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BREAKING: Spirit Airlines to charge up to $45 fee for carry-on bags
There's big news in the airline industry today, as Spirit Airlines announced the addition of carry-on baggage fees to their already healthy roster of post-ticketing charges.For those paying online, each carry on bag will cost an additional $30 unless you're in Spirit's subscription-based $9 Fare Club. Those lucky members will only be charged $20 per bag. If paying for the service in-person at the airport, the fee jumps to $45 per bag. Personal items such as purses or briefcases will continue to be free as long as they fit underneath the seat.
Although Spirit Airlines is the first carrier to initiate such a fee, there's broad speculation among the travel community on whether it will be picked up by other carriers -- checked baggage fees, paid snacks and seat selection, after all, have all been nearly universally adopted over the last three years. Perhaps this is the beginning of the end of free carry-on luggage industry wide.
On the bright side, however, there should be plenty more overhead bin space after August 1.
New baggage fees will go into effect on August 1st. You can check out more details and see whether your bag qualifies as a "carry-on" or a "personal item" over at spiritair.com.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 8)
Robin Morris Apr 7th 2010 7:21AM
First of all I am not a low life, always wear clean clothes....now that we have that out of the way. What I am is a Single Widow who works very hard and travels to visit family and unfortunately relies on many medications and medical devices to get through the day, so I usually carry on one small roller bag and I think it is ridiculous for any airline to now think it is okay to turn around and charge a ridiculous fee for that bag while the service I am receiving while on flight has gone down hill and the customer service is almost non-existent. I think people need to look at their business plan and come up with a better idea instead of a get rich off the people scheme that is obviously not going to work.
Elizabeth Apr 7th 2010 8:06AM
Hi Robin,
I am also a widow & also handicaped. I have to take all of my medication onboard also. After an airline lost my luggage once I did not dare to let them get into the checked bagage again.
It is no wonder why passengers of the airlines are getting quite upset over all of these charges that are being added to the passenger.
INKLING Apr 7th 2010 9:35AM
Granted, you have medical devices and there should not ever be a fee for those. Medication, though, can easily be placed in a carry-on bag, and several bottles still weigh less than a pound. How can you justify the other 24 pounds that you are allowed? I agree that if you need medical devices or medication they should be allowed fee free, but should be packed separately for carry-on. I carry my medication in my purse. Even a male can carry a med bag as a purse and it would be free of charge. A carry-on bag to be stored in a bin, though, shouldn't weigh more than 10-15 pounds unless they are required for your life. If a carry-on/roll-on bag weighs more, and is necessary for your life, there should be no fee.
Sue Apr 7th 2010 7:27AM
I have to ask this question. Who regulates the airlines ridiculous charges? I thin k it's time for consumers to STOP flying these over priced underegulated airlines. The more consumers patronize these money grubbing airlines the higher prices will get. Now I realize not everyone can stop flying. BUT if people start selecting alternate routs for travel ie; train, bus, car a message would be sent to the airlines. Back in the day airplane flying used to be a fun and enjoyable experience now it's become an overpriced pain in the ass.. Paying consumers need to start boycotting the airlines.....
bill Apr 7th 2010 7:40AM
what's next charging to go to the bathroom? or maybe a landing fee ..what a joke..
Ray Apr 7th 2010 11:58AM
Hey Bill, In 1973 I flew on a military airplane and we landed in florida at an airport where the State of Florida charged each of us on the plane a $1.00 "Landing Fee." As members of the U.S.Army,we were being charged that as a fee before they would allow any of us to get off the plane.
Pen Apr 7th 2010 12:43PM
Bill -
I hate to inform you but youre already paying "landing fees".
Today, port authorities call them: PFC or Passenger Facility Charge. Its another way to screw us over our of a few bucks and tell us we have to pay for the privilege to go into an airport to go onto and deplane. Here in NY it can be as much as $4.50 which translates to $9.
Now isnt a fee something that I am supposed to be charged for something someone else does for me?
Who is taking me onto and/or getting off a plane?
Judy Apr 7th 2010 7:42AM
Maybe the airlines need to look beyond the business travelers. They most likely have expense accts. and do not pay anyway, it just gets written off. No offense intended. But that is not the case for most people. First you charge for bags and now for carry-ons. Are people really supposed to travel with no luggage at all?
haroldashe Apr 7th 2010 7:50AM
If you've got the time, Amtrak is a better way to go. Way more comfortable and no extra charges, either.
