# Free Spirit vs Copa ConnectMiles: historical points and current travel alternatives By AwardTool | Updated 2026-11-09 Canonical URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit Spirit ceased operations on May 2, 2026. Free Spirit is included here to explain historical balances and records, rather than as an active alternative to Copa ConnectMiles. Confirm current travel independently with the operating airline and the program issuing the ticket. Best for: Travelers separating historical Free Spirit records from a new trip using Copa ConnectMiles. ## At a glance - Compare Copa itineraries through Panama and available Star Alliance partner awards, using the chart for the actual operating airline and cabin. - Use this guide to understand an existing Free Spirit balance or historical reservation and locate the official updates. - This is a historical comparison. Do not buy, transfer or collect Free Spirit points to fund a new Spirit booking. Keep old ticket, payment and account records separate from the budget for replacement travel. Any claim or refund process follows its own official instructions; an unused points balance is not automatically a cash refund. - Save the ticket issuer, operating airlines, fare or award product, cash total and cancellation deadline with your quote. Refundable miles do not necessarily become bank points again, and returned miles may retain their original expiry date. Paying a change fee does not guarantee replacement award seats. [Read the Copa ConnectMiles guide](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-guide) ## Free Spirit vs Copa ConnectMiles: historical points and current travel alternatives Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#historical-status This is a historical comparison. Do not buy, transfer or collect Free Spirit points to fund a new Spirit booking. Keep old ticket, payment and account records separate from the budget for replacement travel. Any claim or refund process follows its own official instructions; an unused points balance is not automatically a cash refund. ## The practical decision at a glance Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#comparison-table Use this table to distinguish historical Free Spirit information from the active Copa ConnectMiles account you might use for a new trip. Old balances, former benefits and a past booking are records to investigate, rather than proof of a currently available flight. | What to compare | Copa ConnectMiles | Spirit Free Spirit | | --- | --- | --- | | Rewards currency | ConnectMiles | Free Spirit points (historical program) | | Associated airline | Copa Airlines | Spirit Airlines; operations ceased May 2, 2026 | | Alliance or partner framework | Star Alliance | No active flight-redemption network | | When to consider it | Compare Copa itineraries through Panama and available Star Alliance partner awards, using the chart for the actual operating airline and cabin. | Use this guide to understand an existing Free Spirit balance or historical reservation and locate the official updates. | | Important limitation | An attractive distance-based earning result and an attractive award chart are separate calculations. Neither confirms partner award availability or the final ticket’s fees. | Do not acquire points or rely on pre-shutdown credit-card and award-booking instructions to arrange new Spirit travel. | ## Start with the records, then plan new travel Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#choose-for-your-trip This is a historical comparison. Do not buy, transfer or collect Free Spirit points to fund a new Spirit booking. Keep old ticket, payment and account records separate from the budget for replacement travel. Any claim or refund process follows its own official instructions; an unused points balance is not automatically a cash refund. - Copa ConnectMiles: Travelers considering Copa itineraries or comparing a Star Alliance flight across booking programs. - Spirit Free Spirit: Former Free Spirit members checking an old balance or booking after Spirit’s shutdown. ## Separate former Spirit journeys from new confirmed flights Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#network-and-availability Treat the former Spirit itinerary as a record of a past booking or disruption, rather than as currently bookable inventory. Search replacement travel independently. Confirm the operating airline, the program issuing any new award and the conditions attached to that new ticket. ## How Copa ConnectMiles prices its awards Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#first-award-pricing Copa publishes a Star Alliance and airline-partner award chart organized by regions and cabin. Identify both endpoints using the chart’s definitions, then compare the appropriate cabin. Copa’s own flights have a separate redemption overview, so first establish which product you are pricing rather than applying one table to every search result. The chart itself warns that some listed awards may be unavailable because of the routes and cabins partners actually operate. A First Class column therefore does not mean the airline on your route has First Class, and an attractive regional price cannot tell you whether multiple passengers can book together. For an itinerary through Panama or another connection