Jazmin Li
Spirit Airlines is known for its low ticket prices, but it also has a reputation for charging additional fees for services like printing boarding passes and baggage. The airline's baggage policy is considered one of the most restrictive, with fees for both carry-on and checked bags. Passengers are allowed one personal item, such as a small backpack, but anything larger will incur a fee. These fees vary depending on when the allowance is purchased, with the lowest fees during online flight booking and the highest at the gate. While most Spirit airport locations no longer accept cash, some airports have cash conversion kiosks that allow passengers to convert cash to a prepaid debit card for a fee.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cash accepted at airport for luggage | No, Spirit Airlines does not accept cash at most airport locations. |
| Cash accepted at some airport locations | No, Spirit Airlines does not accept cash at any airport locations. |
| Cash conversion kiosks available | Yes, most airports have cash conversion kiosks to convert cash into a prepaid debit card. |
| Cost of cash conversion | $5 at domestic locations, $6 at international locations. |
| Carry-on baggage fees | $37 if purchased online during flight booking, $45 during online check-in, $55 at the airport, $65 at the gate. |
| Checked baggage fees | Less than the cost of a carry-on bag. |
| Checked baggage weight limit | 40 pounds. |
| Overweight baggage fee | $50 per bag if 41-50 pounds, $75 per bag if 50-70 pounds, $75 per bag if 71-100 pounds. |
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What You'll Learn
Spirit Airlines does not accept cash at most airport locations
Spirit Airlines has a reputation for charging additional fees for services such as printing boarding passes and baggage. While the airline does allow passengers to bring one personal item, such as a small backpack, onboard for free, passengers must pay for any additional carry-on or checked baggage. The fee for bringing a larger item on board varies depending on when the allowance is purchased, with the price increasing the later the purchase is made.
Although some airlines, such as JetBlue, offer ReadyStation kiosks in airport lobbies that allow passengers to convert cash to prepaid debit cards for purchases, Spirit Airlines does not accept cash at most airport locations. This includes cash, traveller's checks, certified (cashier's) checks, or money orders. The airline strongly encourages guests who use prepaid debit/gift cards to keep the card until their travel is complete, as any applicable refund can only be issued to the original form of payment.
Spirit Airlines specifies that the following airport locations accept credit/debit cards only at both the ticket counters and in the gate area: St. Croix, USVI (STX), St. Louis, Missouri (STL), St. Maarten, St. Maarten (SXM), and St. Thomas, USVI (STT). However, most airports served by Spirit have cash conversion kiosks available for guests to convert cash into a prepaid debit card for a nominal fee.
It is important to note that some individuals have reported attempting to bypass the additional baggage fees by checking in online and proceeding directly to security without interacting with any agents. While some claim success with this method, it is not guaranteed, and passengers may still be required to pay for their baggage at the gate.
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Cash conversion kiosks are available at most airports
Spirit Airlines does not accept cash, traveller's cheques, certified/cashier's cheques, money orders, or Apple Pay as a form of payment at the airport. The airline strongly encourages passengers to use credit/debit cards, gift cards, vouchers, credits, and PayPal for their purchases.
However, cash conversion kiosks are available at most airports. These kiosks allow passengers to convert their cash into prepaid debit cards, which can then be used for purchases at Spirit Airlines. There is a small fee for using this service, which is typically $5 at domestic locations and $6 at international locations. The charges associated with the use of a cash conversion machine are collected by the company that owns and operates the machine.
It is important to note that Spirit Airlines has a reputation for charging additional fees for services such as printing boarding passes at the airport and for carry-on and checked baggage. Passengers are advised to be prepared to pay extra if they wish to bring most types of luggage onboard. The airline uses a dynamic pricing model for carry-on and checked bags, so the price may vary depending on the flight and the time of purchase.
Additionally, Spirit Airlines has a lower baggage weight limit compared to other airlines, with a limit of 40 pounds per checked bag. Passengers exceeding this limit will be subject to surcharge fees, which can quickly add up. Therefore, passengers should be mindful of the airline's baggage restrictions and fees when planning their travel.
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Carry-on and checked baggage fees are charged by Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines is known for its restrictive baggage policy, which includes charging passengers for carry-on and checked baggage. This is in addition to the airline's already low ticket prices and helps to keep costs down.
The airline has a dynamic pricing model for carry-on and checked bags, meaning that flight times can affect bag pricing. For example, a carry-on bag could cost between $41 and $55. The fee for bringing a carry-on bag also depends on when the allowance is purchased. If purchased online during the flight booking process, the fee is typically $37. If purchased during online check-in, the fee increases to $45, then $55 at the airport, and $65 at the gate.
