National Consumers League Urges Travelers to Act Quickly to Recover Funds Following Spirit Airlines Shutdown

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC – In the wake of Spirit Airlines abruptly ceasing operations and canceling all flights, the National Consumers League (NCL) is advising affected travelers to take immediate steps to secure refunds and protect their financial interests. 

The sudden shutdown has left millions of passengers with unusable tickets and limited customer service options, while refunds for some purchases may be delayed or uncertain due to bankruptcy proceedings. Travelers who paid with vouchers, points, or cash may face longer recovery timelines, and frequent flyer miles may ultimately lose their value.  

“Not all Spirit customers should assume a refund will automatically appear,” said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud at the National Consumers League. “When an airline shuts down this suddenly, it’s up to travelers to take proactive steps to have the best chance of getting their money back.” 

What Consumers Should Do Now 

NCL recommends that impacted travelers: 

  • Review your credit or debit card accounts
    According to Spirit, refunds for any flights purchased through Spirit with a credit or debit card will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment. Flyers with unused tickets purchased with a credit or debit card should monitor their accounts to ensure the refund is processed expeditiously. 
  • For tickets purchased via travel agents, contact the agent
    If you purchased your ticket through a travel agent (including online travel agents), they are responsible for providing you with a refund.  
  • Contact your credit card issuer
    If your refund is not processed in a timely manner, you should request a chargeback for services not rendered. Federal protections may allow you to dispute the charge.
  • Take advantage of capped and reduced ticket prices for rebooking flights
    The Department of Transportation has announced that United, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest have agreed to temporarily cap ticket prices for impacted Spirit customers who need to rebook cancelled flights. Customers wishing to take advantage of these offers will need to provide their Spirit flight confirmation number and proof of payment. Some airlines are also offering discounted fares on certain former Spirit routes. Time periods to take advantage of these vary by airline, so passengers should act quickly. Additional details on what each airline is doing to support impacted Spirit customers are available here.
  • Check your travel insurance policy
    Some policies include coverage for airline insolvency or service cessation. Customers should review their policies and contact the insurance provider to file a claim. 
  • File a claim in bankruptcy proceedings if necessary
    Consumers who paid using any other method, including a voucher, credit, or Free Spirit points, may need to submit claims through the airline’s bankruptcy process, which can take significant time and may not result in full reimbursement.
  • Keep all documentation
    Save receipts, booking confirmations, cancellation notices, and any correspondence with the airline.
  • Act quickly
    Chargeback windows and insurance claim deadlines may be time sensitive. 

The shutdown also highlights broader challenges in the airline industry, where rising fuel costs, financial instability, and a lack of competition can leave travelers stranded with little warning. “The failure of Spirit Exhibit A for how difficult it is to break the Big 4 U.S. airlines’ stranglehold on the marketplace,” said Breyault. “As Congress looks to the next FAA reauthorization cycle, how to create real competition in this industry should be at the forefront of legislators’ minds.” 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org. 

Consumer Groups Lead Coalition Urging Congress to Reject Heavier Trucks

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) and the National Consumers League (NCL), joined by 25 organizations, sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to reject any proposal to increase the federal truck size and weight limit to permit vehicles above 80,000 pounds on American roadways. The coalition emphasized that maintaining the current cap is essential to protecting taxpayers, motorists, and the long-term integrity of the nation’s infrastructure.

“Maintaining the existing 80,000-pound GVW limit is a prudent, evidence-based safeguard for both public safety and the long-term integrity of the interstate system,” the letter states. “Raising the cap would accelerate pavement deterioration, shift billions of dollars in additional repair and reconstruction costs onto consumers and taxpayers, and expose motorists and first responders to heightened risk without delivering commensurate public benefits. At a time when federal and state governments are already struggling to maintain aging infrastructure, Congress should avoid compounding these challenges.”

The letter highlights the well-documented connection between heavier trucks and accelerated infrastructure damage. Research shows that a fully loaded 80,000-pound truck can inflict as much damage as thousands of passenger vehicles, and even modest increases in truck weight significantly shorten pavement lifespan. With taxpayers already spending hundreds of billions of dollars annually on transportation, raising weight limits would shift billions of dollars more in repair and reconstruction costs onto federal, state, and local governments.