point, search the origin and final destination together. Then inspect individual legs if you need to diagnose a missing result. Separate-leg searches are research: they do not guarantee that ConnectMiles can combine those legs into one ticket at the total you expect. [ConnectMiles official partner award chart](https://www.copaair.com/assets/StarAlliance-and-Partners-Award-Chart-EN.pdf) ## Historical Spirit Free Spirit award and account rules Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#second-award-pricing Spirit’s May 2 announcement said it would automatically process refunds to the original payment method for flights purchased directly with a credit or debit card. It directed travelers who booked through an agent to that agent. The announcement treated other payment methods separately: compensation involving vouchers, credits or Free Spirit points would be determined through the bankruptcy process. Those statements describe the company’s announced process; they do not establish the current outcome of an individual claim or promise a particular recovery for a points balance. Keep your ticket receipt, payment record, account statements and any case correspondence together when checking the official information. Spirit’s wind-down homepage also states that the normal customer call centre and email service are no longer available. Use the links in the official notice for current case information rather than telephone details copied from an old award-booking article. [Spirit’s official wind-down information](https://www.spiritrestructuring.com/) ## Which bank points can fund each program directly? Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#bank-transfer-comparison The table uses AwardTool’s tracked U.S. bank-transfer directory, reviewed November 6, 2026. It covers the six listed bank currencies, not every funding option worldwide. A direct transfer relationship is separate from an airline partnership, and your particular card must permit the transfer. Estimated posting times do not reserve seats. There is no shared direct bank source for this pair in the six-currency directory. Compare the balances and eligible cards you actually hold. A program without a listed route may still have other earning options, but those must be confirmed separately before planning to fund a time-sensitive booking. An empty direct route is not a promise that a hotel conversion, another airline or a promotional offer will bridge the gap. Check the complete chain, eligibility, fees and loss of flexibility. There is no general ability to exchange unrelated airline currencies or combine them at one checkout. | Bank currency | Copa ConnectMiles | Spirit Free Spirit | | --- | --- | --- | | American Express Membership Rewards | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | | Bilt Rewards | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | | Capital One Miles | 2:1.5 (1,000 → 750) · Check Capital One for timing | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | | Chase Ultimate Rewards | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | | Citi ThankYou Points | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | | Wells Fargo Rewards | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | [Compare all six bank currencies](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/compare-bank-transfer-programs) ## Old payments and new ticket conditions Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#fees-and-servicing Separate amounts previously paid to Spirit from the cost of a new trip. Save the old payment method, ticket number, cancellation correspondence and any official instructions about claims. Do not assume that buying a replacement ticket establishes reimbursement or that an old points balance can pay the new airline. ## Ticket conditions to check in Copa ConnectMiles Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#first-ticket-conditions A Star Alliance flight can produce different mileage prices and cash charges through different programs. Compare only options that can actually issue the same seats, and include any cost of acquiring the currency. Existing ConnectMiles can be useful even when another program has a lower headline price that requires a large new transfer. Before purchase, identify who handles a voluntary change and how a cancellation would return the miles. For a connection, check whether all flights will be on the same ticket. If you intentionally book a separate positioning flight, leave enough time for disruption and include any overnight costs when deciding whether the award saves money. ## Ticket conditions to check in Spirit Free Spirit Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#second-ticket-conditions Create one folder per booking or account rather than relying on access to a single app. Save original emails, receipts, account statements you can lawfully access and any subsequent refund confirmation. Include the date and substance of each enquiry. Keep sensitive account information out of public forum posts; a public complaint rarely needs your complete booking code, membership number or payment details. Use the official guest page and current case notices to identify the process that applies. The shutdown statement said direct card purchases would be refunded to the original