In a broad display of concern and quick marketing inspired by the people stranded on Saturday by the abrupt overnight closing of Spirit Airlines, some of America's top air carriers are offering plans to help.
Citing $8 billion in debt against $8 billion in assets, Spirit announced it would close Saturday morning at about 2:30 after a hopeful arrangement fell through in which the Trump administration had hoped to inject money into the airline.
A number of people said they didn't check their emails until they got to the airport Saturday morning only to find Spirit desks, kiosks and checkpoints closed -- also closed was customer service, leaving many across the nation stranded at airports.
But Spirit's former competitors scrambled to put together rescue plans and fares to help them.
JetBlue joined Delta Airlines in capping ticket prices specifically for Spirit customers who now need to rebook cancelled flights, and two other airlines are also offering enticements for those left behind by the Spirit bankruptcy.
JetBlue also said it's offering $99 rescue fares to assist stranded travelers with immediate travel planned
And just hours after Spirit shut down, JetBlue also announced that it's picking up 11 new routes originating at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, routes that formerly were serviced by Spirit. The new routes start July 9th.
United Airlines said Saturday that those who "had a ticket booked on Spirit and your flight was canceled, for the next two weeks you can visit united.com/special fares to find price-capped, one-way tickets from most cities where Spirit flew, including Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Newark, New Orleans and Orlando.
"Most of these special fares are capped at $199 with limited exceptions, with longer flights priced no higher than $299," United added.
And Texas-based Southwest Airlines says it has special fares for Spirit customers on routes that overlap, priced by distance with $200 for shorter flights on up to $400 for longer flights.