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Spirit Airlines Increases Weight Limit for Checked Bags

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Victoria M. Walker
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Victoria M. Walker

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Victoria holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the Howard University School of Communications and is an award-winning journalist, travel reporter, and the founder of the “Carrying On with Victoria...
Edited by: Nick Ellis
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Nick Ellis

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Nick’s passion for points began as a hobby and became a career. He worked for over 5 years at The Points Guy and has contributed to Business Insider and CNN. He has 14 credit cards and continues to le...

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Ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is known for its bargain-basement fares — but along with those great ticket prices come high ancillary fees that, in some cases, offset the inexpensive tickets.

However, the airline has made some positive changes, particularly regarding checked baggage and travel vouchers. Let’s take a look.

Spirit’s Updated Policies

Spirit Airlines announced on June 4, 2024, that it would make several customer-friendly changes to make flying easier for passengers.

The airline has announced that it has increased the checked-bag weight allowance to 50 pounds (up from 40 pounds). Additionally, it has extended future travel voucher expiration dates to 12 months (for vouchers issued on or after June 3, 2024).

Last month, Spirit eliminated change and cancellation fees for its tickets. This means that now you’ll only pay the difference in fare if changing to a more expensive flight. On the flip side, you’ll receive a travel credit if the flight you change to is less expensive.

Spirit Self Bag Drop
Image Credit: Spirit Airlines

“Spirit has changed the game before and we’re doing it again with this first round of initiatives that will lead the way to a new era of low-fare, high-value flying,” said Matt Klein, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Spirit Airlines. “These enhancements provide each and every one of our Guests unparalleled flexibility and peace of mind, and it’s just the beginning of our pursuit to make affordable travel easier and more seamless than ever.”

This comes a few days after the airline said it would extend active-duty U.S. military member benefits to their spouses and children when traveling together. Now, military members and their families receive 2 free checked bags, 1 carry-on, and complimentary boarding when traveling together.

As an ultra-low-cost carrier, Spirit Airlines keeps costs low by “unbundling” airfare and passing on fees to the passenger. That means that perks you normally get on mainline carriers, such as carry-on luggage, seat selection, and even snacks, cost an extra fee when flying Spirit.

Hot Tip:

Have a question about flying Spirit? Read our story covering 20 frequently asked questions about flying Spirit Airlines!

Final Thoughts

Spirit increasing the weight allowance for checked baggage and extending the validity of travel news is great news for travelers. This comes at a pivotal time for the airline, which has struggled financially in recent months. As it works to return to profitability, it has trimmed some routes, launched new ones, and made customer-friendly changes, including adding benefits for military families.

We hope to see the airline continue to make more positive tweaks to its policies in the future!

Victoria M. Walker's image

About Victoria M. Walker

Victoria holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the Howard University School of Communications and is an award-winning journalist, travel reporter, and the founder of the “Carrying On with Victoria M. Walker” newsletter.

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