payment method, while non-card methods and points were to be addressed through the bankruptcy process. Those announcements do not establish the result for every individual record. Check subsequent notices and the actual payment account before marking an issue resolved. ## Historical balances and rules for new travelers Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#expiry-and-family Keep a record for every affected traveler, including separate ticket numbers, payments and account balances. Historical household or status features do not establish current refund rights. For replacement travel, check the active program’s own nominee, child, infant and family-account rules. | What to compare | Copa ConnectMiles | Spirit Free Spirit | | --- | --- | --- | | Reward validity | ConnectMiles expire after 24 months without account activity. Copa’s help centre says purchases on a co-branded card keep the miles valid for 24 months from the purchase; verify that qualifying activity has reached your account before relying on it. | The immediate issue is the shutdown and treatment of points through the bankruptcy process. The former activity-based expiry policy should not be presented as a way to preserve usable flight awards. Follow current official restructuring notices for any update affecting a balance or an existing points booking. | ## Family and traveler rules in Copa ConnectMiles Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#first-family-rules Copa lists outright award tickets, mileage upgrades, mileage transfers and donations as separate ways to use ConnectMiles. An upgrade is not a second kind of free award seat: the underlying paid ticket, eligible booking class and upgrade availability all matter. Compare the complete cost of buying a fare and upgrading with the price of a business-class award from the start. Cash upgrade offers have their own rules. Copa's published upgrade conditions say a confirmed paid upgrade leaves the original ticket's change and refund conditions in place and earns miles according to the original fare. Paying to move into Business therefore does not automatically give an Economy Basic ticket the flexibility or earning of a purchased Business fare. ## Family and traveler rules in Spirit Free Spirit Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#second-family-rules After Spirit's May 2, 2026 shutdown, the useful question is what transaction or balance your records represent. An unused ticket, a travel voucher and an unredeemed points balance are different records. They should not be merged into one dollar total by applying a historical points-value estimate. The company's guest information treats payments made by credit or debit card separately from vouchers, credits and Free Spirit points. Start with the original confirmation and payment receipt. Record the passenger, flight dates, booking reference, amount paid in money and points used. If you booked through an agency, identify that agency as well as Spirit. An app that still displays a reservation does not establish operating service: the official shutdown notice canceled all flights. Preserve the record because it describes the purchase, not because it promises a future flight. ## Historical status and future earning plans Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#earning-and-status The historical earning and status information below explains old account records. It is not an invitation to collect new Free Spirit points or a claim that former benefits apply to another airline. Evaluate any future paid-flight earning and award bookings under the active program’s current rules. | What to compare | Copa ConnectMiles | Spirit Free Spirit | | --- | --- | --- | | Status qualification context | PreferMember status is tracked with qualifying miles or qualifying segments under Copa’s program rules. Award miles are the spendable balance; qualifying counters determine recognition and benefits. A flight can post both types of credit, but a purchased or converted balance should not be assumed to satisfy flight qualification. | Free Spirit formerly offered Silver and Gold recognition, earned through Status Qualifying Points under the then-current rules. Those labels explain old statements and benefits. They do not establish current airport services following the operational shutdown. | ## Organize records and book replacement travel Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-vs-free-spirit#comparison-booking-workflow Treat the former Spirit itinerary as a record of a past booking or disruption, rather than as currently bookable inventory. Search replacement travel independently. Confirm the operating airline, the program issuing any new award and the conditions attached to that new ticket. 1. **Preserve the old booking and payment records** Save each traveler’s ticket and booking references, dates, points transactions, receipts and relevant official correspondence. Distinguish a points-only balance from cash paid for a ticket or optional service. 