Checked in bags are...

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
617
121
ridiculous!

I haven't flown since 2008 and before that I flown all the time. I'm not sure if I'll fly Southwest where there is no fee or spirit. Thing is, going to Chicago Midway is cheaper than O'scare. But it's a rough 15 miles out of the way from where my cousin would pick me up since O'scare is closer.

My question here is: What in the world is before online check in and durinig online check in? I assume you check in over the Internet?




I plan on taking my laptop and I guess just to lug that with would cost $40-$55? I might even be able to pack everything I need in one back pack since I only plan on being there three days. So that would be an additional $40-$55? Or maybe not?
 
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Newbian

Lifer
Aug 24, 2008
24,770
865
126
Why do you need to do a checked bag for just 3 days?

A decent sized carry on will work even with a laptop.
 

Matthiasa

Diamond Member
May 4, 2009
5,755
23
81
I've never been charged a fee for carry-on bags... Not that it might not already be priced in.
 

tynopik

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2004
5,245
500
126
My question here is: What in the world is before online check in and durinig online check in? I assume you check in over the Internet?

yes, you can check in online starting 24 hours before departure

so 'before online check in' is basically when you order your tickets assuming that is more than 24 hours in advance
 

Spineshank

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2001
7,728
1
71
Frontier does the same thing. Except I can fly into Philly for about $200 less on Frontier most of the time.
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
Spirit has a business model of lowest base fare and charging more for everything besides the seat on the plane. That works great for a lot of people but not for everyone. Depending on the particulars they can still be cheaper even after a bunch of add-on costs.

When Spirit's base fare is $300 cheaper than the big airline, paying to check bags or carry them on is not a deal-breaker. But they have tiny seats.
 

ControlD

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2005
5,440
44
91
Spirit is great for certain types of flights. If I am traveling somewhere like Minneapolis or any other short (2-3 hours) destination out of Detroit it always seems to be quite a bit cheaper than the competition. Just make sure you follow their very strict but also clearly laid out rules. I actually appreciate the fact that they enforce the carry-on size limit. Cuts down quite a bit on the typical asshole traveler trying to take his huge suitcase on the plane.

I never had a problem with the seat size, but I am not plus sized either. Even after three checked bags my family saved a couple hundred dollars flying to Minneapolis earlier this year. I call that a win.
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
I just flew with them for the first time about three weeks ago. Most comfortable coach seat I have ever sat in. I'm usually squirming trying to find a comfortable spot but not on either flight.

To answer the OP, you get one personal item at no charge. There is a size limitation on that personal item of 16" x 14" x 12". Stories vary on the zest with which they enforce that. The problem with rolling the dice on it is if they decide to enforce on that flight and you have an oversize item, it will cost $100 to have it checked at the gate. There is a $10 charge for not checking in online. So you will want to do that within the 24 hour window before your flight departure and print out your boarding pass. If you determine that you will need an additional carry-on or checked bag, it is cheapest before you check in online. The chart you've shown explains the rest.

I was gone for five days and packed toiletries, clothing and my laptop in a bag the above size. They were not scrutinizing bags but there were empty seats on both flights. On my return, I was the only one in my row.

I rarely fly these days. Only once every couple of years if that. Be aware concerning the rules for liquids. I was unaware that it applied to aerosols too and had to throw away a can of spray antiperspirant that was only slightly over their size limit.

$121 round trip Detroit to Fort Myers. Pretty happy with the fare but I hate flying out of Detroit as it is close to an hour and a half away with no direct route to get there. Flint is a piece of cake at 20 minutes. But Spirit no longer flies out of Flint.
 
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EOM

Senior member
Mar 20, 2015
479
14
81
Southwest....
I fly between 4 and 8 round trips a month.. they take good care of me.... checked bags are free, we'll the first two anyway. Though I try to avoid checking bags in the first place so I don't have to wait for them.
 

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
13,518
42
86
Spirit is okay, I flew with them few months ago because all alternate flights were either (1) several hundred dollars more, (2) departed at 6am, or (3) involved a ridiculously stupid layover.

The problem with Spirit is if a flight is delayed, it's a ripple effect throughout their whole system. They have very tight turnaround times, so one delayed flight (due to weather perhaps), causes havoc for the next half-dozen flights that plane is scheduled to make. And the airline is just not big enough to make alternate accommodations for flight delays and cancellations.

You can fly Spirit and it'll be the exact same experience as the major carriers but hella cheaper. Other times it's a nightmare of delays and missed flights.
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
I've never been charged a fee for carry-on bags... Not that it might not already be priced in.

Not yet, but it's coming. After they hiked the checked bag prices, airlines found that everyone was stuffing as much as they could into carry-on. So they're now strictly enforcing the size of carry-on baggage. Won't be long before they start charging extra for that too.

Now that oil (and presumably Jet A) prices have plummeted, they can't really make the fuel cost argument anymore. It's a user fee. Keep the cost of the ticket the same but make literally everything else extra.

I'd probably travel more but flying just such a pain in the ass. It's fast sure, but it's expensive and inconvenient. They treat you like cattle.
 

Newell Steamer

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2014
6,894
8
0
Sometimes, if not enough people check in their bags, they will take them for you at no charge at the gate.

Either way, if you don't like/want to check in your bag, pack lighter.
 

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
Yep pack as much as you can carry on and forget bag checking. You can take a normal roller case, and a backpack on the plane.

Unless I'm going for over a week, or know I'll be bringing a bunch of stuff back, I make it work in just those 2 items.
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
Now that oil (and presumably Jet A) prices have plummeted, they can't really make the fuel cost argument anymore.
I'm not sure if that's necessarily true. My guess is that they enter into contracts at a fixed price or a price range. Depending on the terms of that contract they may not be gleaning the savings one would think when fuel prices drop. I'd think the contracts would not be long in duration so eventually, yes, they would see that savings. I honestly don't know, I'm just conjecturing.
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
You can take a normal roller case, and a backpack on the plane.
But that's not the case with Spirit. One personal item for free. There is an charge for the additional item along with a size restriction. Let's not give the OP bad advice.
 

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,499
3,611
126
The problem with Spirit is if a flight is delayed, it's a ripple effect throughout their whole system. They have very tight turnaround times, so one delayed flight (due to weather perhaps), causes havoc for the next half-dozen flights that plane is scheduled to make. And the airline is just not big enough to make alternate accommodations for flight delays and cancellations.

They also won't work with other airlines to get you to your destination and rarely increase staffing for issues so expect longer lines and wait times for even small issues
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,099
6,003
126
lol @ buying the cheapest ticket available with Spirit airlines then crying about them nickle and diming you.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,099
6,003
126
Spirit is okay, I flew with them few months ago because all alternate flights were either (1) several hundred dollars more, (2) departed at 6am, or (3) involved a ridiculously stupid layover.

The problem with Spirit is if a flight is delayed, it's a ripple effect throughout their whole system. They have very tight turnaround times, so one delayed flight (due to weather perhaps), causes havoc for the next half-dozen flights that plane is scheduled to make. And the airline is just not big enough to make alternate accommodations for flight delays and cancellations.

You can fly Spirit and it'll be the exact same experience as the major carriers but hella cheaper. Other times it's a nightmare of delays and missed flights.

my friends had a bigger problem with spirit when leaving vegas a few years ago - spirit never told them the flight was canceled and they went to the airport only to find out they had no way to get home.

then spirit only refunded them for the return flight which was dirt cheap, and they had to spend about $500 out of pocket to get a last minute flight home from another airline because the next spirit flight they could get on went out like 3 days later.