Which airlines charge for carry-on bags?

The main airlines that charge for overhead carry-on bags are Ryanair, Spirit, Frontier, Wizz Air, Vueling, and Allegiant Air. These fees apply to their basic or cheapest fare tiers. Full-service airlines like Delta, United, American, Emirates, and Qatar Airways still include carry-on bags at no extra charge.

How much does Ryanair charge for a carry-on bag?

Ryanair charges between €6 and €10 when you add a carry-on bag at the time of booking, €8–€12 if added during online check-in, and €25–€30 if you try to add it at the airport gate. Passengers on Standard and Plus fares get a priority boarding and overhead carry-on bag included.

How much does Spirit Airlines charge for a carry-on bag?

Spirit Airlines charges between $45 and $100 for a carry-on bag depending on your route, how far in advance you purchase, and whether you pay online versus at the airport. The cheapest way is always to add it during the booking process on Spirit's website.

Can I avoid carry-on fees on budget airlines?

Yes. The most reliable way is to buy a fare bundle that includes a carry-on (like Ryanair Standard or Wizz Go). Otherwise, add the bag at the time of booking — always the cheapest option — or pack everything into a personal item that fits under the seat in front of you, which is free on almost all airlines.

Does Southwest Airlines still offer free carry-on bags?

Southwest Airlines has historically offered two free checked bags and one free carry-on as part of its standard policy, but the airline announced changes in 2025 and 2026 that affect its checked bag policy. Always check Southwest's current website for the latest carry-on rules before flying.

Airline Carry-On Fees 2026: What Every Airline Charges

Why Airlines Now Charge for Carry-On Bags

For most of commercial aviation history, bringing a bag into the cabin was free. That changed when budget carriers began unbundling their fares in the early 2010s, stripping every optional service out of the base ticket price. Ryanair and Spirit led this trend, and by the mid-2020s carry-on fees had spread across budget carriers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The logic is straightforward: a lower headline fare attracts price-sensitive travelers on comparison sites, while fees collected at checkout — or worse, at the gate — generate margin the base fare doesn't. In 2026 it is common to pay more in carry-on fees than you paid for the seat itself on a short-haul budget route.

Understanding exactly what each airline charges, and at what stage in the purchase process, can save you real money.

Budget Airlines That Charge for Carry-On Bags

Ryanair

Ryanair operates two bag tiers in the cabin. Every passenger on any fare gets a small personal item (40 x 20 x 25 cm) that fits under the seat in front — this is always free. A larger cabin bag that goes into the overhead locker requires either a priority boarding add-on or a fare that includes it.

Ryanair carry-on fee structure (2026):

At booking: €6–€10
At online check-in: €8–€12
At the airport gate: €25–€30

Passengers on Standard fares and above get overhead carry-on included. If you book the cheapest Value fare, budget for the overhead bag fee or pack into the free under-seat item.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines uses a similar unbundling model. The free allowance is a personal item no larger than 18 x 14 x 8 inches. Any bag going into the overhead bin is a carry-on and will be charged.

Spirit carry-on fees (2026):

During booking online: from $45
After booking but before check-in closes: $55–$65
At the gate: up to $100

Spirit's Bundle It and Bundle It PLUS packages include the carry-on fee at a discount, often making them worthwhile if you also want seat selection.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier charges nothing for a personal item (under 14 x 18 x 8 inches) but treats any overhead bag as a carry-on with its own fee.

Frontier carry-on fees (2026):

During booking: from $30
Post-booking online: $45–$55
At the gate or airport counter: $75–$99

Frontier's WORKS bundle includes a carry-on, seat selection, and a checked bag — often the best value if you need overhead space.

Wizz Air

Wizz Air's fee model is tied directly to its fare classes. The cheapest WIZZ Basic fare gets only a small under-seat bag. The WIZZ Go tier and above includes a carry-on in the overhead locker.

