# Free Spirit vs JAL Mileage Bank: historical points and current travel alternatives

By AwardTool | Updated 2026-11-09

Canonical URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/jal-mileage-bank-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 JAL Mileage Bank. 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 JAL Mileage Bank.

## At a glance

- Start by comparing JAL-operated flights to Japan with the separate partner-award options, especially when the available cabin and full cash charge suit your trip.
- 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 JAL Mileage Bank guide](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/jal-mileage-bank-guide)

## Free Spirit vs JAL Mileage Bank: historical points and current travel alternatives

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/jal-mileage-bank-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/jal-mileage-bank-vs-free-spirit#comparison-table

Use this table to distinguish historical Free Spirit information from the active JAL Mileage Bank 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 | JAL Mileage Bank | Spirit Free Spirit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rewards currency | JAL Mileage Bank miles | Free Spirit points (historical program) |
| Associated airline | Japan Airlines | Spirit Airlines; operations ceased May 2, 2026 |
| Alliance or partner framework | oneworld | No active flight-redemption network |
| When to consider it | Start by comparing JAL-operated flights to Japan with the separate partner-award options, especially when the available cabin and full cash charge suit your trip. | Use this guide to understand an existing Free Spirit balance or historical reservation and locate the official updates. |
| Important limitation | A new account may face redemption restrictions, and base-mileage seats may be unavailable. Resolve account eligibility before transferring points for a particular award. | 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/jal-mileage-bank-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.

- JAL Mileage Bank: Travelers planning Japan Airlines travel or comparing JMB’s partner award options.
- 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/jal-mileage-bank-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 JAL Mileage Bank prices its awards

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/jal-mileage-bank-vs-free-spirit#first-award-pricing

JAL’s current international mileage chart explains that the required miles vary with itinerary and seat availability. If base-mileage seats are unavailable, Award Ticket PLUS can offer seats for additional miles. PLUS does not apply to First Class, which has its own chart and conditions. Search your dates before budgeting around the lowest published mileage figure.

JAL’s chart updated April 16, 2026 lists base one-way prices for its named North American routes to or from Japan at 27,000 miles in Economy and 55,000 miles in Business. These are base levels rather than promises of an available seat, and JAL also provides region-specific charts. Compare the actual miles on your dates, including any PLUS amount.

For travel around Japan, inspect airports and the domestic leg independently. Tokyo Haneda and Narita, for example, are different airports; a low mileage total does not compensate for an impractical airport transfer. Check the complete arrival date and connecting cabin before treating a premium long-haul result as the trip you intended.

[JAL international mileage chart and PLUS explanation](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jalmile/use/jal/inter/routemiles.html)

## Historical Spirit Free Spirit award and account rules

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/jal-mileage-bank-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/jal-mileage-bank-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 | JAL Mileage Bank | Spirit Free Spirit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| American Express Membership Rewards | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | No direct transfer in the tracked directory |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 · Instant | No direct transfer in the tracked directory |
| Capital One Miles | 2:1.5 (1,000 → 750) · Instant | 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 | 1:1* · Check Citi for timing | No direct transfer in the tracked directory |
| Wells Fargo Rewards | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | No direct transfer in the tracked directory |

JAL Mileage Bank: * Citi ThankYou Points to JAL Mileage Bank: 1:1 with eligible annual-fee cards; 1:0.7 with eligible no-annual-fee cards.

[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/jal-mileage-bank-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 JAL Mileage Bank

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/jal-mileage-bank-vs-free-spirit#first-ticket-conditions

The restrictions described for JAL's own international awards should not be applied automatically to partner awards. JMB's partner page permits certain flight-number and date changes when the required award seat exists and the ticket stays within its validity. It prohibits changing the traveler, airline, route, cabin and several other aspects of the award. A different destination or operating carrier therefore requires a different plan from a simple date adjustment.

Online changes to an unused partner award generally have a deadline 48 hours before the earlier of the old or new first departure. The phone channel has different cutoffs and can incur a ticket service fee. A change may also require extra taxes or surcharges. Do not cancel the original seat merely because a different cabin appears in a search; first establish which permitted action will produce the trip you want.

