Budget Travel - Spirit Airlines - How strict on Personal Item?

We have never flown Spirit Airlines but we are all set to travel on Spirit for the first time next month.

We are aware of the baggage policies (free personal items and baggage check fee for standard roller carry-on), extra charges like reserving seat, no free drinks, tight seats, etc.

This question is specific to the free personal item allowance (16" x 14" x 12").

How strict do they enforce this dimension. We have a few duffle bags and backpacks at home that are apprx 17" and 18" long. We have used them as personal items for other airline carriers even putting them under seats.

Can anyone advise as to how strictly Spirit enforces the personal item size measurements?

Will they allow bags that are little longer than the stated maximum 16" length?

What if we don't pack them to the max such that they can be squished squeezed down to 16" length?

Thanks

We have never flown Spirit Airlines but we are all set to travel on Spirit for the first time next month.

We are aware of the baggage policies (free personal items and baggage check fee for standard roller carry-on), extra charges like reserving seat, no free drinks, tight seats, etc.

This question is specific to the free personal item allowance (16" x 14" x 12").

How strict do they enforce this dimension. We have a few duffle bags and backpacks at home that are apprx 17" and 18" long. We have used them as personal items for other airline carriers even putting them under seats.

Can anyone advise as to how strictly Spirit enforces the personal item size measurements?

Will they allow bags that are little longer than the stated maximum 16" length?

What if we don't pack them to the max such that they can be squished squeezed down to 16" length?

Thanks

I flew Spirit for the first time this past Saturday. Group 1 is for paxs that have paid to take on large carry ons. After that Group 2 which are paxs that upgraded to the "Big Seat" (its well worth it). After that people were still bringing on fairly large carry ons (needed to go in overhead bins) and no one seemed to be stopping them. Actually boarding was no faster on either flight that what I am used to at AA. I would just squish it down.

Thanks for the post :)

Any other thoughts from recent Spirit passengers.

How strictly do they follow the 16x14x12 personal item restriction? Do they measure at the ticket counter or at the gate? Or do they simply let reasonably close personal items bags through w/o closely checking measurements?

I fly Spirit quite alot, being in Myrtle Beach. They are pretty strict on the size of the "personal" free carryon. In Myrtle beach airport they are not as fussy,but if you're flying into or out of Boston or N.Y. they are FUSSY. If the duffle can be squished down to those measurements than you should be all right. I bring a small roll on exactly the correct measurements and a BIG pocketbook. Don't pay for seats, you'll be assigned 2 together if you're on the same locater#.The bigger roll ons that you see people bringing on...they've probably paid to bring on beforehand.

"you'll be assigned 2 together if you're on the same locator #"

REALLY? Their websites says they won't gurantee that.. and if all that is left are 'middle' seats you are going to be sitting in them.

Expecting Spirit to "care" about you sitting with your traveling party is not really realistic!

Last flew them in October. Line trolls at ORD and FLL with a wooden sizer. Had a Brookstone under-seat bag, and my wife a Ciao under-seat bag - so neither of us were asked to put things in the sizer. But they were going after seemingly everyone else at ORD...

I fly Spirit all the time. They are very strict. If it can fit under the seat, you don't have to pay, but if it has to go into the overhead bin, they charge. They will not allow you to put anything in the overhead bin unless you paid the carry-on fee for that piece. Only passengers boarding in Zone 1 have purchased carry on baggage, and even when boarding is complete, the flight attendants will not allow you to put the bags under your seat in the overhead bin.

If there's any doubt your bag will fit under the seat, pay the $20 online or at check it because if it doesn't fit and you haven't boarded in zone 1, they will charge you $45

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/40323_115723971811576_100001219210915_106320_82862 84_n.jpg

Do many airlines use "till receipt" boarding "cards" like those? Not seen one of those since I flew Air Asia ages ago.

Neil

"you'll be assigned 2 together if you're on the same locator #"

REALLY? Their websites says they won't gurantee that.. and if all that is left are 'middle' seats you are going to be sitting in them.

Expecting Spirit to "care" about you sitting with your traveling party is not really realistic!

I've flown Spirit many times (over 10) with my spouse and we were never separated by using the method described. I'm not saying it isn't possible but they normally they won't separate you so as to not have seat swapping issues while on board.