I’ve only flown Spirit Airlines once with a backpack on a cheap $30-something fare to Chicago a few years ago. The flight was fine, but after the hassle of getting home when the flight canceled due to bad weather, I haven’t considered the airline since – sometimes it’s just worth it to pay more for the extra peace of mind.
Spirit Airlines is a “no-frills” ultra-discount carrier that often attracts travelers by offering super-low fares, but then charges for virtually everything under the sun, including carry-on bags, choosing a seat, and even printing a boarding pass. Love it or hate it, it’s a business model that works, and I don’t see them changing anytime soon.
I recently met a nice gentleman at the New York Times Travel show during my “Meet The Experts” session, and he and I shared some quirky flying tips. He told me he loves flying on Spirit Airlines, and has mastered flying with extra gear every time.
If you look closely at Spirit Airline’s baggage policy, this is what it says:
Remember: You can bring one personal item and bring items like an umbrella, camera, infant diaper bag, assistive devices, outer garments (e.g., coats, hats and wraps), reading material and food for the flight for no additional charge.
So every time my new friend flies, he brings his backpack as his personal item, and then another bag. When the gate agent insists he must pay for the second bag, he tells them that inside he has “food for consumption, a camera, reading material, outer garments and medical devices”. Whether true or not, he says he boards without a problem.
It’s definitely a case of YMMV, but if he’s at least honest about what he’s bringing on board, I don’t see him cheating the system. If anything he’s doing what everyone should be doing in the first place: learning the policies ahead of time and making smart choices.
What do you think? Were you previously aware of the baggage policy exceptions listed above?
That’s why we can’t have nice things. When people cheat the system I don’t blame them but if a bunch of people start doing this then one of two things will happen. Either fares and bag fees will go up or they will ban these legit items and make you pay for them. Just my opinion. It would be like a restaurant that charges for self serve soft drinks and you go up and tell them you just want a cup for water but actually get soda.
@daninmci. The comparison to stealing soda doesn’t make sense as the items listed by Spirit are “free” items and not items that we pay for.
But I will mention that once I had a bag with just my jacket in it and nothing else. I told the gate agent that I didn’t want to have to carry it by itself and that I didn’t want it to get dirty. I had to take it out of the bag, put the spare bag in the jacket pocket and wear the jacket onto the plane or be charged for a second bag.
The gate agents police this policy very strictly so if those items mentioned are out in the open and not in a second bag, they will allow it – that is, jacket on your arm, camera around your neck, paper bag with a sandwich, newspaper or book in hand, and a cane or walker, if needed.
I don’t see it as cheating the system at all, just complying strictly with their strict policies. Though I take a slightly different approach with similar airline carry on to preclude the gate agent issues that Karen mentions above. I either bring along a jacket or coat with plenty of pockets and put items in it, wearing it to board if need be. Or if I need more space I have a travel vest that can actually hold just about everything I need for a carry-on and is light weight but sturdy.
I agree with Ryan completely. I do think it’s a very fine line with who you are and ending up with what Karen went through. It would be completely random on who you end up dealing with, etc. regardless, I would give it a try definitely. Very slick.
Thank you this feed is very helpful. We are first time flying Spirit airlines.
Would a camera bag consisting of only a camera and lenses be exempt or would they count that?
I flew spirit in April and they let me take my large camera bag. I just had to verify there was just camera equipment in it.