How to Cancel Your Planet Fitness® Membership

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and subsequent closures of non-essential businesses that offer subscription- and fee-based membership agreements, such as gyms and fitness centers like Planet Fitness®, have forced many people to debate whether they should continue to pay their membership fees or cancel their contracts. After all, no one wants to pay for services that they can't use and enjoy. The re-opening of non-essential establishments has also caused concern about the safety measures taken by specific businesses. Given how easily the virus spreads, some gym and fitness center members fear that no measures are enough to protect them against infection and possible harm. Whether you're trying to cancel Planet Fitness® membership for either of these reasons or you merely want to move on to a different facility or home-based fitness regimen, you need to consider the following:

Fees During the Pandemic

Like other businesses, Planet Fitness® has decided to approach the pandemic in a way that prevents them from losing the revenues that they would have otherwise received during a standard, "normal" year. They know that many of their members will stop Planet Fitness membership to save money, especially given job losses and unemployment across the country. As a result, they've frozen dues and stopped charging fees. Yet, instead of automatically refunding fees that would have been paid or were paid in advance, they've opted to take two different approaches: They've extended contract terms and end dates for all prepaid members. If your local Planet Fitness® club has been closed for a month or longer, then your membership end date has been extended a month or longer past the original end date on your signed contract. The fees that would have applied during the unused months will eventually be applied to the new end months with one exception. According to the Planet Fitness® website, the company will make an adjustment on your bill during the next billing cycle if you've recently paid your fees and your local club recently closed its doors.

Health and Safety Measures

Planet Fitness® has also chosen to re-open as many locations as possible with the promise that it will alter business practices with COVID-19 in mind. With the free Planet Fitness® mobile app, members can use a touchless check-in process. Also, members have been asked to wear masks and follow social distance guidelines by imagining the length of a treadmill or two between themselves and other members. That said, although you must wear a mask when entering the building, you're not required to wear one during active workouts, drinking a beverage to hydrate or while in a tanning room or shower, which means that you must assume some risk while at your local Planet Fitness® club. Additionally, although staff members will preform extensive cleaning at various times, you are responsible for sterilizing any equipment that you use both before and after usage. Officials in different local and state health-related agencies may have additional requirements for your specific club. For example, local officials might require that non-essential businesses like fitness centers restrict their occupancy or capacity to less than 50 percent.

Current Cancellation Process



Planet Fitness® hasn't made the cancellation process easy. Members aren't currently allowed to stop Planet Fitness membership via phone or email. You must either send a postal mail letter to your specific club or visit the club and cancel at the front desk. Planet Fitness® recommends that members who choose the postal service option use the higher cost USPS certified letter service. Even then, given how Planet Fitness® has handled fees and health and safety measures, you might still have to pay the total amount owed in your agreement because the company can merely point out that it's done everything necessary to make your visit to one of its locations safe. It's also important to note that changes in business practices across industries and states are occurring rapidly, sometimes day-to-day as the pandemic continues. The only way to confirm with absolute certainty the method to cancel Planet Fitness® membership is by contacting the club and asking how you need to proceed. There are no guarantees that your club will allow you to cancel without paying all of the fees you agreed to in your membership contract prior to the pandemic.

Final Considerations to Cancel Your Planet Fitness Membership


If you've decided to continue your membership after considering all of these cancellation factors, you don't have to stay with your current club or physically go to your club even when it re-opens. If you're unsatisfied with the experiences or staff at your club, your can change locations. You must have your Planet Fitness® keytag number on hand and go to the Member Transfer page. On the page, enter your keytag number, ZIP code and email addressed followed by your current and preferred club details and click "Continue." You must be a member for at least 90 days before you can transfer. You can't owe any outstanding dues or fees. Your contract must also be month-to-month rather than annual.

Planet Fitness® members also receive various perks that allow them to continue their workout regimens without access to club equipment at home. Planet Fitness® describes these perks as part of its Judgement Free Zone®. The company live streams free workouts on its Facebook page every day at 7 p.m. E.T. with video repeats on its YouTube channel. It also offers more than 500 exercises that require the use of little-to-no gym equipment and fitness tips on its free app.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of disarray and confusion for people who merely want to be able to continue with their lives in the same fashion as before the spread of the virus. This guide can help you make a more informed decision about whether to cancel or continue with your Planet Fitness® membership. It's important to keep in mind again that the information in this guide is subject to change at any time. If you decide to keep your membership, always recheck recommendations as often as possible from your local and state health department, the federal government, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization as the pandemic continues throughout the nation and across the globe.

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published