Spirit Shuts Down, Delta Stumbles, and Airline "Rescue Fares" Fall Short

Watch Us On YouTube! Announcing a new, ongoing benefit for annual subscribers of our Slack community. Annual subscribers receive a free Points Path Alerts subscription OR a 30% discount on Points Path Pro. It finally happened — Spirit Airlines is gone. This week on Miles To Go , Ed and Richard break down what the shutdown of Spirit Airlines means for travelers, employees, and the broader airline industry. From emotional final flights to stranded passengers scrambling for alternatives, the ripple effects are already being felt — and the response from other airlines hasn't exactly made things easier. So-called "rescue fares" sound helpful in theory, but in practice, they've offered limited relief for travelers trying to rebook last-minute trips. They also explore the bigger picture: what losing a major low-cost carrier means for competition, pricing, and access to travel — especially for families and budget-conscious flyers who relied on Spirit to make trips possible. Meanwhile, Delta is dealing with operational issues of its own, with an unusual spike in cancellations and reliability concerns that highlight how fragile airline operations can be. Plus, real-world travel frustrations — from rideshare chaos at Newark to the rising cost of simply getting to the airport — and why the overall travel experience keeps getting more expensive and more complicated. Get hydrated like Ed in Vegas with Nuun Use my Bilt Rewards link to sign-up and support the show! If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating . That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month.

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Spirit Shuts Down, Delta Stumbles, and Airline "Rescue Fares" Fall Short is an episode from Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss! by Ed Pizza.

This episode is 34:10 long.

This episode was published on May 6, 2026.

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