How to Avoid Carry-On Bag Fees on Budget Airlines

Budget airline carry-on fees are now a significant hidden cost of air travel. What looks like a cheap flight often includes a bag fee that equals or exceeds the base fare. In 2026, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Spirit, and Frontier all charge for overhead cabin bag access — and the fees keep rising. This guide shows you exactly which airlines charge, when, how much, and — most importantly — how to legally avoid those fees entirely.

Which Airlines Charge for Carry-On Bags

Europe

Ryanair charges for a cabin bag (55×40×20 cm, 10 kg) on their lowest-fare options. The free allowance is a single small personal item (40×20×25 cm) that fits under the seat. To access the overhead bin, you need Priority Boarding, which costs roughly €6–22 depending on route and timing and includes the cabin bag. Without it, your overhead bag will be gate-checked and you'll pay a much higher fee.

Wizz Air similarly restricts the free allowance to a personal item (40×30×20 cm under the seat). The cabin bag (55×40×23 cm, 10 kg) costs extra unless you have Wizz Air Plus or Wizzflex.

EasyJet is more generous — the free allowance is a small cabin bag (45×36×20 cm) that can go overhead. A second, larger cabin bag (56×45×25 cm) costs extra, but most passengers can work within the free allowance.

United States

Spirit Airlines offers one personal item (45×35×25 cm) free. A carry-on bag costs extra. The fee ranges from around $35–85 depending on when you add it.

Frontier Airlines includes a personal item on most fares but charges for a carry-on. Frontier's bundled fare options ("The Works", "The Perks") can include a carry-on, checked bag, and seat selection in a combined price that sometimes beats buying everything separately.

Allegiant Air charges for all bags beyond a small personal item (40×35×20 cm) under the seat.

Southwest Airlines remains the notable exception in the US: two free checked bags per passenger, and overhead carry-ons have never attracted a fee.

Strategy 1: Pack Within the Free Personal Item Allowance

The most reliable way to avoid bag fees is to not need the paid allowance at all. On all of the airlines above, a personal item that fits under the seat is free.

The key is buying the right bag. A well-designed personal item backpack in the right dimensions can hold significantly more than a poorly designed one of the same volume.

Recommended dimensions to target by airline:

• Ryanair: 40×20×25 cm (depth is very tight — this is the most restrictive)
• Wizz Air: 40×30×20 cm
• Spirit: 45×35×25 cm (most generous US personal item)
• Frontier: 35×45×20 cm

Packing techniques that maximize a personal item:

• Use packing cubes to compress clothing
• Roll clothes rather than folding
• Wear your bulkiest items on the plane (heavy jacket, thick shoes)
• Use a packing cube as a pillow during the flight and carry it in your arms through boarding if needed

Many travelers successfully complete 7–10 day trips with only a personal item bag by packing lightweight, quick-dry clothing and doing laundry at the destination.

Strategy 2: Add the Bag at Booking, Not Later

If you know you need a cabin bag, the cheapest time to add it is at the initial booking stage. All major budget airlines use dynamic pricing for add-ons, and the price reliably increases after the booking is confirmed.

Approximate price differences:

Airline	At booking	Added later	At gate
Ryanair	€6–22 (Priority)	€10–35	€50–80
Wizz Air	€12–35	€20–50	€50–90
Spirit	$35–55	$50–75	$75–100
Frontier	$30–50	$45–70	$75–99

The gate is always the most expensive option by a wide margin. Never arrive at the gate hoping to pay there.

Strategy 3: Choose the Right Fare Bundle

Budget airlines increasingly offer fare bundles that include bags, seat selection, and other perks at a combined price that can be cheaper than buying components individually.

Ryanair: Regular Plus and Business Plus fares include a cabin bag, priority boarding, and seat selection. On routes where you need all three, the bundle may cost less than Priority Boarding + seat selection purchased separately.

Frontier: "The Works" includes a carry-on, two checked bags, seat selection, no change fees, and a refundable ticket. For travelers who want flexibility, this can be genuine value.

Spirit: The "Go Big" and "Go Comfy" bundles include bags. Compare bundle pricing to the itemized add-on cost before deciding.

Wizz Air: Wizzflex includes a cabin bag, priority boarding, and free flight cancellation in a single price. If you value the cancellation option, Wizzflex can be a better deal than buying the bag and priority separately.

Strategy 4: Use Airline Credit Cards (US Routes)

Several US co-branded airline credit cards include free checked baggage — and since US carriers don't charge for carry-ons, the checked bag benefit effectively makes the overall bag situation free for domestic travel.

However, this strategy does not apply to Spirit, Frontier, or Allegiant — none of these have co-branded cards that waive bag fees.

Where it does help:

• Delta SkyMiles credit cards: Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 companions
• United Explorer/Gateway cards: Free first checked bag
• American Airlines AAdvantage cards: Free first checked bag

For European budget airlines, there are no co-branded cards that waive cabin bag fees.

Strategy 5: Time Your Booking for the Lowest Fee

Budget airline add-on fees fluctuate with demand. On routes where flights are mostly empty, bag fees tend to be lower. On busy tourist routes in peak season, they're higher.

Booking 6–10 weeks ahead on European routes and 4–8 weeks ahead on US routes tends to capture the lower end of bag fee pricing. Last-minute bookings consistently see the highest add-on prices.

Strategy 6: Fly the Right Airline for Your Route

On some route pairs, a full-service airline that includes a carry-on may actually be cheaper than a budget carrier with add-on fees. The comparison is worth doing explicitly.

Example: A Wizz Air flight from London to Budapest with a cabin bag and seat selection may cost more than a comparable British Airways or LOT Polish Airlines flight that includes both free of charge.

Always compare the total price including your required bags and a seat assignment, not just the headline fare.

What to Do If You're Caught at the Gate

If you arrive at the gate with a bag that's too large for the free allowance and haven't paid, your options are limited:

1. Gate-check it: Pay the (significantly higher) gate fee and receive a tag for your bag to go in the hold
2. Transfer items: If you have a second person with you or a small enough bag, rapidly redistribute items so everything fits the personal item dimensions
3. Wear everything: Put on as many layers as possible before the sizer check

None of these are good options. The only real solution is preparation before you arrive.

The Bottom Line

Carry-on fees on budget airlines are avoidable, but only with planning. The two most reliable strategies are packing within the free personal item allowance and adding any needed cabin bag at the time of initial booking. Arriving at the gate unprepared is the most expensive outcome by a wide margin. With the right bag, the right packing technique, and a booking strategy that accounts for total cost rather than headline fares, most travelers can either avoid fees entirely or pay the minimum legitimate price.