Spirit Baggage Sizes, Weight, Fees & Allowance Guide [2021]

Spirit Airlines offers many affordable rates to meet the specific travel needs of their customers. You can get one-way flights as cheap as $19. You can save more by making use of their special deals like the kids fly free deal that is available while flying Frontier.

The total costs for flying can go up substantially if there are any additional fees involved. One of the factors that can add to the additional fees is your extra luggage. Depending on the size of your carry-on bags or checked baggage, you will incur some additional costs. If you are listing your bags while booking the trip, you will need to pay around $30 for every checked bag, while one carry-on bag will cost you $35 for traveling both ways. If your bags are oversized or overweight, you will need to pay additional charges ranging between $30 and $150.

However, you can avoid these fees by being mindful of what you are carrying. Make sure to include only the essentials in your backpack; this will help you cut back on your baggage weight and size. Thus you can enjoy the benefits of a cheaper ticket better.

Spirit Airlines Carry On Guide

While flying on Spirit Airlines, you are allowed to bring a personal item with measurements up to 18 by 14 by 8 inches for free on board. For a full-sized carry-on, you will have to pay $35 or more after you have purchased the permit to carry the bag on board. These costs will be a bit lower for the $9 Fare Club members.

Choosing the Right Bag

Selecting the right bag will help you avoid any excess bag fees while traveling on Spirit Airlines. A tote bag works well for this purpose. You can also go for a regular size backpack, as long as it does not exceed the maximum measurements.

Most of the small traditional backpacks used by middle schoolers for school are ideal for carry-on purposes. They are large enough and stay within the backpack guidelines. Most larger and fancier backpacks might be too large for the job. Spirit Airlines, however, can be a bit accommodating if your backpack exceeds the guideline limits by a small margin.

If the bag you are carrying goes over the restricted measurements by an inch or so, it won’t cause any problems for you. Only when you are exceeding the measurements a lot will you be charged with additional fees. Try to stick to the limit to be safe.

Carrying the Essentials

After deciding on a personal carry-bag approved by Spirit Airlines guidelines, you should start thinking about the essentials you are going to put inside it. Some of the generally considered items are a wallet, a laptop, a change of clothes tightly folded, including many smaller bags for carrying individual items. You can use a bag for your cables and cords, another one for holding your small clothing items like underwear, shorts and so on. Another bag can be included for make-up and toiletries.

This will ensure that these items remain separate from your small personal carry-on items. By keeping them in different bags, you can prevent them from mingling with each other. If you do not use make-up or any special toiletries, you will be able to save some space. You can then use this space for some extra clothes.

If you can manage going through your weekend trip with the shoes on your feet, you would probably be better off without an extra one in your Spirit Airlines Carry-On. However, you might still be able to make space for a pair of flats in your bag. They weigh less and won’t take up much space. You may also carry a coat on board, if you feel you might need it at your destination.

Supplies for Kids

You may have the option to cut back on how many hair products, shoes, or clothes you are traveling with. But the supplies for your young kids are non-negotiable. You can carry an infant diaper bag aboard without any extra charge if you are flying with a baby. You also need to account for snacks, formula, diapers, wipes, and extra clothes for your kids, even if it is for a small flight. Spirit Airlines also includes provisions for a stroller and a car seat without additional charges.

Pay for One Bag for the Family

If you are going for a short trip without children or other family members, it would be feasible to avoid extra bags and carry-on fees while traveling on Spirit Airlines. You can bring a carry-on according to the free limit of Spirit Airlines. However, if your trip also includes kids and family, it would be worth paying for extra baggage or checking a bag for the whole family.

In this way, everyone will get to bring their free personal item as allowed by the airlines. They will also be able to pack any additional items in a large shared bag that can be paid for. This would be a great time to use any travel credit that you might have on your cards.

General Recommendations

You can load up your free personal item to the maximum to avoid extra charges. However, it would help if you remembered that your personal backpack or purse might get really heavy by doing that. Make sure that you won’t be facing any problems with the extra weight. Go for an additional bag check if you feel it would cause inconvenience while traveling to and from the airport. Also, consider the type of bag you will be using. A backpack can provide better support as compared to a tote bag.

