A local couple’s destination wedding plans have been thrown into uncertainty after Spirit Airlines announced Saturday morning that it was shutting down operations.
Mia Warner and Steven Galloway, from Coshocton, OH were scheduled to fly to Florida on May 11 for their wedding, which they said had been planned for about eight months. Instead, they are now scrambling to find alternative travel arrangements after the airline abruptly ceased operations.
The couple booked their flights earlier this year for themselves and multiple family members, paying about $1,600 total — a price they said was significantly lower than other airlines and fit within their tight budget.
“We were trying to save money where we could,” Galloway said. “That was really the only option we could afford at the time.”
In the days leading up to the shutdown, Galloway said he received a notification about a flight time change, but nothing that indicated a larger issue. Even after hearing concerns about the airline’s financial stability, he said both Spirit and airport staff reassured him the flight was still on schedule.
That changed Saturday.
“We started getting messages from people saying Spirit shut down,” Galloway said. “We checked our account, and the flight information was just gone.”
Since then, the couple said they have been unable to reach customer service and found no Spirit employees available at the airport to provide answers.
“There’s no one to talk to,” Galloway said. “You can’t call anyone, and there’s nobody there.”
The sudden disruption has created both emotional and financial strain as the couple weighs whether they can still move forward with their wedding as planned.
Warner described the situation as stressful, noting the couple operates on a single income while already covering wedding expenses.
“It’s just a lot all at once,” she said.
Without refunds processed, rebooking flights has proven difficult. The couple said last-minute ticket prices are significantly higher, making it challenging to afford new travel arrangements.
“We don’t really have the money to just go book another flight right now,” Galloway said.
They have also considered alternatives, including driving, but said the cost of a rental car and travel expenses would be difficult to manage without reimbursement from the airline.
The couple said they wish there had been more communication from Spirit before operations ceased.
“A couple days’ notice would have helped,” Galloway said. “Just something.”
The shutdown of Spirit Airlines canceled all future flights nationwide, leaving thousands of travelers in similar situations as they attempt to secure refunds or make new plans.
As for Warner and Galloway, the future of their wedding plans remains uncertain.
“We’re still trying to figure it out,” Galloway said.
