ve checked in, dropped your bag without queueing and gone through security, you’ll have more time to shop, enjoy a drink in the lounge, catch up on your emails or just relax before your flight.
Please remember:
Check in and bag drops close 60 minutes before all long haul flights’ scheduled departure time and 45 minutes before most short haul flights’ scheduled departure time. Make sure that you are through security at least 35 minutes before your flight departs. Be at the boarding gate at least 20 minutes before your flight departs.
How strict is Spirit with carry-on bags?
Conclusion. – Spirit Airlines are very strict when it comes to the size of your personal item and carry on luggage. We therefore recommend taking precautions and investing in an appropriate bag depending on the duration and type of your trip.
