Spirit Airlines First to Charge for Carry-On Luggage

Spirit Airlines has become the first airline in the United States to start charging for carry-on bags stowed in the overhead bins. Passengers who pay to have large carry on items will be allowed to board first, while those who do not will board last with boarding passes printed with “No Carry On Bags”. If, for some reason, a traveler does have a carry-on and didn’t pay the fee, that person will be forced to pay via credit card at the gate.  By separating the travelers based on their carry-on needs, gate officials will be able to monitor who brings what on to the plane and where they put it.

Spirit Airlines will charge $30 for carry on bags paid for in advance and $45 for carry ons charged at the gate. All passengers who have a small personal item or a small laptop case will be allowed to store their items under the seat free of charge.

In a recent effort to revamp their fees, Spirit Airlines now suggests that frequent travelers join the “$9 Fare Club” to get discounted base fares and fees for traveling. Spirit’s Chief Operating Officer Ken McKenzie believes that having fewer items in the cabin will improve flight safety with the overall hope of lowering Spirits’ other additional fees. Since airlines have started charging for checked bags, more passengers carry on excessively large items to stow in the over head bins in order to avoid the fees – this latest effort by Spirit hopes to create a balance between checked baggage and carry-ons, making boarding more efficient and safer.

Travelers who will be affected by this new policy change are passengers flying after August 1st. If you are traveling with Spirit Airlines, make sure to pack as light as possible in order to avoid the hassle of these additional fees. Pack less, pay less, and you will have less troubles flying.

[Photo jeffmcneill / Flickr]