How to Avoid Baggage Fees with Spirit and Other US Budget Airlines

Baggage fees can add up quickly when flying with budget airlines like Spirit, Frontier, or Allegiant. However, with a bit of planning, you can save money and travel smarter. Here’s how to avoid or minimize baggage fees on US budget airlines.

Understand the Airline’s Baggage Policy

Each airline has its own rules for carry-on and checked luggage:

Spirit Airlines: Personal items (e.g., a small backpack) are free, but carry-on and checked bags incur fees.
Frontier Airlines: Similar to Spirit Baggage Policy, personal items are free, but carry-on and checked luggage cost extra.
Allegiant Air: Charges for carry-ons and checked bags, with personal items included for free.

Check the airline’s website to know size and weight limits for free and paid luggage.

Pack Light and Use a Free Personal Item

Choose a bag that fits the airline's personal item size limits (usually about 18 x 14 x 8 inches for Spirit).
Pack efficiently with travel-sized toiletries, versatile clothing, and compact items to fit everything in your personal item.
Use compression packing cubes to maximize space.

Pay for Baggage Early

Purchase baggage allowance during booking for the lowest fees.
Adding baggage later (like at the airport) is significantly more expensive.
Check prices for online check-in versus airport purchases, as online fees are usually lower.

Leverage Bundles or Membership Programs

Spirit Saver$ Club: Members get discounts on baggage fees, fares, and other extras.
Frontier Discount Den: Includes cheaper baggage fees for frequent travelers.
Bundles like Spirit’s "Bundle It" option combine bags, seat selection, and priority boarding for a single discounted fee.

Wear Bulky Items

To save space in your bag, wear heavier or bulkier items like jackets, boots, or sweaters. Use jacket pockets for small items like snacks, chargers, or travel accessories.

Share Baggage Allowance

If traveling with a group, consolidate items into fewer bags to split the cost of checked luggage. For example, pack one large checked bag for everyone instead of multiple smaller ones.

Consider Alternative Airlines

Sometimes flying with a slightly more expensive carrier that includes free carry-on or checked baggage (e.g., Southwest Airlines) may cost less overall than paying for bags with a budget airline.

Use Travel Credit Cards

Certain travel credit cards reimburse baggage fees or include free checked bags as part of their perks.
Examples include airline-branded cards or general travel cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum.

Ship Your Luggage

For longer trips, it may be cheaper to ship your luggage via services like UPS or FedEx rather than paying multiple baggage fees.

Check for Promotions

Occasionally, budget airlines run promotions offering free baggage allowances. Sign up for email alerts and check for these deals.

Conclusion

For Spirit Airhub, Avoiding baggage fees on Spirit Airlines and other budget carriers requires careful planning, packing light, and taking advantage of early payment discounts or membership programs. By following these tips, you can keep your travel costs low while still enjoying the convenience of air travel.

Travel smart, pack light, and save big on your next trip!