2. **Confirm replacement travel independently** Search the trip you now need through Copa ConnectMiles. Confirm seats, traveler eligibility, the complete price and ticket conditions with the new issuing program before making a transfer or payment. Keep the new ticket and any historical claim as separate records. [Read the complete Copa ConnectMiles guide](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-guide) [Read the complete Spirit Free Spirit guide](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/spirit-free-spirit-guide) ## Common questions ### Is Spirit still flying? Spirit announced an immediate wind-down and cancelled all flights on May 2, 2026. Its official notice says travelers should not go to the airport for those flights. ### Will Free Spirit points be refunded? The shutdown announcement said compensation involving Free Spirit points, vouchers or credits would be determined through the bankruptcy process. It did not promise a specific recovery; consult the current official case information. ### Can I follow an older Free Spirit booking guide? Older booking instructions are historical and do not establish a current redemption opportunity after the shutdown. ### Does a reservation still visible in the Spirit app mean my flight will operate? No. Spirit's official wind-down announcement canceled all flights. A saved record can be useful purchase evidence, but it does not establish current flight service. ### Can ConnectMiles book flights outside Copa’s network? Yes, eligible Star Alliance and other airline-partner awards are part of the program. Availability and applicable routes still need to be confirmed with ConnectMiles. ### Does the award chart guarantee a partner seat? No. Copa’s chart cautions that awards depend on routes and cabins being operated, and the operating airline controls redemption availability. ### Should I price each connection separately? Search the full journey first. Individual-leg searches can explain an availability gap, but their results do not establish the price or validity of a combined award. ## Sources and further reading Sources reviewed 2026-11-09. Publisher dates are shown where available. - [Copa: use miles to fly](https://www.copaair.com/en-gs/connectmiles/miles/use-miles-on-copa-airlines/) - [Copa: Star Alliance and partner award chart](https://www.copaair.com/assets/StarAlliance-and-Partners-Award-Chart-EN.pdf) - [Copa: Star Alliance partner earning and spending conditions](https://www.copaair.com/en-us/connectmiles/miles/earn-miles-with-star-alliance/) - [Rove: current transfer partners](https://www.rove.com/) - [Marriott: current airline-transfer partners](https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/redeem/travel/points-to-miles.mi) - [Copa: flight earning and qualifying-mile table](https://www.copaair.com/en-gs/connectmiles/miles/earn-flying-on-copa-airlines/) - [Copa: account activity and mileage expiry](https://help.copaair.com/hc/en-us/articles/360051952073-Do-the-miles-I-earn-using-my-co-branded-credit-card-expire) - [Copa: Star Alliance and partner-award chart and region definitions](https://www.copaair.com/assets/staralliance-and-partners-award-chart-en-jan-2025.pdf/) - [Copa: Saver awards and the United Standard-award exception](https://www.copaair.com/en-gs/connectmiles/miles/use-miles-on-star-alliance/) - [Copa: other uses, transfers and mileage upgrades](https://www.copaair.com/en-gs/connectmiles/miles/other-ways-to-use-miles/) - [Copa: cash-upgrade conditions and original-fare treatment](https://www.copaair.com/en-ca/legal/terms-and-conditions/upgrade-terms-and-conditions/) - [Spirit Airlines: shutdown press release — May 2, 2026](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spirit-airlines-begins-orderly-wind-down-of-operations-302760586.html) - [Spirit: official wind-down information](https://www.spiritrestructuring.com/) - [Spirit Aviation Holdings: SEC filing — May 2, 2026](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1498710/000095010326006723/dp246246_8k.htm) - [Spirit: May 2, 2026 wind-down announcement filed with the SEC](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1498710/000095010326006723/dp246246_ex9901.htm) - [Spirit: official wind-down announcement](https://www.spiritrestructuring.com/resources/Spirit-Airlines-Begins-Orderly-Wind-Down-of-Operations.pdf) - [Free Spirit: historical program terms](https://content.spirit.com/Shared/en-us/Documents/free-spirit-terms-and-conditions.pdf) - [Spirit: guest information, payment methods and loyalty balances](https://spiritrestructuring.com/guests) - [U.S. Department of Transportation: May 2026 Spirit passenger relief](https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/trumps-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-secures-relief-spirit-airlines-flyers) ## Before you book Award availability and prices can change. Confirm the exact itinerary, cabin, traveler count, points, and cash total with the loyalty program before transferring points or booking. Search access and limits depend on your plan. [See current plans](https://www.awardtool.com/pro) ## Related guides - [Copa ConnectMiles guide: partner awards and how to book with miles](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/copa-connectmiles-guide) - [Free Spirit points after Spirit’s shutdown: status and next steps](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/spirit-free-spirit-guide) - [Compare Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, Bilt and Wells Fargo transfers](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/compare-bank-transfer-programs)