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Spirit Airlines to charge for carry-on luggage
Spirit Airlines says it is progressing to the next phase of unbundling with the introduction of a charge to carry on a bag and be boarded first onto the airplane.
Published: 07 Apr 2010
Spirit Airlines says it is progressing to the next phase of unbundling with the introduction of a charge to carry on a bag and be boarded first onto the airplane.
The airline says it is taking this initiative in order to continue reducing fares and offering customers the option of paying only for the services they want and use rather than subsidising the choices of others.
The new carry-on bag fee is effective for reservations purchased after April 5, 2010, for travel August 1, 2010 and beyond, and will be available for purchase on or before July 1, 2010.
Spirit Airlines stated that the fee applies to carry-ons to be placed in overhead bins and includes priority boarding in Zone 1. Personal items that fit under the seat are free.
“In addition to lowering fares even further, this will reduce the number of carry-on bags, which will improve inflight safety and efficiency by speeding up the boarding and deplaning process, all of which ultimately improve the overall customer experience,” says Spirit’s Chief Operating Officer Ken McKenzie. “Bring less; pay less. It’s simple.”
Details
As per the information available, fliers that do not belong to the $9 Fare Club will have to pay up to $45 each way to put a bag in the airline’s overhead storage bins if they don’t declare their bags until they get to the gate. The fee drops to $30 for customers who “reserve” a spot before getting to the gate – either online or at a ticket counter. Members of the Fare Club pay $20.
Carry-on Personal Items (Under Seat Space): Personal items that fit under the seat are free, such as a purse, briefcase, backpack or laptop computer. Dimensions must not exceed 16 inches by 14 inches by 12 inches. New personal item bag sizers will be available at Spirit airport locations.
Carry-on Bags (Overhead Bin Space): Dimensions for paid carry-on bags for overhead bin space must not exceed 22 inches by 18 inches by 10 inches.
Exceptions to the carry-on bag fee are: umbrella, assistive devices, outer garments (coats, hats, wraps), camera, car seat/stroller, infant diaper bag, medicine, pet container, reading material for the flight, or food for immediate consumption.
Transparency
Spirit also recently introduced its Fuel Pass Through Calculation to ensure transparency in fuel costs, making sure customers know how much of their reservation is for the fuel to cover their trip.
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