Carol Apr 7th 2010 10:04AM
Have you priced AmTrak or Greyhound? It's cheaper to fly.I checked with Grayhound to bring my grand daughter home from St. Petersburg,Florida to Toledo, Ohio. The price was $152.15 which included an $18 gift fee because I was putting it on my credit card and not hers. The trip was 32 hours with numerous stops. The plane fare was $87 with a $20 baggage fee and she was home in about an hour. Now which would you rather do? As a reminder, you can fly from the midwest to California in 4 hours, you are not going to starve to death in that time. The bus takes days and believe it or not you have to pay for your food for the time you are traveling, same applies to the train. Do you think they feed you? No! It is buy your own. I do feel the food and beverage charges on a plane or for that matter,even at the airport are outrageous, but like I said for 4 hours you can do without and are not going to die. I do agree Spirit is going to price themselves out of business the way they're going and I really don't think a person should have to pay to check a bag.......that's ONE bag, not everything you own, so I usually try to fly Southwest, no bag charge for 2 checked bags, no fee for seat selection (which they don't have seat selection) and the crew have always been polite and very entertaining.
Margie Apr 7th 2010 11:30AM
You are so right. I go Amtrak all the time now, trips to Boston - less expensive and faster on Amtrak. I don't mean flight time, I mean door to door. To fly out of NYC you have to be there at least an hour before flight time, Amtrak - 20 minutes is reasonable. Due to the traffic in NYC area you have to leave your home 2.5 hours before flight time. Amtrak more train stations closer to home, less traffic than going to NYC. Then of course you have the usual flight delays. Average trip to Boston by plane including travel to the airport 4.5 - 5 hours. Amtrak 4 hours.
Now for the train, seats more comfortable, more leg room, food available for a price, but you can bring your own. No fees for baggage.
bev Apr 7th 2010 7:57AM
If people would only realize they have more say then they think. STOP flying unless absolutely necessary. Its the law of supply and demand. If you don't demand a product, such as flying, the price has to go down. If people would only stand together they wouldn't get away with this. So all people do is complain about something but actually do nothing to change it.
joe Apr 7th 2010 8:01AM
Deregulation of the airline industry was a mistake. You simply cannot fly for bus fare people. Fares went down for sure, but service is in the toilet, the aircraft are much older. The new planes from foreign countries are not as good as a
Boeing from Seattle in my opinion. Some industries cannot be left up to corporate America. Did we not learn that in Sept 2008. Get your heads out of your butts and start paying attention.
I am one of the hands on barnstormer pilots who voluntarily left the industry because of this terrible direction the industry was going. Soon all the good pilots like Captain Sully will be retired and you will have mostly button pushers left. Oh there will be a few good ones, but not what you would expect.
Pay cheap and get cheap. Hey maybe WallMart Air is next. LOL
Barry Sherman Apr 7th 2010 9:39AM
Sorry Joe, Walmart Airlines only flys to China.
kendo12 Apr 7th 2010 7:59AM
What is next next, is a human handling fee. They are going to charge for processing passengers on the plane.
Rayne Apr 7th 2010 8:04AM
Hate to say this but you just may be right!
mike Apr 7th 2010 8:00AM
Spirit continues to break down fares so the passengers pay for only what they use. It is still the cheapest way to fly and you pay for what you get and get what you pay for.
If you don't like it you can pay a higher fare and get "free" additional services from another carrier. This makes it a lot easier to fly at the lowest cost. While you can't fit a steamer tunk in the 12"X14" by16" they stil allow for free,it will hold a change of clothes and basic items.
We'd all like to pay a dollar and be served steak and our drink of choice as part of the airfare, but most of us know that isn't going to happen. This is an equitable method of allowing every one to fly at therir own level of serice, instead of one size fits all.
karl Apr 7th 2010 8:01AM
think it is time americans start boycotting all companies that are acting this way, cable, phone, airlines. i would'nt care if this airline went out if business, deserves to, greedy ceo's at work. i will never fly this airline. americans stand up and be counted, lets tell all these greedy companies, sorry charlie, no more. if all cable subscribers cancelled for a month, just think what would happen, not flying an airline, see what happens. another provider will fill the void with better service.
Elwood Apr 7th 2010 8:02AM
I see what I predicted has come to pass back when the non smoking was put in place years ago . I am a non smoker I predicted that smoking issue will lead to many changes charging for pillows food blankets cramping seats closer together charging for 2 seat for overweight people charging for baggage. Nasty smelling people, loud kids. I have not flown since the smoking ban nor will I. I have driven my own car or rented one for long trips. I have choosing to do this more for my own protest airlines for removing another persons rights.
In a perfect world a public service should by law accommodate everyone's need and requirements ,Oh wait this service is a pay as you go service , stop whinning and grumping and stfu and pay or drive where you are going
Linda Cribb Apr 7th 2010 8:17AM
Why doesn't Spirit just post the fare, say, $234 instead of $189??? No one travels with no bags at all. Since the seats are so low to the floor now it's nearly impossible to put anything but a purse under the one in front of you. This nickle and diming the passengers has become outrageous. Just raise the fares and be done with it!