Beyond infrastructure concerns, the groups stressed that heavier and longer trucks are more difficult to maneuver, require longer stopping distances, and increase crash severity—contributing to a growing traffic safety crisis that already costs the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars annually.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE

Cosigners: Taxpayers Protection Alliance; National Consumers League; AAA; Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety; American Consumer Institute; American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA); Center for Auto Safety; Center for Transportation Advancement; Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways; Coalition Against Bigger Trucks; Consumer Action for a Strong Economy; Consumer Federation of America; Institute for Policy Innovation; Institute for Safer Trucking; International Brotherhood of Teamsters; National Association of Counties; National Association of County Engineers; NATSO, Representing America’s Travel Centers and Truck Stops; National League of Cities; Parents Against Tired Truckers; Public Citizen; Railway Supply Institute; Road Safe America; SMART Transportation Division; Towing and Recovery Association of America Inc.; Truck Safety Coalition; Truckload Carriers Association

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org. 

NCL Urges Conditions on Any Spirit Bailout

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

 Washington, DC – NCL, the Consumer Federation of America, and the Revolving Door Project are urging the Trump Administration to ensure any potential bailout of Spirit Airlines includes consumer and worker protections as well as prohibitions on stock buybacks and excessive executive compensation. The groups also advocated against industry lobbying to waive certain taxes that fund critical American air traffic infrastructure.  

“This is just the latest chapter in a decades-long story of consolidation, bankruptcy, and market failure in the air travel industry,” said NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault. “If the government is going to prop up Spirit, it needs to act on behalf of the public, not the C-Suite.” 

Recent news reports have claimed that the Trump Administration is considering providing $500 million in public funds for Spirit. In the federal government’s bailout of airlines during the President Trump’s first term, financial aid was conditioned on worker protections and a prohibition on stock buybacks. Such standards should be the baseline going forward should the government decide to intervene again. The organizations also urged the Department of Transportation to ensure Spirit passengers are taken care of should the airline suddenly be unable to continue operating.  

The full letter to DOT can be found here.   

Additional reading: 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.   

NCL Urges DOT Investigate Airline Pricing 

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC – In the wake of JetBlue Airways’ apparent admission of surveillance pricing to determine airfares, NCL and six other public interest organizations are urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate the industry’s pricing practices. Airlines have long used confusing pricing algorithms that make the ticket-buying experience frustrating for travelers. Every major airline has made news in the past two years for their dynamic pricing practices, including rollouts of AI-set prices in 2025 and allegations of price gouging targeting travelers escaping Hurricane Milton in 2024.  

“Budgeting for airline tickets shouldn’t be a guessing game,” said NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault. “There is too much confusion around what consumer data these companies use to set their prices and what we can do about it. It is time for DOT to step up and get to the bottom of this.” 

After a consumer complained that the price of a JetBlue plane ticket to attend a funeral unexpectedly jumped $230, the carrier suggested tips to reduce the amount of data the business collects from its consumers. JetBlue later deleted its response, claiming that a representative misspoke. This was the latest in years of contradictory and unclear statements from airlines regarding what data they do and do not use to set airfares. DOT has authority to investigate airline pricing practices and to intervene to prevent consumer harm.  

In addition to the National Consumers League, the Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Action, the Consumer Federation of America, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, FlyersRights, and U.S. PIRG joined the letter. The full letter to DOT can be found here.  

Additional reading: 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.   

 

Georgia Floyd County 4-H Team Wins the 2026 Varsity LifeSmarts National Championship

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Orlando, FL – The Floyd County 4-H Team was crowned the 2026 Varsity LifeSmarts National Champions in Orlando, Florida. Coached by Phyllis Allee and Abbie Salmon, the winning team consisted of Joe Rutledge (12th grade), Abigail Moon (12th grade), Tabitha Smith (11th grade), Finley Smith (9th grade).

The 2026 LifeSmarts National Championship competition featured 46 teams from 32 states and the District of Columbia vying for the national title. LifeSmarts, a program of the National Consumers League (NCL), continues to provide students with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate today’s complex, global marketplace.

“Congratulations to the Floyd County Georgia 4H students on their victory,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “Your enthusiasm, knowledge, and teamwork truly blew everyone away. We are beyond proud of you and can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’ll accomplish next. Way to represent Floyd County, Georgia!”

LifeSmarts has empowered teens for more than 30 years, teaching vital skills like financial literacy to create savvy, market-ready consumers. High schools often miss these life lessons, but LifeSmarts ensures students are ready for college, careers, and independence.

LifeSmarts contributors include Amazon, American Express, CBM Credit Education Foundation, Comcast, Experian, FICO, Gen, JPMorgan Chase, Kenvue, Melaleuca, Meta, SmartNews, and Tide.

