How to avoid bag fees on Spirit Airlines by utilizing the free personal item

It's well-known that airlines profit from various fees. Ultra low-cost carriers generate a significant portion of their income through charges for bags, seat selections, changes, and more. As these "extra" revenues have increased, the maximum size for free carry-on personal items (such as a backpack or purse) on these budget airlines has decreased.

A few years back, Spirit Airlines further cut the maximum size for the free personal item carry-on to 18 x 14 x 8 inches, including handles and wheels. So, just how small is Spirit Airlines' personal item allowance, and is it sufficient to avoid fees for checked or carry-on baggage? Let’s explore.

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Save money by making the most of your free personal item allowance

Spirit Airlines can charge up to $65 per leg for a full-sized carry-on bag if you wait until you reach the gate to pay (or if you get caught with an oversized personal item at the gate). You can reduce that fee to as low as $37 per carry-on if you pay during the initial online booking (even less for $9 Fare Club members), but that’s still a significant amount—potentially more than your actual ticket price.

However, if you can cleverly pack your belongings into a free personal item, you can avoid the $74+ round-trip fee for a carry-on bag.

What are the dimensions of a free Spirit Airlines personal item?

To give you an idea of the allowed dimensions for a free personal item, a classic JanSport Right Pack backpack, popular among high school students, measures 18 x 13 x 8.5 inches, as noted on the company's website.

While this is technically half an inch over Spirit's free personal item size limit in one direction, I’ve never seen Spirit Airlines enforce size restrictions that strictly. I would bet that this size backpack would be perfectly acceptable as a free carry-on.

A purse, laptop bag, or similar item with comparable dimensions would also be perfectly fine as a free personal item carry-on.

If that seems too small for your trip, it's really not. My parents have managed all their Spirit Airlines travels (including skiing trips) by solely using a free personal item. They wear their bulkier clothing and only pack the essentials.

I've done the same for long weekend getaways—here are some tips to help you effectively pack in your free Spirit personal item.

For comparison, United Airlines also allows just one free personal item (no full-sized carry-on) with many of its Basic Economy fares. United's maximum free personal item dimensions are actually smaller than Spirit's, measuring 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches. Meanwhile, low-cost rival Frontier Airlines has the same free personal item size limit as Spirit.

When assessing if that space is sufficient, keep in mind that medical devices (like formula and breast pumps), an infant diaper bag, a car seat, and a stroller do not count toward your free item allowance.

If you require a larger bag

If fitting everything into a free personal item isn't enough and you need to pay for bags on Spirit Airlines, remember that checking a bag is usually a few dollars cheaper than paying for a carry-on.

It’s also wise to pack for the entire family into one or two larger checked or carry-on bags, while each traveler makes the most of their free personal item, rather than paying for a checked bag for everyone. Make sure to purchase that bag as early as possible (ideally at the time of booking) since prices increase the longer you wait.

If you have a credit card that offers an annual travel credit or incidental airline fee credit, you might be able to use these to offset Spirit Airlines' bag fees. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides an annual $300 travel credit that you can use on travel expenses as you see fit.

In summary

While the dimensions of Spirit Airlines' free carry-on personal item aren't extensive, they are sufficient for basic packing on a short trip. If you're planning to fly with Spirit Airlines soon, here’s a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know when traveling with Spirit Airlines and tips for flying Spirit Airlines with a family.