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Ultra-low-cost airline bag rules
Limits change; confirm with your airline before you fly. Every figure here links to the airline page it came from.
Lossga Travel Backpack, 18x14x8 Spirit Airlines Personal Item Travel Bag
18 x 14 x 8 in, as listed
Listed at exactly 18 x 14 x 8 inches, this bag matches the free personal item size Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant all publish, which is the one bag guaranteed to fly at no extra cost on any of the three.
$20.99 Check price on Amazon
Prices change often.
What does the base fare actually include on these airlines?
Spirit's own page states its Value fare does not include a carry-on at all, and one can be purchased separately. Frontier states its carry-on is a paid add-on, cheapest when bought at the same time as the booking. Ryanair's larger cabin bag comes only with its Priority fare or a specific 2 Cabin Bags option, not with a basic fare. easyJet's large cabin bag is booked as an add-on. Wizz Air's trolley bag comes only with WIZZ Priority. Allegiant's own page does not confirm whether its carry-on is included with the standard fare, so this site does not state one way or the other for Allegiant; check before booking.
What personal item size actually comes free?
Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant all publish the same 18 x 14 x 8 inch personal item size, included with every fare. Frontier adds a weight cap of 35 lb to its personal item, which Spirit and Allegiant do not publish. Ryanair publishes 40 x 30 x 20 cm for its included personal item. Wizz Air publishes the same 40 x 30 x 20 cm figure, with a 10 kg weight cap. easyJet publishes a larger 45 x 36 x 20 cm personal item, also with a weight cap, 15 kg, applied to that included bag.
| Airline | Personal item (included) | Carry-on or cabin bag | Included with base fare? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit | 18 x 14 x 8 in | 22 x 18 x 10 in | No, a paid add-on |
| Frontier | 18 x 14 x 8 in, up to 35 lb | 24 x 16 x 10 in, up to 35 lb | No, a paid add-on, cheapest when bought with the booking |
| Allegiant | 18 x 14 x 8 in, free for all passengers | 22 x 16 x 10 in | Not confirmed on Allegiant's own page |
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 cm, included with every fare | 55 x 40 x 20 cm, up to 10 kg | No, comes only with Priority or the 2 Cabin Bags option |
| easyJet | 45 x 36 x 20 cm, up to 15 kg, free for everyone | 56 x 45 x 25 cm, up to 15 kg | No, booked as an add-on |
| Wizz Air | 40 x 30 x 20 cm, up to 10 kg, free for every passenger | 55 x 40 x 23 cm, up to 10 kg, measured without wheels or handles | No, comes with WIZZ Priority |
What does the paid carry-on add-on actually get you?
Spirit's paid carry-on allowance is 22 x 18 x 10 inches. Frontier's is 24 x 16 x 10 inches, capped at 35 lb. Allegiant publishes 22 x 16 x 10 inches for its carry-on, though again without confirming whether it is included or paid. Ryanair's Priority cabin bag is 55 x 40 x 20 cm, capped at 10 kg. easyJet's add-on cabin bag is 56 x 45 x 25 cm, capped at 15 kg. Wizz Air's add-on trolley bag is 55 x 40 x 23 cm, capped at 10 kg, and its own page states that figure is measured without handles or wheels, though it allows those parts to add up to about 5 cm without counting against the limit.
How does checked bag weight and cost compare across these six?
Spirit's checked bag allowance is 50 lb (22.6 kg). Frontier's is lower, 40 lb, with no published kilogram equivalent. Allegiant's is 50 lb (22 kg), with a notably higher linear-inch total, 80 inches, than most other airlines in this guide's data allow. This site's data does not include specific checked bag fee figures for Ryanair, easyJet or Wizz Air.
Gear for this
Taygeer Frontier Airlines Personal Item Bag, 18x14x8 inches Travel Bag
18 x 14 x 8 in as listed, 1.87 lb$20.99Check price
$29.99Check price
$39.99Check price
$240.00Check price
Frequently asked questions
Do I automatically get a carry-on bag on Spirit, Frontier or Allegiant?
Not guaranteed on Spirit or Frontier: both publish their carry-on as a paid add-on rather than part of the base fare. Allegiant's own page does not confirm whether its carry-on is included or must be purchased, so this site does not state one way or the other. Only the smaller personal item, 18 x 14 x 8 inches, is confirmed included on all three.
Why does Wizz Air measure its bag without wheels and handles?
Wizz Air's own baggage page states its 55 x 40 x 23 cm figure is taken without handles or wheels attached, then separately allows those parts to add up to about 5 cm, roughly 2 inches, without counting against the limit. That is different from most other airlines in this guide's data, which state their figure already includes wheels and handles.
Is easyJet's personal item weight limit the same as its cabin bag limit?
Yes, both are capped at 15 kg on easyJet's own page, which is unusual: most airlines that publish a personal item size do not also attach a separate weight cap to it. A fully packed personal item on easyJet still needs to stay under that 15 kg figure even though it is the free, included bag.
Can I avoid paying for a carry-on entirely on these airlines?
Yes, by packing only into the free personal item size each airline publishes, 18 x 14 x 8 inches on Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant, or roughly 40 x 30 x 20 cm on Ryanair and Wizz Air. That keeps a trip within the bag every fare includes, without paying for the larger carry-on or cabin bag add-on.
Researched, not professional advice. Airline rules change; confirm with your airline before you fly.