fgmom

Spirit Airlines to Caribbean - Need help w/carryon question.
Posted by: mlbcruiser on May 21, 13 at 5:11pm
Posted in: Caribbean Islands
Jump to last reply Add a Reply
Share with a Friend
Report Abuse Can't find a good place to ask this question, but since in this case it is in regard to a flight to the caribbean, I'm asking it on this forum.

We have to fly Spirit Airlines to the caribbean as that is the carrier that provided the air with the pkg. vacation we purchased. . We do NOT want to pay their carryon fee. According to their website, passengers can bring on a personal item (examples are handbags & backpacks), but the size limit is: 16 in. x 14 in. 12 in. . What I am wondering is how strict they will be regarding the actual no. of inches? The reason? I have found several very moderately sized backpacks that are exactly 17 " in length, top to bottom. . All of the other measurements are within the allowed size. Does anyone have experience w/Spirit and know just how strongly they adhere to the exact size to the inch?
Would like to hear from someone who really knows Spirit's tendency and has flown with them. Thanks for any help!
2 Replies | Jump to last reply | Add a Reply
Report Abuse
blamona on May 21, 13 at 8:06pm Most of the time you'll be fine. Sometimes they have a rod iron "cutout" that you can place your bag for size at the gate. If it doesn't come up easily (and it will be bigger with stuff in it) then they make you check it in at the gate. Check ins at the gate aren't charged.

fgmom

I am bumping this for more info? I have the same problem and am wondering if they a) whip out a measuring tape and are super strict, or 2) they have a bin-type measuring device, and if the carryon fits inside it, it's okay?

With a 17" backpack, it would be easy to understuff it a bit and it would fit into a bin and be okay?

Any help would be extremely appreciated!!!

RoamsAround

The problem with these types of questions is you'll only get anecdotal replies such as "when I flew they didn't check the size of my bag". The point being, how strictly the gate agents enforce the carry-on size restrictions is somewhat arbitrary and depends on the "mood" of the gate agent and how diligent they may be in enforcing the "rules" at the time YOU are boarding.

If you have an oversized bag and you are "stopped while boarding" telling the gate agent the contributors on a travel forum told you carrying on an oversized bag would be OK won't amount to a hill of beans.

So, either adhere to the size restrictions or take your chances with a larger bag - it's your choice but be prepared to suffer the consequences.

fgmom

This is a travel forum, no? To ask travel related questions?

My question was valid because I asked if they actually measure them *OR* if they have bins, into which a flimsy bag might actually be able to "fit", making it okay according to their standards. You understand that a 17" bag, understuffed and perhaps even folded, might fit into a 16" bin? Did you actually understand the nature of my question -- Do they typically have bins or do they measure?

I've never flown Spirit before, and if 25 people came on here and said that they have bins, then I would have reasonable confidence that that would be the case for me as well. You get that, right? Most of the info on any forum *is* anecdotal. That's the nature of forums. And no, I could not imagine being clueless enough to argue with an airline employee, with my only ammo being something I read on this forum, from you or anyone else.

If the quote below is actually correct, then that was the answer to my question.

" how strictly the gate agents enforce the carry-on size restrictions is somewhat arbitrary and depends on the "mood" of the gate agent and how diligent they may be in enforcing the "rules" at the time YOU are boarding."

Which was all you really needed to answer rather than giving me a lecture about "facing consequences."

Happily moving on from Fodors' forum. And don't bother to respond, because I won't be reading it. I can see I don't want to be here. I don't typically respond like this, but I am blown away by this rudeness.

alanRow

So rudeness is not getting the answer you want

The fact is that US airlines tend to be a nit more laxidasical in applying their rules than airlines outside the US, therefore it's a crapshoot whether they'll apply the rules or not.