Another factor that you have to consider is whether you have any physical limitations. You might have a medical condition that prevents you from carrying heavy loads. You might have children with you who will be challenging to manage if your hands are tied up with the heavyweight. Furthermore, you might not be able to unpack and retrieve any items on the way from your personal item backpack if you have filled it to the brim.

Restrictions on the Number of Bags

Region: South America

Lima, Peru (LIM)

Date: All round the year

  • The airline will allow a maximum of one paid checked item for every guest.
  • Any overweight items should not go beyond the maximum overweight limit of 50 lbs (23 Kg). They will be subjected to overweight baggage charges starting from 41 pounds (18 Kg).
  • Any oversized items should not exceed 80 linear inches (203 cm), considering all the overall dimensions. They will be subjected to oversized baggage charges starting from 63 linear inches (158 cm).
  • Few items such as Sporting Equipment might exceed the limit of 80 linear inches in overall dimension. These items, however, should not weigh higher than 50 lbs (23 Kg). This item will also count towards one the maximum limit of one checked item for each guest. Furthermore, these items may also be subjected to separate charges depending on the item.

Region: South America

Colombia (AXM, BAG, BGA, CLO, CTG, MDE)

Ecuador (GYE)

Date: All year round

  • The airlines will allow only one paid checked item for each person.
  • Guests can purchase additional checked items on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Weight and Size Limits for Bags

Spirit Airlines levies charges on certain checked bags and carry-ons to adhere to their Bare Fare policy of ticket prices. For checked bags over 40lbs, more charges are levied since the additional weight of the bags requires more gas for the aircraft. Your ticket will include one personal item that can be stored entirely inside a smaller sizer box like a small backpack or a purse. You will need to pay for another personal item or anything bigger than a standard-sized checked bag or carry-on.

Personal item

It’s dimensions should not be more than 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm). It will include any wheels or handles present.

Carry-on bag

Its maximum dimensions are 22 x 18 x 10 inches (56 x 46 x 25 cm), including wheels and handles. If the airline feels that it cannot safely stow your carry-on bag on a certain flight, it might ask you to check-in that bag.

Checked bags

The maximum dimension of checked bags is 62 linear inches or 158 cm. Linear inches are calculated by adding the length, height, and width of the checked bags. This will be including wheels and handles. The maximum weight of the checked bag must be 40 pounds or 18.1 kg. If your bag goes beyond this weight or dimensions limit, it will be considered an overweight or oversized bag. You will then have to pay an appropriate charge for it. Spirit Airlines won’t allow bags that weigh more than 100 pounds (45 Kg) or have a measurement of more than 80 linear inches (203 cm).

Items with Special Restrictions

The following items have special restrictions applicable for travel. You can visit the official website of Spirit Airlines for detailed information on these restrictions and their applicable charges.

  • Antlers
  • Alcohol
  • Archery Equipment
  • Balls/Balloons
  • Artistic Items
  • Baseball Equipment
  • Bowling Equipment
  • Bicycles
  • Boxes and Plastic Containers
  • Ceramics/Chinaware/Glass
  • Camping Gear
  • Chainsaws
  • Electronic Cigarettes (e-cigarettes)
  • Dry Ice
  • Electronics
  • Fishing Equipment
  • Firearms
  • Golf Equipment
  • Hover Boards and Electric Skateboards
  • Hockey Equipment
  • Household Articles
  • Incubators
  • Ice
  • Javelin/Vaulting Pole Equipment
  • Lacrosse Equipment
  • Kayak, Boat, Canoes
  • Lithium-Ion Batteries for Mobility Assistive Devices
  • Lithium-Ion Batteries for Portable Electronic Devices
  • Lithium Metal Batteries for Portable Electronic Devices
  • Martial Arts Equipment
  • Musical Instruments as Seat Baggage
  • Musical Instruments
  • Nebulizers
  • Oxygen
  • Non-Spillable Wet Batteries for Portable Electronic Devices
  • Paintball Equipment
  • Perishables
  • Parachute Equipment
  • Photographic Equipment
  • Portable Oxygen Concentrators
  • Portable Dialysis Machines
  • Precision Instruments
  • Scuba Diving Equipment
  • Ski Equipment (Water or Snow)
  • Skateboards
  • Surfing Equipment
  • Snowboards, Wakeboards, Boogie boards, Bodyboards, and Kiteboards
  • Tennis
  • Wheelchairs
  • Tools/Power Tools
  • Windsurfing Equipment
  • Urns/ Human Remains & Organs
  • Wood Carvings

Carry-On Allowance for Pets

Spirit Airlines allow certain pets to be carried into the cabin for domestic flights. It would be best if you placed the pet inside a carrier with measurements equal to or lower than 18 by 14 by 9 inches. The total weight of the carrier and pet combined should not be higher than 40 lbs (18.14 Kg). The airlines allow only one pet container for each customer. However, they can carry two similar animals inside the same box. The pets should have ample space to stand and move around freely inside the container. Spirit Airlines will require you to pay a fee of $110 for every box.

Charges for Musical Instruments

Musical instruments will be considered as fragile items by Spirit Airlines. These items will be accepted as checked items if they are properly packed inside a storage case, box, or container. This container should have been specifically designed for shipping these items. The total cost for checking in your musical instrument would include the required price of the checked bag along with any overweight or oversize charges. You will be required to sign a limited liability release form which will relieve Spirit Airlines of any liability for damage or loss of the instrument. You can also carry musical instruments as part of your carry-on baggage on Spirit Airlines.

What Can Be A Personal Item?

Spirit Airlines allows their customers to carry one personal item for free and another carry-on item that is chargeable. Personal items should fit entirely within the smaller sizer box. It should be including the handles and the wheels. If you have another personal item or anything of a larger size, it will be charged as a Spirit Airlines carry-on. The maximum dimensions of the personal item are 18”14”x8” (45 x 35 x 20cm). Examples of personal items are a laptop bag or a purse.

Child’s Car Seat and Stroller

Spirit Airlines will allow you to check one stroller and one car seat for each child without any extra charge at the ticket counter. If you are traveling with two children, you can check a double stroller. You can also check the items at the gate and retrieve them after getting off the aircraft.

Spirit Airlines will also allow you to bring an FAA-approved child restraint system or a child harness device. For this, you need to purchase a separate seat for your child. If the car seat is too large for a regular seat, the airlines will help you move to an open seat for your convenience.

Some FAA car seats may not fit within specific seats of the Spirit Airlines aircraft. The car seats will not be assigned to any seat that has been equipped with an inflatable seat belt. Furthermore, the car seats will not be secured to an exit seat or at a row after or before the exit seats. The aircraft has a premium section of seats called the Big Front Seats, which are available for additional costs.

The dimensions for the seats will vary from one Spirit Airlines aircraft to another. For example, in the Airbus 319, the Big Front Seats’ dimensions are 22” on the broadest seat width and 22” on the narrowest seat width. Deluxe Leather Seats on the same aircraft is 17” on the broadest seat width and 151/2” on the narrowest seat width.

Conclusion

Spirit Airlines offers its customers a lot of flexible choices to ensure that they have satisfactory and pocket-friendly travels. They offer additional charges on checked bags and carry-on which can be avoided by adhering to the free limit of the Spirit Airlines carry-on dimensions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Spirit charge for a carry-on?

You can bring one personal item on Spirit Airlines that can be fit inside the smaller sizer box for free. You will be charged if you have another item or anything bigger such as a standard checked bag or carry-on.

What size bag can you carry-on Spirit Airlines for free?

Spirit Airlines allows you to carry a bag such as a purse or a laptop bag for free. It should be within the dimensions of 18” by 14” by 8”.

Is a backpack free on Spirit?

You won’t be charged for your backpack if it is within the free limit for dimensions 18” by 14” by 8”. For bigger bags, you need to pay an extra charge.

How strict is Spirit Airlines with a carry-on?

Your carry-on might be exempted if it happens to exceed an inch or two on the restricted limit. Anything more substantial, you will have to pay an extra charge. The airlines may also adjust your charges for items like sports equipment that may have a low weight despite having high linear measurements.

1 thought on “Spirit Baggage Sizes, Weight, Fees & Allowance Guide [2021]”

  1. I’m going to be using Spirit and I have an overnight bag that is 18x14x8. It has a handle and wheels that tuck in the suitcase. I would like to use this as a personal item. It will contain some clothes and my purse all in the convenience to me.

    Reply

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