Budget Airline Baggage Fees Compared: Spirit vs Frontier vs Ryanair

The Budget Airline Baggage Problem

Budget airlines sell the dream of ultra-cheap travel. And they deliver — if you can fit everything you need into a small personal item that slides under the seat in front of you. The moment you need anything more — a cabin bag, a checked suitcase, or both — the fees start piling up.

Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Ryanair are the three biggest ultra-low-cost carriers in their respective markets (US and Europe). Let us break down exactly what each charges for bags in 2026.

Personal Item

All three airlines include one free personal item. But there is an important catch: the size limits are strict, and they vary.

Ryanair's personal item allowance is notably smaller. What counts as a personal item on Spirit or Frontier may not fit within Ryanair's limits. If your bag is too large, you will be charged for a cabin bag at the gate — which is always the most expensive option.

Cabin Bag (Carry-On)

This is the overhead bin bag — a standard roller suitcase or medium backpack. None of these airlines include it for free.

Ryanair is the cheapest option for a cabin bag, especially if you book the "Priority & 2 Cabin Bags" add-on at the time of booking. However, availability of this add-on is limited per flight and often sells out on popular routes.

Frontier tends to be slightly cheaper than Spirit for cabin bags, though the difference is marginal.

Checked Bag

If you need a full-size checked suitcase, here is the breakdown:

Total Cost Scenarios

Let us compare what a round-trip flight actually costs on each airline when you add different baggage combinations:

Which Is Cheapest if You Need Bags?

If you only need a cabin bag: Ryanair wins by a significant margin, thanks to its Priority add-on that can cost as little as $8 on off-peak routes. Spirit and Frontier are comparable to each other, with Frontier being marginally cheaper.

If you need a checked bag only: All three are in a similar range. Ryanair's higher weight limit (20 kg vs 18 kg) gives it a slight edge if you tend to pack heavy.

If you need both cabin and checked bags: Ryanair typically has the lowest combined cost. On Spirit and Frontier, the combined fees can easily add $150 to $220 to a round trip — at which point you should seriously consider whether a full-service airline with included bags would be cheaper.

Tips to Save on Budget Airline Bags

Regardless of which budget airline you fly, here are practical ways to minimize baggage costs:

1. Always add bags at the time of booking. This is consistently the cheapest option across all three airlines. Prices increase after booking and spike at the airport.

2. Consider the airline's bundle or membership. Spirit's "Go Big" bundle and Frontier's "The Works" package bundle bags with other perks. Ryanair's "Plus" fare includes priority boarding and a cabin bag. Run the numbers — sometimes bundles are cheaper than buying bags individually.

3. Weigh your bag at home. Budget airlines enforce weight limits strictly. Spirit and Frontier's 40 lb limit is easy to exceed. A $5 luggage scale can save you $75+ in overweight fees.

4. Use a personal-item-sized bag. If you can fit everything into a bag that meets the personal item dimensions, you avoid bag fees entirely. Backpacks designed to maximize personal item size (like 18 x 14 x 8 bags) are widely available.

5. Compare total cost, not just the fare. A $49 Spirit fare with $95 in bag fees costs more than a $120 JetBlue fare with bags included. Always calculate the full price.