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Does Spirit really check for carry ons?

The maximum Spirit Airlines carry-on size is 22 x 18 x 10 inches, including handles and wheels. Spirit checks oddly sized carry-on bags at the gate, so stick to carry-on luggage that matches these dimensions.



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Spirit Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance: There is no free Spirit Airlines checked baggage allowance. Passengers can check up to five bags into the hold but must pay a fee. Each bag must not exceed 62 inches (158 cm) in total dimensions, or 40 lbs (18.1 kg).

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If you don't pay for a carry-on bag, your boarding pass will show you're not allowed to bring one onboard. Trust us: Don't try to sneak one on. Personal items like purses or backpacks are different – they don't count as your Spirit Airlines carry-on.

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What is Considered a Personal Item on Spirit Airlines. Your luggage can be any shape as long as it fits inside those strict dimensions. That goes for purses, backpacks, duffel bags, laptop cases, tote bags and, of course, the Bento Bag.

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A personal item is any type of luggage that fits underneath the plane seat in front of you. Most domestic airlines in the United States require a personal item to be 18” x 14” x 8” or smaller in size. Personal items can include a purse, briefcase, small backpack, laptop bag, weekender or small duffel bag.

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Usually, many airlines won't check every carry-on but will instead go for ones that look oversized. If your luggage does not fit in the sizer, you might have to pay a checked bag fee along with the gate checking fee and have your bag transferred to the airplane's cargo.

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A backpack can be your carry on if it meets your airline's carry on size limits. A personal item is a smaller, secondary bag, which you'll stow under the seat in front of you. Read Carry Ons vs. Personal Items for more on the differences between the two.

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In general, your personal item should be smaller than your carry-on and under the specific airline's carry-on dimensions, allowing it to fit under the seat in front of you. In most cases, backpacks are considered personal items as long as they fit under the seat in front of you.

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Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked baggage.

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Backpacks, totes, and crossbody bags are typically considered personal items too. The key to remember is it must be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you. A carry-on is a type of hand luggage that you bring into the plane cabin with you and is larger than a personal item.

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Does a Duffel Bag Count as a Carry-on or Personal Item? While it may vary by airline, there is one hard-and-fast rule when it comes to personal items: The bag needs to fit under the seat in front of you. If it doesn't, it is considered a carry-on.

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For frequent budget airline flyers, you might want to think about investing in one of these bad boys. If you do have to bring an extra bag, it's usually cheaper to pay for a checked bag (to discourage carry-ons and thus speed up the boarding process). Traveling with family or a close friend?

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So, yes, if your backpack is small enough that you can fit it under the seat in front of you, then it's a personal item. This designation becomes especially important when you're flying on a low-cost carrier or have booked a basic economy ticket on a larger airline.

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Unless you're violating some universal law of packing light. There is only one true workaround for getting around the no carry-on rule without paying the fee: It all must fit in a personal item, which also must fit underneath a seat.

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Both Spirit and Frontier are requiring all passengers to test personal items in sizing racks at boarding to determine if it meets the appropriate dimensions. If your bag does not fit within the sizer, you will be charged an additional $99 to upgrade to a carry-on or checked bag.

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