## Ticket conditions to check in Spirit Free Spirit

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/jal-mileage-bank-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/jal-mileage-bank-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 | JAL Mileage Bank | Spirit Free Spirit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reward validity | The standard JMB rule makes miles valid through the last day, Japan time, of the 36th month after the transaction month. JMB elite, JMB elite plus and JGC Three Star have a 60-month benefit; JGC Four to Six Star have a nonexpiry benefit. Check your account’s applicable conditions and expiry dates. | 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 JAL Mileage Bank

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/jal-mileage-bank-vs-free-spirit#first-family-rules

JMB restricts award users to the member and specified relatives. The current reminder lists a spouse, including a same-sex partner, relatives within the second degree, and specified in-law relationships. This is different from programs that let you issue an award for any friend. JAL may request relationship evidence when surnames differ, so confirm eligibility before transferring points for another person.

Ordinary separate JMB balances cannot simply be added together for an award. The published exceptions include registered JALCARD Family Program and JAL Family Club members, subject to those programs' conditions. A common surname or shared address alone does not establish enrollment in either benefit, and a relative being allowed to travel does not by itself allow that relative's miles to be combined with yours.

## Family and traveler rules in Spirit Free Spirit

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/jal-mileage-bank-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/jal-mileage-bank-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 | JAL Mileage Bank | Spirit Free Spirit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Status qualification context | FLY ON Points and qualifying flights determine annual FLY ON status, separately from the miles used for awards. JAL’s Life Status Points are another counter for lifetime activity, with their own eligibility and benefits. Keep all three balances distinct when judging whether a flight or nonflight purchase advances your goal. | 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/jal-mileage-bank-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 JAL Mileage Bank. 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 JAL Mileage Bank guide](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/jal-mileage-bank-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.

### What is JAL Award Ticket PLUS?

It allows eligible JAL awards to be booked for additional miles when base-mileage availability is unavailable. JAL’s international chart says PLUS does not apply to First Class.

### Can I change a JAL international award after booking?

JAL instructs travelers to cancel or refund the existing award and book a new ticket. Check the cancellation charge, availability and applicable refund conditions first.

### Do partner awards use the JAL international chart?

Use the separate JMB partner-award information for a partner-operated flight. The JAL-only chart is not a universal price list for every JMB partner.

## Sources and further reading

Sources reviewed 2026-11-09. Publisher dates are shown where available.

- [JAL: international award mileage chart](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jalmile/use/jal/inter/routemiles.html)

- [JAL: partner-airline award tickets](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jalmile/use/partner_air/)

- [JAL: international award changes and refunds](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jalmile/use/jal/inter/cancel.html)

- [JAL: award redemption and new-account restrictions](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jalmile/use/ticket.html?otherwindow=1)

- [Capital One: current transfer partners](https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/venture-miles-transfer-partnerships/)

- [Bilt: transfer partners — updated September 23, 2026](https://support.biltrewards.com/hc/en-us/articles/19086448638989-Bilt-s-Transfer-Partners)

- [JAL: flight mileage and fare accumulation rates](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jmb/earn/travel/flight/jal.html)

- [JAL: FLY ON program and separate award miles](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jalmile/flyon/guide.html?m=en_meadf)

- [JAL: Life Status Points](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jmb/lsp/service/index.html)

- [JAL: Star Grade mileage-expiry benefits](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jmb/lsp/grade-list/)

- [JAL: JMB rules and standard mileage validity](https://www.jal.co.jp/en/jalmile/rules_content.html)

- [JAL: partner-award distance and cabin calculation](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jalmile/use/partner_air/p_jmb/mileage.html)

- [JAL: oneworld multi-airline award mileage and validity](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jalmile/use/partner_air/oneworld/mileage.html)

- [JAL: partner-award changes and restrictions](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jalmile/use/partner_air/p_jmb/cancel.html)

- [JAL: refund charges and validity of reinstated miles](https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/jalmile/use/ticket_cancel.html?otherwindow=1)

- [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

- [JAL Mileage Bank guide: JAL awards, partner flights and booking](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/jal-mileage-bank-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)