Spirit: what's the biggest bag I can bring without getting charged carry-on fee?
Jan 20, 2016, 10:27 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
This is also somewhat of a YMMV thing, considering people have gotten away with much larger things but you never know what gate agent you're going to get. I was talking to a Spirit gate agent who suggested bringing a duffel bag so you can cram it into the sizer if necessary. My experience after flying with Spirit and other ULCCs dozens of times without ever paying a luggage or carryon fee is that if its a backpack they won't ask you to size it. I've brought enormous backpacks (once with clothes for a weekend in Florida and a full snorkel set including fins) and never once been asked to size it even when people with handheld or roller bags were asked to size theirs. The I figured it, worst case scenario, if they had asked me to fit it into the sizer (which it clearly wouldn't have) I would have switched my shoes for the fins and walked onboard with those instead.
Jan 20, 2016, 11:46 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
This is also somewhat of a YMMV thing, considering people have gotten away with much larger things but you never know what gate agent you're going to get. I was talking to a Spirit gate agent who suggested bringing a duffel bag so you can cram it into the sizer if necessary. My experience after flying with Spirit and other ULCCs dozens of times without ever paying a luggage or carryon fee is that if its a backpack they won't ask you to size it. I've brought enormous backpacks (once with clothes for a weekend in Florida and a full snorkel set including fins) and never once been asked to size it even when people with handheld or roller bags were asked to size theirs. The I figured it, worst case scenario, if they had asked me to fit it into the sizer (which it clearly wouldn't have) I would have switched my shoes for the fins and walked onboard with those instead.
Jan 20, 2016, 3:24 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
Feb 8, 2016, 8:20 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
wow... I love Spirit Airlines. They redefine the new low for the meaning of
"I don't bloody care about my company or its customers!"
In this case, it worked to my advantage. I decided to give Spirit a try because
DL and UA fares were more than double what Spirit charged on the same day.
I brought my standard size carry-on at the last minute. I figured I was going
to be charged $55, but whatever....
I got the the airport and tried to figure out how to pay the fee. The first agent
said "go right ahead" and the two gate agents gave me dirty looks like "why
are you bothering us, can't you see we're chatting here? get in line and
stuff yourself into the plane, what do we care?" So I ended up not paying
anything for my Samsonite carry-on.(which usually raise the eyebrows of
UA agents because it's about 1 inch too tall)
On the plane, I tried to buy some food and drink. Again, I didn't mind paying
but the flight attendant was acting like I was a street bum begging her for a
one-night-stand. She basically just tossed the soda and bag of chips in my lap.
(did the same to other passengers as well)
I don't know what to think.. but at least I saved $55. (plus the huge discount
on the ticket compared to DL and UA tickets on that day) The seat was really
tight, but I lucked and had no seatmate, so I just sat sideways.
"I don't bloody care about my company or its customers!"
In this case, it worked to my advantage. I decided to give Spirit a try because
DL and UA fares were more than double what Spirit charged on the same day.
I brought my standard size carry-on at the last minute. I figured I was going
to be charged $55, but whatever....
I got the the airport and tried to figure out how to pay the fee. The first agent
said "go right ahead" and the two gate agents gave me dirty looks like "why
are you bothering us, can't you see we're chatting here? get in line and
stuff yourself into the plane, what do we care?" So I ended up not paying
anything for my Samsonite carry-on.(which usually raise the eyebrows of
UA agents because it's about 1 inch too tall)
On the plane, I tried to buy some food and drink. Again, I didn't mind paying
but the flight attendant was acting like I was a street bum begging her for a
one-night-stand. She basically just tossed the soda and bag of chips in my lap.
(did the same to other passengers as well)
I don't know what to think.. but at least I saved $55. (plus the huge discount
on the ticket compared to DL and UA tickets on that day) The seat was really
tight, but I lucked and had no seatmate, so I just sat sideways.
Last edited by weltfrieden; Feb 12, 2016 at 8:27 am
Feb 12, 2016, 7:27 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: S.Carolina
Posts: 58
Feb 15, 2016, 2:37 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,782
Feb 15, 2016, 3:33 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 6
Help me understand - the current dimensions are 16x14x12, which is 42 linear inches. My ebag Mother Lode Jr is 19.5x14x9, or 42.5 linear inches.
Does the airline go by the dimensions or linear inches? Will I be ok if I am a half inch off (the bag will not be crammed full, so I can squeeze it down).
Thank you!
Does the airline go by the dimensions or linear inches? Will I be ok if I am a half inch off (the bag will not be crammed full, so I can squeeze it down).
Thank you!
Feb 15, 2016, 3:43 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 370
Help me understand - the current dimensions are 16x14x12, which is 42 linear inches. My ebag Mother Lode Jr is 19.5x14x9, or 42.5 linear inches.
Does the airline go by the dimensions or linear inches? Will I be ok if I am a half inch off (the bag will not be crammed full, so I can squeeze it down).
Thank you!
Does the airline go by the dimensions or linear inches? Will I be ok if I am a half inch off (the bag will not be crammed full, so I can squeeze it down).
Thank you!
Feb 15, 2016, 5:44 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: ATL
Posts: 802
I have had 2 cancelled flights. First one was in Lima, Peru and they put me up in the Lima Sheraton with food vouchers and transportation. They offered nothing to folks originating in Lima and I heard one guy pleading his case as his home was 3 hours away. Not sure about the outcome.
Second time was a connection in FLL coming back from GUA heading to ATL.
They put me up in a Marriott Suites property with food vouchers and transportation.
Feb 17, 2016, 12:43 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 155
My experience is they go by the sizer since the personal item is supposed to go under the seat in front of you. I've seen bags sticking out above the sizer getting charged as carryon at the gate. Any bag you can squash down to fit in the sizer will get by. The one in the photo above would surely cost someone some extra money.