$20 Carry-On Bag Fee on Spirit Airlines

[mikelan6]

Spirit Airline just announced that they will start charging $20.00 (and up) per carry-on bag for flights after August 1st. If it fits under the seat, it's still free, but most people take larger bags.

Here's the link for the info: http://www.spiritair.com/Policiesbags.aspx

The question is if other airlines will follow.

 

[k5jm]

I think Continental and some of the other airlines would see a significant drop in business travelers if they were to do that. Southwest is going to be raking it in if any other airline imposes this fee.

 

[Cherinva]

Spirit Airline just announced that they will start charging $20.00 (and up) per carry-on bag for flights after August 1st. If it fits under the seat, it's still free, but most people take larger bags.

Here's the link for the info: http://www.spiritair.com/Policiesbags.aspx

The question is if other airlines will follow.

This is so stupid.....the more I hear, the more I say...Southwest for me baby!!!

 

[DISNUT21]

This has to quite honestly be the oddest fee imposed on travelers, I have ever heard of. Personally, I prefer Continental or Southwest over that of Spirit. Having flown them before... I would not be surprised if they soon start to charge for breathing on board their flights.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Booooooooo!!!!!!

 

[lugnut33]

LOL, what a bunch of jerks.

 

[lugnut33]

Whoa, I actually read the link that was provided.

If you accidently forget about this and show up to the gate with a carry-on they will ding you $45!!!! However, if you add it to your existing ressie it's $30.

I'll say it again, what a bunch of jerks.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I didn't look at the link yet as I'm typing this from my phone, but I'm confused. This is only if the bag does not fit under the seat? So if you decide to use the overhead you will be charged??

 

[lugnut33]

I didn't look at the link yet as I'm typing TGIF from my phone, but I'm confused. This is only if the bag does not fit under the seat? So if you decide to use the overhead you will be charged??

Has to fit underneath seat, cannot be larger than 16"x14"x12"


Anything larger will be charged as such:
$45 at gate
$30 Phone or Check-in

LOL, it's now actually cheaper to check your baggage as they only chage $25 for a checked bag.

 

[dgthree]

I didn't look at the link yet as I'm typing TGIF from my phone, but I'm confused. This is only if the bag does not fit under the seat? So if you decide to use the overhead you will be charged??

Yup, pretty much.

 

[sunshine girl]

I never fly Spirit anymore, anyway. Years ago, I flew Spirit frequently because they had good rates.

Then, several years ago I heard about the CEO accidentally hitting "reply all" when making a negative comment in an email about a customer (a quick google search came up with this link which is a synopsis of what happened, or at least what was widely reported).

After reading that, and after also experiencing declines in service and frequent late departures, I just decided I'd take my business elsewhere, permanently!

 

[safetymom]

I think it is about time that the airlines started to do something about all the carryons that people have. More people are carrying on their luggage to avoid the fees. That slows everyone down.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Pretty soon they are going to start charging us for the air we breathe on these flights. Ridiculous.

 

[k5jm]

I fly for business quite often, and most of time I gate check or carry-on my bag as do most business travelers. I would prefer to not have to drive to the other side of town and fly Southwest but that is what I am being pushed towards. I always carry my BIG camera/Laptop bag on and it does not fit under the seat. I might as well start shipping my luggage at this point if the big boys adopt this policy.

 

[tickledtink33]

I think it is about time that the airlines started to do something about all the carryons that people have. More people are carrying on their luggage to avoid the fees. That slows everyone down.

I fly frequently and find that there is as much carry on baggage being brought on my Southwest flights as my Delta, Continental and US Air flights. And Southwest does not charge a checked bag fee. The flight attendants had to gate check several bags on my Southwest flight a couple of weeks ago as the overhead bins were completely full. Many people both check and carry on a bag especially if they are going away for more than a week. This will be a double whamy for them.

 

[wdwscout]

Not a good sign.

We no longer fly Spirit either. They changed our flight times dramatically on several trips. We canceled and (to their credit) they refunded our money.

As much as I hate Phila airport, we stick to USAir and now Southwest.
I was VERY glad to hear the Southwest now participates fully in the Magical Express program!!

 

[ADP]

If they start charging for carry-on baggage, I'll start shipping my carry-on items directly to the resort and back home. Maybe that's what the airlines want, but if they try and pull this off I'd rather give the business to the USPS, FedEx, and UPS.

 

[aaronmckie]

I think it is about time that the airlines started to do something about all the carryons that people have. More people are carrying on their luggage to avoid the fees. That slows everyone down.

If they did away with the checked-in luggage fees maybe I could see them charging for overhead space. But not both, no way
Yes it is a bit crazy everyone bringing on carry-ons (and it can be an issue), but charging more isn't really going to help matters; it's just going to make people angry.

Glad I never flew Spirit, and now never will; I'm a Southwest convert

 

[darrengs]

You guys are kidding yourselves if you don't think other airlines will follow.

 

[jeanigor]

On 4 out of the last 5 flights I have taken, the air hosts and hostesses have had to rearrange the overhead bins to accommodate the large volume of carry on pieces. Its been bad enough that they had to check pieces from inside the cabin. I can understand why people go carry on only. I could never be one of these folks, but can understand the reasoning. I just don't get why they feel they can bring pieces that are obviously exceeding the specified carry on dimensions.

Charging for both checked and carry on luggage does seem to me like the passenger is being further nickle and dimed.