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LifeSmarts: Learn it. Live it.

LifeSmarts is a program of the National Consumers League. State coordinators run the programs on a volunteer basis. For more information, visit https://LifeSmarts.org or email lifesmarts@nclnet.org.

Lower Prices, Real Savings: Competition Is Key at the Pharmacy Counter

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829
Washington, DC — The National Consumers League (NCL) today welcomed the Senate HELP Committee’s hearing on generics and biosimilars as an important bipartisan step toward lowering prescription drug costs through increased competition.
“For patients, lower drug prices only matter if they translate into real savings at the pharmacy counter,” said Lisa Bercu, Senior Director of Health Policy at the National Consumers League. “A competitive market for generics and biosimilars is critical to delivering lower-cost options to patients and driving down prescription drug prices, and this hearing is an important step toward making that a reality.”

For patients and families, generic drugs and biosimilars can mean the difference between accessing needed treatment and going without. But realizing those savings depends on policies that support a robust and viable market—one where lower-cost alternatives can enter, compete, and reach patients. Today, significant barriers continue to delay competition and limit savings for consumers, including a biosimilar “void” where lower-cost options have failed to materialize.

NCL encourages policymakers to focus on practical, high-impact steps to strengthen competition, including:

  • Removing unnecessary barriers to biosimilar uptake, including outdated distinctions that create confusion for patients and providers;
  • Protecting and accelerating generic and biosimilar entry, including targeted fixes to address challenges with skinny labeling and other unintended barriers to competition; and
  • Curbing practices that limit competition, such as patent gaming and other strategies that extend monopolies beyond their intended scope.

A strong and sustainable market for generics and biosimilars is essential to delivering meaningful, long-term savings for consumers. NCL urges lawmakers to build on this hearing with targeted reforms that increase competition, improve access, and ensure patients benefit from lower-cost treatment options.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.   

Verdict Opens the Door to Lower Prices, Transparency, and Real Competition

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC — “Today’s verdict confirms what millions of fans already knew: Live Nation and Ticketmaster used their dominance to build and protect an illegal monopoly at the direct expense of consumers,” said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud at the National Consumers League. “For years, concertgoers have been stuck paying inflated prices and excessive fees in a marketplace where competition was pushed aside. This ruling must be a turning point—and policymakers should move quickly to break up this stranglehold and restore real competition, transparency, and fair prices for fans.

The National Consumers League (NCL) welcomes today’s landmark jury verdict finding that Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary maintained an anticompetitive monopoly over major concert venues and ticketing.

For years, NCL has warned that Live Nation’s dominance—spanning concert promotion, venue ownership, and ticketing—has distorted the marketplace, limited consumer choice, and driven up prices for fans across the country. Evidence presented at trial showed the company used its market power to deter venues from working with competing ticketing services, reinforcing its grip on the industry and inflating costs.

Today’s verdict is a critical step toward accountability. By affirming that Live Nation’s conduct violated antitrust laws, the jury has opened the door to meaningful remedies that could finally rebalance the live event marketplace.

NCL urges the court and policymakers to pursue strong remedies that restore competition, increase transparency in ticket pricing, and ensure that consumers are no longer subjected to excessive fees and limited choices when purchasing tickets.

Concertgoers deserve a fair, competitive marketplace—not one dominated by a single company with the power to dictate prices and terms across the industry.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.   

NCL Urges FTC To Revive Click To Cancel In New Proceeding

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC — Yesterday, the National Consumers League (NCL), the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), and the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) submitted comments in response to a renewed Federal Trade Commission (FTC) effort to update its 1973 Negative Option Rule. The three public interest organizations urged the agency to fully address the modern subscription environment, including requiring subscription cancellation to be as easy as signing up, addressing unwanted conversions of free trials into paid subscriptions, and requiring notice consumers before each recurring charge.

“Click to cancel is commonsense policy, plus its extremely popular,” said NCL Senior Public Policy Manager Eden Iscil. “The FTC is doing the right thing in refreshing its outdated Negative Option Rule. Now we need to make sure the FTC doesn’t hold back from using its full authority to protect the public from predatory business practices. At a minimum, updates to the rule should include a click to cancel component.”

In 2024, the FTC had finalized a modernization effort for the antiquated Negative Option Rule, including a “click to cancel” provision requiring cancellation to be as easy as signing up. A panel of federal judges had struck down the updated rule in 2025 on procedural grounds. The Commission’s 2026 initiation of a new regulation on negative option plans provides the agency with an opportunity to revive the Click to Cancel Rule as finalized in 2024, but the FTC has not yet confirmed that it intends to do so.

