Beware of Spirit

[3DisneyBuggs]

DH flew to miami today with his BIL for a football golf man's weekend. They flew Spirit and DH had carry on bag that I took on a United flight with no problem. When they got to the gate DH's bag was too big by an inch- $100 fee please. The gate agent told him there is no time to do anything else he could pay or leave the bag at the airport. DH had a not so nice word to say that almost got him barred from the flight! He is now $100 poorer and will be checking that bag online for the return home. It's a live and learn lesson so Spririt travelers beware!

 

[DebbieB]

DH flew to Miami today with his BIL for a football golf man's weekend. They flew Spirit and DH had carry on bag that I took on a United flight with no problem. When they got to the gate DH's bag was too big by an inch- $100 fee please. The gate agent told him there is no time to do anything else he could pay or leave the bag at the airport. DH had a not so nice word to say that almost got him barred from the flight! He is now $100 poorer and will be checking that bag online for the return home. It's a live and learn lesson so Spririt travelers beware!

Allowable carryon sizes vary by airline, so always check. Actually it looks like Spirit's is slightly larger on 2 of the measurements. I would measure the bag when he gets home. The legacy airlines tend to be more liberal with allowing oversize luggage.

United:
The maximum combined linear measurement (length + width + height) of carry-on bags must not exceed 14 inches x 9 inches x 22 inches (23 x 35 x 56 cm) or 45 linear inches (114 cm).

Spirit:

Carry-on bags must fit in the overhead bin, so the dimensions must not exceed 22 x 18 x10 inches (56 x 46 x 25 cm). We may require that a carry-on bag travel as a checked bag if it can't be safely stowed on a particular flight.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I would say this is more buyer ignorance then beware of Spirit Airlines. Spirit has pretty clear information on what is allowable size and not and what their costs are for carry-ons and check-in bags.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Allowable carryon sizes vary by airline, so always check. Actually it looks like Spirit's is slightly larger on 2 of the measurements. I would measure the bag when he gets home. The legacy airlines tend to be more liberal with allowing oversize luggage.

Also, United has the "...or 45 linear inches" alternative. I think I read on Sprint's site not that long ago that the dimensions are specific, that no individual one can be exceeded.

 

[aubriee]

I would say this is more buyer ignorance then beware of Spirit Airlines. Spirit has pretty clear information on what is allowable size and not and what their costs are for carry-ons and check-in bags.

I agree. I've flown Spirit, Delta, and American all three this year. I saw people getting on both Delta and American with huge bags. No way were they legal carry on size. I saw several people on those flights have to check their carryons (for free) because they couldn't squeeze them in the overhead bins. I also saw alot of other people whose bags were obviously oversize, but they were able to squeeze them into the overheads, so got by with it. On the other hand on both my Spirit flights, I saw a person who had to pay to check their bag, due to Spirit measuring them. Their bags actually looked smaller than the bags that American and Delta was letting people on with. Even though the bags were technically oversized, American and Delta would have let them get by with it, because they are so liberal with what they let people carry on.

I have a Vera Bradley rolling duffel (this one but in theBlue Rhapsody print:http://www.verabradley.com/product/...77924/c/638/sc/772/p/1001811.uts?fromSearch=1). If you look at it, (22"x12 1/2"x11"), the height is just a tad too tall for a legal carry on. However, I have squeezed it into the overheads on both American and Delta (I know their limits for carry ons are supposed to be 22"x14"x9", but also know I've never had a problem getting that Vera rolling duffel wheels first into a Delta or American bin, as long as the top is not overpacked). I didn't even think about taking it, because I knew that unless it was really obvious oversize they wouldn't say a word about it (and for that matter even if was really oversize, they'd still let it pass as long as I could squeeze it in the over bins.) It was a tight fit on top, but did go. Knowing how Spirit is with their bag fees, there is no way I would even attempt to take that bag on a Spirit flight.

 

[jmasgat]

I would say this is more buyer ignorance then beware of Spirit Airlines. Spirit has pretty clear information on what is allowable size and not and what their costs are for carry-ons and check-in bags.

True that the info is clearly available....but the airlines generally are inconsistent on applying their own rules, so I can see how a person might think they are okay with a bag that technically exceeds the guidelines.

We just came back on Delta on a flight from LAX and a flight attendant saw the bag of the person in front of me in the boarding line. It was fully expanded beyond the size limit (and he had two backpacks, as well). She said "that bag won't fit in the overhead", and just when I thought he would have to gate check, she just said "make sure you zip the expandable compartment down" (which he didn't). So they make judgment calls.

That said.....Spirit will milk you for whatever you have in your pocket. They are money-grubbers....but at least they are consistent!

 

[Lewisc]

I'm confused. Was the bag too big to fit under your seat or too big to fit in the overhead bin? Spirit charges for bin bags. Did you pay for a carryon bag? The cost to pay at the gate for a bin bag or to gate check a bag is the same price, $100.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

To clarify BIL is a frequent Spirit flyer and he thought DH's bag was good to fit under the seat. DH said he was last on line and they measured his bag which was an inch too big for under the seat. So by beware I actually mean do your homework and paying before getting to the gate!

 

[Lewisc]

His experience on United is irrelevant. United doesn't charge for bin bags. No reason United would have had to measure a bag which might have been too big to fit under the seat but is clearly small enough to go in the bin.

Spirit averages over $100 in fees per passenger. Don't think you can cheat Spirit out of baggage fees. Too many passengers "cheated" Spirit out of fees by using bin bags. Spirit took care of that. Too many passengers think they can "cheat" Spirit by only using a bag which fits under the seat in front of them. Spirit is taking care of them by carefully measuring bags. Next step will be to reduce the maximum size and maybe even a maximum weight.

 

[DebbieB]

Here are the measurements for under the seat on Spirit:

Personal items (e.g. purse, small backpack, briefcase, etc.) must fit underneath the seat, so the dimensions must not exceed 16 x 14 x 12 inches (40 x 35 x 30 cm).

Here are the fees. They really slap you if you wait until the gate:

http://www.spirit.com/OptionalFees.aspx

 

[Lewisc]

Here are the measurements for under the seat on Spirit:



Here are the fees. They really slap you if you wait until the gate:

http://www.spirit.com/OptionalFees.aspx

The OP thought the bag would fit under the seat in front of him. It sounds like the bag fit under the seat when he flew United. The bag might of fit but the Spirit employee said it was an inch too big.

I checked Amazon. Most of the bags designed to fit under the seat in front of you exceed Spirit's size maximums by at least 1/2 inch.

Moral of the story, Don't try to cheat Spirit out of their luggage fees. It will cost you extra.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Being a frequent flier, I see the legacy airlines are too lenient.
2) Frankly, the gate agents and stewardesses just don't care.
3) However, many of the discount airlines have newer staff.
4) They tend to follow the posted rules better.

 

[seashoreCM]

United:
The maximum combined linear measurement (length + width + height) of carry-on bags must not exceed 14 inches x 9 inches x 22 inches (23 x 35 x 56 cm) or 45 linear inches (114 cm).

Psst! The 45 linear inches (114 cm) is a redundancy, not an alternative.

Too many fliers don't take the handle and wheels into account when measuring their bags. Even legacy airlines have occasionally enforced their baggage size and weight rules.

 

[Lewisc]

Too many fliers don't take the handle and wheels into account when measuring their bags. Even legacy airlines have occasionally enforced their baggage size and weight rules.

and too many luggage companies don't take the handle and wheels into account when they list the dimensions. Sometimes the luggage companies list the interior interior (packing) dimensions.