Woman Checks In For Flight Home To Nashville. Then She Realizes She Booked The Wrong Date

A Nashville woman realized she made a mistake scheduling her flight home. She inadvertently booked it for a month after the date she originally intended to leave.

She realized the situation when she arrived at the airport, leaving her temporarily stranded at the airport.

TikToker Gracie Fontaine (@gracizzlefontizzle) was taking a Spirit Airlines flight back to Nashville. But when she got to the Spirit Airlines self-check-in, she realized that her flight wasn’t going to take off for another 30 days.

She ultimately got another flight for the same day, but it cost her a bunch of money and left her sitting in the airport for “five hours” waiting for the replacement flight.

“I booked another flight for a million dollars,” Fontaine says in her video with over 26,000 views. “See you guys in Nashville. There’s a will. There’s a way.”

What’s Airline Policy About Misbooked Flights?

If you realize you’ve misbooked your flight, a little planning can help you make informed decisions about how to best handle the situation. 

Many airlines follow a 24-hour rule—if a passenger taking a basic fare cancels a flight within 24 hours of booking for a flight that’s a week away, they can get a full refund. So check your itinerary carefully within 24 hours of making a reservation.

Some airlines, like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, charge for cancellations on basic fares. Southwest is the most flexible carrier, as customers can upgrade their ticket and then make a cancellation, which just means they have to pay the fare difference. Other airlines limit making changes from basic tiers to premium ones.

For Spirit passengers booking a “value fare,” a cancellation or rebooking fee may apply, unless it’s more than 60 days from takeoff. The fees reportedly range from $59 to $99, depending on how soon your flight is. There may also be additional costs. Spirit’s website says, “Airfare, government taxes and fees, ancillary fees, and carrier fee differences may apply when making itinerary changes to a reservation.”

It also likely cost Fontaine extra money because she booked a day-of ticket. Many airlines change their prices on a daily basis using algorithms and historical data. Within a week of a flight, prices increase, in part as a means of capitalizing on business travelers who need a quick ticket.  

Is Spirit Airlines Shutting Down?

At least one commenter suggested that it may be time to switch from Spirit Airlines to another carrier.

“Friend, I think you gotta stop flying Spirit with all your delays,” they said.

While they were clearly referring to Fontaine’s personal experience, their advice arguably carries extra weight amid recent news that the airline has requested a government bailout and is under additional pressure as it navigates bankruptcy. The budget carrier planned to significantly reduce its operation, focusing instead on high-value routes and good travel periods.

Now reports are circulating that Spirit faces imminent liquidation. The “wind-down” could reportedly see the airline liquidate as soon as this week.

This may impact whether people are willing to book a Spirit flight in the short term. If you do plan to fly Spirit, it’s a good idea to pay with your credit card in case you need to dispute the charges.

So far, the airline is being tight-lipped about the rumors.

A Spirit Airlines spokesperson told The Independent, “We don’t comment on market rumors and speculation. Our operations continue as normal.”

We’ve reached out to Fontaine and Spirit Airlines via email. We’ll let you know if either party responds.

@gracizzlefontizzle ✈️ i shouldn’t be responsible for booking my travel ever again! #travelfail #travelwithme #fyp ♬ original sound – gracie fontaine