Spirit airlines bag drop line hour+ (US domestic at MCO)

[Disturbia]

Budget extra time if flying spirit. We’ve been in the bag drop line for an hour. Line stretches all the way past elevators.

 

[paults]

I have decided to do carry on bags only in 2023 on any airline.

 

[Disturbia]

We made it to our gate 45 mins before our departure time by signing up for a clearme touchless ID ($160 per person per year after a free trial). The security line was posted 21 mins but was longer.

Kicker: no snack/drink service in flight. Catering issues. Nothing available for purchase. Thankfully we had purchased one water bottle and some coke due to the exhausting bag drop

 

[nekonekoneko]

Spirit has some of the highest bag fees in the industry. Where in the world is that money going?

 

[mikehn]

Nothing unusual here. Except for some florida airports, Spirit has a very small foot print at other airports. I mean like one comingled line for all services. So long lines are kind of the norm when flying with Spirit, holidays or not.

 

[Disturbia]

Nothing unusual here. Except for some florida airports, Spirit has a very small foot print at other airports. I mean like one comingled line for all services. So long lines are kind of the norm when flying with Spirit, holidays or not.

We’ve flown with spirit 3/5 times post pandemic and haven’t seen the domestic line so big even when almost all flights at MCO (17k) were cancelled delayed back on April 2. We got dropped off at the airport at approx 3:00 pm (2:20 pickup from Poly) and split to get into the bag drop line while one person grabbed the Boarding passes/tags. The line was 1 hr 20 mins and increasing. When we were close to the front they started calling out our flight and taking people out of the bag drop and moving them forward (4:20 pm!). We only made it to our gate by 4:45 pm (5:35 pm flight); because we skipped the security ID check line by using clearme and went straight to the scanners (that took time to get through-long lines and they had everyone take off shoes, remove liquids from the bag etc-not the case inbound, maybe ORD installed better detectors). Bathrooms had staffing issues and lines stretched outside at the terminal food court.

In any case, I would change MEARS pickup to add an extra 20 mins to the 3 hr pickup during major holidays (end of this week).

 

[sam_gordon]

OP, is that at MCO (I'm assuming by your follow up post)?

I have decided to do carry on bags only in 2023 on any airline.

I found I'm able to put 6 days worth of clothes in a carry on. There is a benefit however to not having to worry about a carryon, especially if:
A) You have a connection
B) You'll be on a small plane with limited carryon space (so you have to gate check).

However, I also realize with just a carry on, there's only a small chance (see B above) of luggage getting lost and you don't have to wait at baggage claim.

 

[Disturbia]

We have 3 kids and we order groceries, diapers wipes online to be sent directly.

With a double stroller, diaper bag, I suppose we could lug 2 carry on duffel bags stacked on 2 rolling bags instead of 3 big bags and 1 carry on. On spirit you still have to pay for carry on bags. Our small carry on is like a personal item (it’s compact and can go under the seat as well).

But going to a place like Mexico where we can’t order groceries and have to take allergy safe food with us, it would still be challenging with 3 kids. Something to think about I suppose

 

[Disturbia]

OP, is that at MCO (I'm assuming by your follow up post)?

Yes that’s MCO. Let me edit

 

[Disturbia]

Update: it wasn’t just Spirit; apparently there was an issue at other Florida airports as well

 

[sam_gordon]

Update: it wasn’t just Spirit; apparently there was an issue at other Florida airports as well

View attachment 729887

Well, that doesn't really explain luggage issues. Unless the people checking in the luggage are also the ones sorting in the back or taking luggage off planes or something (I think Spirit has done that in the past at least at smaller airports).