Passengers are allowed one personal item that fits entirely in the smaller sizer box (e.g. a purse or small backpack) at no extra cost. A personal item must not exceed 45 x 35 x 20 cm. Carry-on baggage must be no bigger than 56 x 46 x 25 cm.
Spirit Airlines also has a lower baggage weight limit than most other airlines, with a limit of 40 pounds per checked bag. An overweight fee of $50 is charged for bags weighing 41-50 pounds, with additional fees for bags weighing more.
Spirit Airlines does not accept cash, traveller's checks, certified/cashier's checks, or money orders as forms of payment at most airport locations. However, passengers can use cash conversion kiosks at most airports to convert cash to prepaid debit cards for a fee.
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Dynamic pricing model for carry-on and checked bags
Dynamic pricing is a strategy that airlines are increasingly adopting for everything from luggage to legroom. This strategy is enticing to the industry as it promises higher revenues from ancillaries. However, it is not very popular with passengers as it makes it harder for them to compare flight costs beyond base fares. Dynamic pricing for carry-on and checked bags can be based on various factors such as demand, flight routes, time of purchase, flight destination, service class, and whether the purchase occurs online or at the airport.
For example, Canadian carrier Lynx Air introduced dynamic pricing for carry-on bags on its short-haul flights. The price for a carry-on bag now ranges from $59.99 to $66.49 when booking or checking in online, compared to a single $39.99 charge for carry-on allowance purchased online before February 14. Another Canadian carrier, WestJet, does not use dynamic pricing but warns customers that baggage fees for the first and second checked bags increase by $10 within 24 hours of departure.
New York-based JetBlue Airways also introduced dynamic pricing for bags in 2024, with the cost of checking a bag varying according to whether the flight is during a "peak" or "off-peak" period. Peak dates include major holidays and summer travel, which make up about half the year. As a result, passengers travelling during peak dates and paying for their bags at the airport may end up paying as much as $50 for the first checked bag and $70 for the second.
While Spirit Airlines does not explicitly mention dynamic pricing, its baggage fees are generally higher on long-haul international flights. Additionally, some passengers have reported that the airline does not always strictly enforce carry-on baggage fees, especially at crowded airports like Miami, where gate agents may be more concerned with getting everyone in than collecting fees. However, other passengers have reported being charged for carry-on bags at the gate, with the fee charged to the same card used for purchasing the ticket.
Spirit Airlines also no longer accepts cash, traveller's checks, certified cheques, or money orders as a form of payment at most airport locations, including the gate area. However, most airports have cash conversion kiosks available, where passengers can convert cash into a prepaid debit card for a fee.
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Spirit Airlines' baggage weight limit is 40 pounds
It is unclear whether Spirit Airlines accepts cash at the airport for luggage. However, according to the airline's website, most airport locations no longer accept cash, traveller's checks, certified checks, or money orders as a form of payment. They strongly encourage the use of credit/debit cards for payment. Some Spirit airport locations accept credit/debit cards only at the ticket counters and in the gate area. However, most airports have cash conversion kiosks available, allowing guests to convert cash into a prepaid debit card for a fee.
Now, regarding the baggage weight limit, Spirit Airlines has a standard checked bag weight limit of 40 pounds or less. This weight limit is part of the airline's baggage policy, which passengers must adhere to. The checked bag should also have dimensions of 63 linear inches or less, including handles, straps, and wheels. It is important to note that Spirit Airlines charges fees for carry-on and checked luggage, except for a free personal item. The price of these fees varies depending on whether you pay during online check-in or at the airport, with online check-in usually offering better deals.
It is worth mentioning that Spirit Airlines provides special baggage allowances for active-duty military personnel and infants. Active military personnel can avail of two free standard-size checked bags, a free carry-on, and a personal item at no additional cost. Meanwhile, passengers travelling with infants can carry a diaper bag in addition to their regular carry-on allowance, and they can check-in car seats and strollers for free at the gate.
To avoid any unexpected charges, it is essential for Spirit Airlines passengers to be mindful of the luggage size and weight restrictions outlined in their baggage policy. By adhering to these restrictions, passengers can ensure a smoother travel experience and avoid additional costs.
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Frequently asked questions
Most Spirit Airlines airport locations no longer accept cash as a form of payment. They only accept credit/debit cards at the ticket counters and in the gate area. However, most airports have cash conversion kiosks available where you can convert cash into a prepaid debit card for a small fee.
The fee for bringing luggage onboard varies according to when the allowance is purchased. If purchased online during the flight booking process, the fee is typically $37. If purchased during online check-in, the fee increases to $45. It then increases to $55 at the airport or $65 at the gate.
You can avoid paying for luggage at the airport counter by checking in online before your flight and going straight to security. However, please note that you will still need to pay for any checked bags, and the weight and size of your carry-on luggage will be checked while you're in line to board/scan boarding passes.
