From ThePointsGuy.com…
People turn to Spirit Airlines because its fares are cheap. Spirit flights can be a great way to get to your destination without putting a serious dent in your wallet.
However, Spirit has a (deserved) reputation for charging additional fees. The airline that sensationalized charging customers to print their boarding passes at the airport also charges customers for carry-on and checked baggage. The Spirit Airlines baggage policy is one of the most restrictive you’ll find.
There are a few ways to avoid some of the worst Spirit baggage fees. But you should be prepared to pay if you want to bring most types of luggage with you when you fly. This guide will cover all the information you need to know about the Spirit Airlines baggage policy.
The Spirit carry-on guidelines are some of the most restrictive that you’ll find. The restrictions that Spirit and other discount airlines enforce are the basis for the basic economy product airlines such as American, Delta and United rolled out to compete with low fares.
One of the only areas where you’ll find a bit of generosity is Spirit’s definition of a personal item. All Spirit customers are permitted one free personal item on each flight. Spirit states the dimensions of a personal item must not exceed 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches, including handles and wheels. That’s bigger than some other airlines, notably United.
As should be expected with a discount carrier, you’ll generally pay to bring a full-sized carry-on with you on a Spirit flight. You’ll also find the weight restrictions in the Spirit carry-on guidelines more onerous than other airlines.
Specifically, the airline uses a dynamic pricing model for carry-on and checked bags. So, flights at different times on the same day between the same city pairs will sometimes have different bag pricing. Here’s an example showing two flights on the same day traveling from New Orleans to Las Vegas:
