As is well known, airlines generate money on fees. Bag fees, seat assignments, change fees, and the like account for a large portion of ultra-low-cost airline income. However, the allowable maximum size of free carry-on personal items—like a bag or purse—on low-cost carriers has decreased as revenue from these “extras” has increased.
A few years back, Spirit Airlines free personal item carry-on bag’s maximum permissible size was cut to 18 x 14 x 8 inches, including handles, wheels, etc. So, is the Spirit Airlines personal item allowance in practice modest enough to use instead of paying to check or carry-on a bag? Let us investigate.
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Maximize the Spirit Airlines Free Personal Item and Save Money
If you wait to pay for a full-sized carry-on bag until you reach the gate—or get busted with an oversized personal item at the gate—Spirit Airlines charges up to $65 per direction of travel. If you pay for it during the first online booking procedure (less yet for $9 Fare Club members), you can get that price as low as $37 per carry-on; still, it is a lot of money—maybe more than you spent on your real ticket.
On a carry-on bag, however, cleverly packing your items into a free personal item saves the $74+ per round-trip expense.
How Big is a Spirit Airlines Free Personal Item?
Based on the company’s website, a classic JanSport Right Pack backpack used by many high school kids measures 18 x 13 x 8.5 inches, which puts the allowed free personal item proportions into realistic terms.
Although that is technically half an inch over Spirit’s free personal item policies in one direction, I have never seen Spirit Airlines be that particular about size. That size of backpack would be perfect as a free carry-on. As a free personal item carry-on, a pocketbook, laptop bag, etc. of such size would also be quite acceptable.
While it may sound too little to utilize on a trip, it truly isn’t. My folks have packed using just a free personal item for all of their Spirit Airlines travels—including those to ski. They pack just the basics and wear their bigger and more weighty objects. For extended weekend travel, I have even followed a similar approach.
For comparison purposes, United Airlines likewise only allows one complimentary personal item (no full-sized carry-on) with several of its Basic Economy rates. At 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches, United’s maximum permissible free personal item size is slightly less than Spirit’s. The free personal item maximum size of low-cost rival Frontier Airlines is exactly Spirit’s.
Consider that medical equipment—including formula and breast pumps—an infant diaper bag, a car seat and a stroller all don’t count against your free item allocation when determining whether that is adequate space.
Related Article: Once you’ve optimized your packing strategy using Spirit’s personal item allowance, finding the perfect seat is your next step. Check out our guide on Spirit Airlines Seat Map to select the best spot for your travel needs.
If You Require a Bigger Bag
Should packing in a free personal item prove insufficient, keep in mind that checking a bag is typically less expensive than paying for a carry-on by a few bucks if you find yourself needing to pay for baggage on Spirit Airlines.
Unlike paying for a checked bag for everyone, packing for the whole family in one or two full-sized checked or carry-on bags makes sense as well as allowing each passenger optimize their free personal item. The price increases the longer you wait, hence you should also make that bag purchase as early as possible—that is, during the time of booking.
Should your credit card include an annual travel credit or incidental airline fee credit, those could help to mitigate the Spirit Airlines bag charges. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers an annual $300 travel credit that you can apply anyhow you like for travel.
Related Article: To further streamline your travel and reduce costs, consider mastering the art of packing with the ideal check-in suitcase size. Explore our guide on the Perfect Check-In Suitcase Size for tips on choosing the right luggage and packing efficiently.
Spirit Airlines Free Personal Item: Bottom line
Though small, Spirit Airlines’ free carry-on personal item is sufficient for some basic packing for a quick journey. Should Spirit Airlines be on your forthcoming trip plans, here is a guide covering all you need to know about flying Spirit Airlines including advice for family travel.