Heads Up! Spirit raising baggage fees as of 11/6/12

[bjakmom]

Heads Up everyone!!!

Just got notification from Spirit that they are raising their baggage fees - again! - starting 11/6/12 (next Tuesday - the day we leave- nothing like a little notice).

Most changes are $2 - $5 increases - except for the charge of $100.00 to check a bag if you DON'T pre-pay and you check at the airport. YIKES!!!

My BIGGEST gripe with Spirit is their 40# limit on checked baggage when the standard is 50#. I am having a hard time packing my bag and keeping it under 40# when travelling with a little one.

EDITING to say that the $100. fee is apparently for bags taken to the gate that do not meet the requirements of carry on luggage and so must be checked - at least that's my understanding after reading the article in the post below. Don't mess with Spirit - they are STRICT about their luggage sizes/requirements!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

From an LATimes article http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/03/news/la-trb-spirit-airlines-carry-on-fees-20120503
"For example, it will cost $35 for a carry-on bag purchased when you make your reservation, $50 if you buy the option at an airport counter or kiosk, and $100 if you wait until you're at the gate."

That $100 isn't about checking any luggage. It's apparently designed to compel passengers to be realistic about whether their luggage will actually fit under the seat (and avoid paying any fee).

About keeping the weight down? Do laundry during the trip, have your laundry done, or bring a second bag - whatever's most cost-effective.

 

[bumbershoot]

About keeping the weight down? Do laundry during the trip, have your laundry done, or bring a second bag - whatever's most cost-effective.

And get a light bag. We like the rick steves bags as they are officially carryon size for *most* airlines, and most of them don't have metal handles or wheels or things like that that add weight.

 

[DebbieB]

Heads Up everyone!!!

Just got notification from Spirit that they are raising their baggage fees - again! - starting 11/6/12 (next Tuesday - the day we leave- nothing like a little notice).

Most changes are $2 - $5 increases - except for the charge of $100.00 to check a bag if you DON'T pre-pay and you check at the airport. YIKES!!!

My BIGGEST gripe with Spirit is their 40# limit on checked baggage when the standard is 50#. I am having a hard time packing my bag and keeping it under 40# when travelling with a little one.

I thought it was a law that they can't raise fees on tickets purchased before the announcement.

 

[Lewisc]

I thought it was a law that they can't raise fees on tickets purchased before the announcement.

The change was announced on May 3. People subject to these higher fees bought tickets after the announcement.

Older, well made, bags weigh 15-20lbs empty. Those bags don't work with a 40lb limit. They don't work that well with a 40lb limit.

Many people should be looking for new luggage.

 

[bjakmom]

From an LATimes article http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/03/news/la-trb-spirit-airlines-carry-on-fees-20120503
"For example, it will cost $35 for a carry-on bag purchased when you make your reservation, $50 if you buy the option at an airport counter or kiosk, and $100 if you wait until you're at the gate."

That $100 isn't about checking any luggage. It's apparently designed to compel passengers to be realistic about whether their luggage will actually fit under the seat (and avoid paying any fee).

About keeping the weight down? Do laundry during the trip, have your laundry done, or bring a second bag - whatever's most cost-effective.

Thanks for correcting my misunderstanding about what luggage was being raised to $100.00 - the e-mail was a bit misleading and I misinterpreted the part about bags checked at the gate as being bags checked at the counter. Still outrageous, IMHO, but I get what they are doing. We either travel light and pay for a carry on or for longer trips we do checked bags and no carry on.
LOL I did have to run to the store today and get some lighter luggage for DD and DGrD - the older bags we had were 15 lbs empty - I can never fill a 25" and keep it under 40# no matter how light my stuff is! I found 2 25" bags that were under 10 #s each. That extra 5 #s covers a 2nd pair of shoes, a fleece and some of the baby's paraphenalia. I still think 40# is ridiculous - My regular 25" suitcase packed is always about 43- 48 #s when I travel for more than a week. Only have this problem when I have to fly Spirit. Oh well, just an extremely minor irritation as things go right now in NJ

 

[lugnut33]

Better yet, don't fly that crappy airline.