NCL, CFA, and NCLC were extensively involved in the promulgation of the 2024 Click to Cancel Rule, including filing an amicus brief to support the regulation in the court. The FTC’s 2026 rulemaking effort on negative option plans comes after CFA and the American Economic Liberties Project submitted a formal petition for the FTC to revive the Click to Cancel Rule, which was supported by NCL.

NCL, CFA, and NCLC’s full comments in the proceeding can be found here.

 

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.   

Maine Strengthens Consumer Protections Against Predatory Medical Debt National Consumers League Applauds Governor Janet Mills and the Maine Legislature

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC — The National Consumers League applauds Governor Janet Mills and the Maine legislature for their notable legislation to stem the destructive effects of medical debt collection practices.

“Governor Janet Mills’ action sends a clear and unequivocal message: no patient should be financially punished for getting sick. By prohibiting liens and wage garnishment for medical debt, Maine has established a critical safeguard for working families. But this must be a starting point—not the finish line. We need comprehensive reforms that prevent medical debt before it begins, including stronger charity care policies, greater transparency, and real accountability from the institutions entrusted with patient care,” said Lisa Bercu, J.D., Senior Director of Health Policy, National Consumers League.

At a time when medical debt continues to drive millions of Americans into financial distress, Maine’s decisive action represents a meaningful and necessary advancement in patient protection. By banning some of the most harmful debt collection practices—specifically property liens and wage garnishment—the state has drawn a firm and principled line: access to healthcare should never come at the cost of losing one’s home or livelihood.

For too long, patients—particularly those confronting serious illnesses such as cancer—have been forced to navigate not only complex medical treatments, but also the looming threat of financial devastation. Research from the National Consumers League shows that aggressive medical debt collection practices remain widespread, even among institutions that benefit from the 340B program, which is intended to support vulnerable populations.

While Maine’s leadership is commendable, it also highlights the urgent need for broader, systemic reform. Safeguards against the most egregious collection tactics are essential—but insufficient on their own. Policymakers nationwide must take proactive steps to prevent medical debt from arising in the first place. This includes strengthening hospital financial assistance programs, ensuring patients are clearly informed of available aid, and holding healthcare providers accountable for using resources—such as 340B program savings—to directly benefit patients rather than funnel them into collections.

“Maine’s legislation contributes to the broader conversation of having patient rights grounded in compassion and common sense. Now, we call upon leaders across the country to follow suit and create a healthcare system where financial hardship is no longer an inevitable consequence of receiving medical care,” said Bercu.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.   

March Madness Frenzy: Consumers Beware—Sports Betting Apps Are Draining Your Credit

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC — As March Madness reaches the Final Four—with billions of dollars on the line and millions of Americans placing high-stakes wagers—the National Consumers League (NCL) is warning that sports betting apps are doing more than fueling the excitement—they may be quietly draining consumers’ savings and damaging their financial health. 

New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that as sports betting expands, credit card delinquencies rise, credit scores fall, and bankruptcy rates increase—especially among younger and lower-income Americans.  

At the same time, NCL’s 2025 report revealed how aggressively betting apps are pushing users to keep wagering. In a first-of-its-kind analysis, NCL found that 93% of all push notifications sent by the three largest sports betting apps over a four-week period contained advertising content—with many designed to prompt immediate bets. 

“March Madness isn’t just entertainment anymore. Predatory gambling companies are constantly pressuring fans to spend more money when they should be having fun,”said Eden Iscil, NCL Senior Public Policy Manager. “Unlike TV, email, or text message ads, push notifications have no formal regulation, despite being very effective in capturing our attention. Advertising practices that are illegal over email have become normalized in smartphone apps. That’s not acceptable.” 

NCL’s findings reveal how these notifications drive betting behavior: 

  • 62% urged users to place a bet, often using phrases like “bet now.”  
  • 50% promoted bonuses and “no sweat” bets  
  • 28% highlighted betting odds  
  • 15% pushed parlays—high-risk bets with low odds of payout  

Americans are expected to wager more than $3 billion on this year’s NCAA tournament alone.  

To protect consumers during high-intensity betting moments like the Final Four, NCL is urging policymakers to act immediately: restrict sports betting advertising, especially marketing sent via smartphone push notifications. 

NCL’s full report is available here.  

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.