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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 5 of 8)
DJ Apr 7th 2010 10:33AM
Between rude employees (on the ground AND in the air) and all the extra fees, I'll drive myself!!!!!!!!!!!
guy Apr 7th 2010 10:35AM
I have never even heard of spirit airlines, and I will be surprised if they are still in business at this time next year.
Susan Apr 7th 2010 10:41AM
I am glad the airlines are finally charging a fee for carryon luggage. It is absolutely terrible the amount of luggage some families bring on to the plane and the space they take up from other people who just want to bring a few small personal items with them. However, $45 is a little steep and should only be $25. And all checked in luggage should be FREE FREE FREE. 2 per passenger just as it was a few years ago. Seat selection should also be free regardless of where you seat on the plane. And, the airlines need to go back to serving a FREE meal when a flight is more than 2 hours from start to finish.
maire Apr 7th 2010 10:41AM
I say HOOORAY!!!! for this charge and I hope every airline imposes it. I'm tired of having to take the one small bad I carry out of the overhead and store it under my feet (at the request of the airline staff) so that a family with two toddlers can stash eight large rollie bags in the overheads. Why should I be doubled up even more for the flight because I pack conservatively and actually CHECK luggage?
esq1128 Apr 7th 2010 10:48AM
Southwest Airlines still makes a profit without all these fees. Fly Southwest instead that is if U R lucky 2 have Southwest Airlines in your area.
william Apr 7th 2010 10:49AM
I'll never fly that airline! What a joke and slap in the face to travelers!!!
boston man Apr 7th 2010 10:49AM
looks like my last spirit ticket has been purchased
i wont be flying spirit again and neither will the family and friends
enough is enough with this airline nickel and diming us
guy Apr 7th 2010 10:50AM
I have not flown (commercial airlines) since April of 2001 and do not EVER intend to do so again! It would not bother me a bit to see the entire airline industry go belly up, with the exception of Southwest Airlines, which has been hamstrung from the get-go by an idiot named Wright!
Denise Shehab Apr 7th 2010 11:02AM
So, the next step is charging for the oxigen you breath on board!!!! I will never fly Spirit again. It ends up being more expensive than the others with all the charges added on & then you are so cramped in your seat! and sometimes they make an unscheduled or unadvertised stop on the way. And when this happens, why aren't they fined for false advertising like other companies are?
Forget about loyalty! That is the new motto in American Capitalism, it is also the downfall!!!!
Janet Apr 7th 2010 10:53AM
This is by far the worst airlines I'v ever flown. We flew from Los Angeles to Atlanta, and had a 3 hour delay for our trip to the Bahamas. The plane was crampled and so small. They had no food, no blankets, no pillow, no tv, and the attendents were the worst. The terminal was just as bad as the plane. Once we got to Atlanta, we had another 2 hour delay. We weren't offered any refreshments, and the plane was just as cramped and small as the one that left California. The reservation system left my daughter off the list, and everytime I called, I got the Philippines, and was always told someone would call back. One week before the trip, still no call back. I finally started hitting random digits on the phone, and actually got someone on the phone (a pilot if you can believe that) He transferred my call to the customer service manager, who thankfully took care of it. The scary part if that if the pilot hadn't picked up the phone, we don't know what would've happened. I wrote a letter to them after the trip, and surprise, surprise, no response. By far, the worst airlines ever!!!! They have a hell of a nerve to charge for baggage. The are truly a no frills airline.
Bruce Apr 7th 2010 11:09AM
If it's all about weight and the cost of fuel then passengers should be charged for a seat according to their weight. If I weigh180 lbs and my bags weigh 50 lbs why should I pay as much as the 250 lbs passenger whose bags also weigh 50 lbs? That passenger has put 70 lbs more on the plane than me. How's that fair?
RAY Apr 7th 2010 2:53PM
I am all for charging tickets based on weight/size, but I think it's illegal. Something about discrimination.
Kevin Apr 7th 2010 11:00AM
@Don, if you were soo elite you would be flying on your private jet but guess your a low life like the rest of us who travel on commercial airlines... really get a life!
As far as Spirit, I say we all Boycott them on Aug 1st. As long as we the public allow these companies to get over on everything, trust me they will. They have really taken away the joys and pleasures of flying. Where has customer service gone??? Its all about numbers and making the books look impressive....
Matthew B. Zwick Apr 7th 2010 11:01AM
What a kick in the rear for the public. Spirit airlines should be Wareing a Mask and have gun in hand. It's a bend over hold up. A pox on them.
It's a down rite Rip Off. Will never fly them again. They can kiss me where the sun don't shine. MBZ.
bjjacobson60016 Apr 7th 2010 11:03AM
What the airlines should do is to enforce the carry on bag size. I see people carrying full sized suitcases and large garment bags on the plane and the flight attendant either places them in a closet or crams them in an overhead bin taking up the space that other passengers could use. These people should have their baggage checked at the gate and be charges like everybody else.
RAY Apr 7th 2010 1:16PM
Don't they already do that? I know American and JetBlue have a little container that your luggage needs to fit into or it's not allowed on board and you need to check in. JetBlue doesn't charge (last time I went) for first checkin, but a lot of people don't like to checkin because of the hassle of getting your luggage when you land. That's an extra half hour to an hour. Also, as mentioned there is the real possibility that your luggage will get lost. I've known many friends that lost luggage. Example, my friend convinced a female friend to check in her luggage which she normally doesn't do. That one time she checked it in... it gets lost. She didn't let him hear the end of it the whole vacation! Now.. none of my friends check in luggage.
Mel Apr 7th 2010 11:05AM
Obama's stimulus package to the rescue. A smart company that makes purses and oversize soft sided luggage will now measure the size that will fit under the seat and new, improved, large purses and carry ons will now be manufactured.
Actually, I don't think this will last very long. People will avoid Spirit Airlines like the plague. The new name of the airline will be Mean Spirit Airlines.
Margie Apr 7th 2010 11:33AM
Spirit Airlines employees better get their resumes ready to go. They will be job hunting soon.
This airline is heading for bankruptcy since no one will fly them with this ridiculous charge.
joann Apr 7th 2010 11:11AM
i have a different issue with flying.....some years ago, i took flying lessons.....i finally quit because it was an endless money pit...
but...because of those lessons...i have never flown on a commercial plane again.....on a commercial plane , you are putting your life in the hands of someone you know next to nothing about...did they have a bad fight with their wife the night before...do they have a hangover...or god forbid...are they half drunk .....are they suicidal....are they on drugs...prescription or otherwise.....did they have enough sleep the night before....etc....this scares the daylights out of me and i have not flown commercial since.....
add all this to the searches...no food...charging for every little thing...being cramped in seats too close together....being treated like so much cattle....the high prices...the cost of bad food in the air port....i do not fly commercial
it is amazing how pleasurable it is to drive and enjoy the trip....i am now 73 years old and i drive every summer from kansas to oregon....i am female and drive alone....one of my favorite things to do is explore for locally owned family restaurants to eat.....i have had some of the most amazing meals and service..i have stopped along the way and enjoyed watching chipmonks in the woods....have even washed my hair in a mountain stream.....i usually stay in "good" motels that have swimming pools.....my trips are pleasurable.....i literally, stop to smell the flowers......this is a peaceful and relaxing time for me....the airlines can keep all their stress....
RAY Apr 7th 2010 1:16PM
A lot of people have no choice. You can't drive overseas.