spiritair carry-on question

[onelugnut]

For people who have flown spirit recently since the latest change in charges for carryons.
The website says it still allows a small personal bag limited as 16"x14"x12"

This is almost the exact dimension of my DD and DS little Disney suit cases.
(except maybe 3/4" longer if you count the little wheels)

My question is, that I am sure everyone else has these exact same suitcases for their kids, and has anyone had success or failure with bring them on as free carryons?

Also, I was planning on bringing a napsack so i could use it in the park.
but I will just leave that underfilled so it should definitely fit under the seat so that should be a no charge too right?

Please no comments on my cheapness, I know it already.
I am doing the best I can with my budget.

My biggest fear is that I mis interpret the carryon rules and spirit will bang me with that $45 carryon charge/penalty per my 5 person party.
Seems to me that is just what they are hoping for.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You need to count the wheels in the measurements.

It appears from the Spirit website that if an item doesn't fit under the seat, you have to pay to put it in the overhead bin. I don't fly Spirit, so have no idea how this is enforced.

http://www.spirit.com/Policiesbags.aspx#generalrequirements

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

You need to count the wheels in the measurements.

It appears from the Spirit website that if an item doesn't fit under the seat, you have to pay to put it in the overhead bin. I don't fly Spirit, so have no idea how this is enforced.

http://www.spirit.com/Policiesbags.aspx#generalrequirements

Airline measurements are from the top to bottom INCLUDING handles and wheels. Luggage companies don't count those. Therefore it's risky that you will be allowed to carry this on without paying. It MUST fit FULLY under the seat in front of you. Not sure if these do. Hopefully someone can tell you.

What I have read Spirit does is seperate boarding groups. Those with "paid" overhead space get on at a different time. Therefore if you use the overhead they know you haven't paid and show up to ask for $$$.

Considering everything I have read I would not expect much in the way of "understanding"

 

[onelugnut]

o.k. thanks,
not really looking for a break or understanding.

its a very common childs suitcase (especially for Disney fans) and it is almost exactly the measurement described by spirit so i think it is o.k., but I was really just hoping a Dis member could confirm from experience, yay or nay on that particular case.

 

[dudspizza]

o.k. thanks,
not really looking for a break or understanding.

its a very common childs suitcase (especially for Disney fans) and it is almost exactly the measurement described by spirit so i think it is o.k., but I was really just hoping a Dis member could confirm from experience, yay or nay on that particular case.

A picture would probably help your fellow DISers.

Spirit is not looking at a child's suitcase as a personal item. They are talking purse, laptop bag, etc... that must fit under the seat in front of you. If it looks like a suitcase and doesn't fit in the guidelines (wheels and handles included), you bet they are going to ask for you to pay for that carry on......

Duds

 

[kaytieeldr]

Very honestly, I too would not expect Spirit - any airline - to consider a standard suitcase as you described to be a personal item that would fit under a seat. Such an item would need to fit entirely under the seat in front of the passenger, not sticking out into their own foot space at all, or that of the passenger in front of them (as might tend to happen with suitcase wheels).

If you want to go with just carry-on luggage, you would be well-advised to purchase more standard 'personal' item-sized products like small backpacks or this http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/...avelon-14-Wheeled-CarryOn-With-ViewThru-Panel or some of the other under-seat bags on that page; also see ebags.com for similar items.

 

[onelugnut]

wow, thanks for the responses and sorry for the confusion, and maybe a picture would have been better.
I dont know how to include a picture and it really is a common little suit case for little kids, so i did nto think it was needed.
I dont think you are picturing the right thing.
This is a childs sleepover type thing that is almost a toy.
It has cinderalla on one and lighting mcqueen on the other.
The kids have brought it to DW every year for 4 years now.
It is half the size of that adults carryon bag from the suggested link.
( thats a nice bag, but if you read the reviews one says that bag didnt always fit under the seat very well and i believe it because that one is close)

Obviously it must meet the measurements and it must fit under the seat.

These kids suitcases are actually much smaller than the 16"x14"x12" requirement except for the lenth which the handle and wheels included would make it 3/4" over the 16" limit. So that would mean it would stick out into my childs foot space 3/4", which is not going to be used anyway since their feet do not touch the floor.
That is why I was asking if anyone had actually traveled with one of these cases on spiritair to share their experience.

For reference, I already got my answer from another source,
and for everyones knowledge,
They do not check the measurements of carryons.
People with prepaid carryons are boarded first and they load the overhead with their bags, which is very few now.

Then everyone else boards, if you have a bag that can not be stowed under the seat in front of you the steward makes you put it in the overhead and they hit you for the $45.


couldnt add picture, but here is the product description from Disney Store; note dimensions are half the size of the limited size (i could actually put two under the seat in front of me!)

Disney Princess Rolling Suitcase

Whether back to school or on vacation, every trip will be a fairy tale adventure with our rolling Disney Princess luggage. Classic Disney princesses bring royal sparkle and pink magic to this Disney Princess upright suitcase.
12'' W x 16'' H x 5.5'' D.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

The fact that thier feet don't touch the floor is not relevant. The FAA (not Spirit) says that the area there MUST be clear of stuff so you can get off the plane in a hurry!

If you bag sticks out they may say it has to go in the overhead and hit you up.

Now some FAs do a much better job then others at checking that and who knows what you may get. (And they do measure at Spriit, there was a rather hysterical poster of Flyertalk not too long ago complaining that her bag was too big due to the fact that they measured the handle and wheels) I had a FA a few months ago miss the fact that the guy in the window seat had managed to shove a 22" in there which meant his "foot" area was completed blocked. (I figured since it was the window the life he was endangering was his own) However, with kids it's pretty easy for them to see the "offending item" since as you point out the feet won't be trying to hide it!


Have you put these under the seat in front of you on other planes? I know exactly what you are talking about, but I think every time I have seen them the parents have put them in the overhead so I don't know if they fit under the seat!

I think that based on the measurements from the website you are actually going to find it's at least a 17". Disney's measurements are case only. Not wheels/handles! I would get a tape measure and check. Meaure from the top of the highest point (you can flatten the handle if it goes flat) to the bottom of the wheel. There's your 'meaurement" to consider.

 

[Tara]

My son has one of these little rolling suitcases and it always fits nicely under the seat. I don't know how Spirit would treat it, though.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It is half the size of that adults carryon bag from the suggested link.

Respectfully, if you mean the link I provided, it can't be. That bag, specially designed to fit under airline seats, is 14 inches tall (seat depth) by 12 inches across (seat width) by 8 inches deep (floor to seat base).

 

[seashoreCM]

Now they could measure the item at the plane door. If they did not then there is a chance that not all of the larger items are caught by the steward in the aisle and their owners charged the fee then and there.

 

[dudspizza]

Are you talking about this?

Item description says: Rolling suitcase: 17'' H x 12'' W x 6'' D
That makes it out of the guidelines.... will you get away with it? possibly, but it would suck to have the FA standing at your seat asking for $45 per suitcase...

Duds