Wizz Air carry-on add-on fees (2026):

In advance online: €8–€16
At the airport gate: up to €40

The gap between advance and gate pricing is steep on Wizz. If you book Basic, add the carry-on at checkout rather than gambling on gate availability.

Vueling

Vueling's Lite fare — its cheapest base ticket — does not include an overhead carry-on. You can carry a personal handbag or small backpack under the seat, but a larger cabin bag requires an upgrade or an add-on fee that varies by route and booking window.

Vueling's Optima, TimeFlex, and Family fares include a carry-on as standard, making them worthwhile for travelers who need overhead space on longer Iberian and European routes.

Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air charges for carry-on bags when you book the cheapest base fare. Personal items (under 7 x 15 x 16 inches) remain free.

Allegiant carry-on fees (2026):

During booking: from $10
Before departure online: $20–$35
At the airport: up to $75

Allegiant's pricing varies significantly by route. Fees on popular leisure routes to Las Vegas or Orlando tend to be at the higher end.

Airlines That Still Include Carry-On Bags for Free

The following major airlines include one standard carry-on bag in the overhead locker at no additional charge across their main economy fare classes (always verify for basic economy variants):

Delta Air Lines — carry-on included on main cabin and above; Delta Basic Economy allows one personal item only
United Airlines — carry-on included on Economy and above; United Basic Economy allows one personal item only on most routes
American Airlines — carry-on included on Main Cabin and above; Basic Economy allows a carry-on only on select international routes
Alaska Airlines — carry-on included in all fare classes
JetBlue Airways — carry-on included in all fare classes
Southwest Airlines — historically included carry-on and two checked bags free; check current policy as changes were announced in 2025/26
Emirates — carry-on included in all classes
Qatar Airways — carry-on included in all classes
Singapore Airlines — carry-on included in all classes
Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, British Airways — carry-on included in standard economy; check Light/Basic fares which may restrict

Carry-On Fee Comparison: Budget Airlines at a Glance

Airline	Free Allowance	Fee at Booking	Fee Online Later	Fee at Airport/Gate
Ryanair	Under-seat bag	€6–€10	€8–€12	€25–€30
Spirit	Personal item (18x14x8 in)	From $45	$55–$65	Up to $100
Frontier	Personal item (14x18x8 in)	From $30	$45–$55	$75–$99
Wizz Air	Under-seat bag	€8–€16	€8–€16	Up to €40
Allegiant	Personal item (7x15x16 in)	From $10	$20–$35	Up to $75
Vueling (Lite)	Handbag / small backpack	Varies	Varies	Varies

How to Avoid Carry-On Fees

1. Buy Directly From the Airline

Third-party booking sites sometimes hide fee details or make add-ons harder to find. Booking directly on the airline's website gives you the clearest view of what each fare tier includes and the cheapest add-on pricing.

2. Add the Bag at the Time of Booking

Every budget carrier charges the most at the gate and the least during initial checkout. Add your carry-on bag to the booking immediately — you will almost always pay significantly less than if you do it later.

3. Use a Fare Bundle

On Frontier, Spirit, and Wizz Air, fare bundles that include a carry-on plus seat selection often cost less in total than buying each item separately. Run the math before purchasing à la carte.

4. Pack Into Your Personal Item

Most airlines allow a personal item under the seat at no charge. A soft-sided backpack or personal bag in the 18–20 litre range can fit more than you expect, especially with packing cubes and careful selection of clothes. See our guide on how to pack carry-on only for specific strategies.

5. Use Elite Status or a Co-Branded Credit Card

Frequent flier status — even entry-level on Spirit or Frontier — often includes a free carry-on as a benefit. Some co-branded airline credit cards also waive carry-on fees. Factor in the card's annual fee versus the fees you would otherwise pay per trip.

Carry-on fees are now a permanent feature of budget air travel. The best defense is knowing what each airline charges before you search for flights, choosing fare bundles when they make sense, and always adding extras at booking rather than at the gate.