That "Budget" flight to Chicago cost me double after one tiny mistake

Booked a basic economy ticket on Frontier to visit my sister in Chicago last month, $49 one way which felt like a steal. Got to the gate and they told me my carry-on was 2 inches too wide for their sizer box, so I had to pay $65 at the gate to check it. Has anyone else gotten burned by those strict size limits on budget airlines, or do I just need to buy a smaller bag?

2 comments

2 Comments

river1833d ago

$65 to check a bag at the gate? That's highway robbery right there. I mean, I get that Frontier and Spirit are strict with the sizer box, but two inches over and they hit you with more than the flight itself cost. That's a damn racket if you ask me. It almost makes you wonder if they design those boxes to be extra small just to catch people and squeeze more money out of them. I'd be madder than a wet hen if that happened to me.

wendy_clark3d ago

You mentioned being "madder than a wet hen," and that reminded me of the time I flew home for Christmas with a carry-on that was literally one inch too tall. The gate agent didn't even look twice before charging me and I had to dig my wallet out while people behind me huffed and puffed. I tell you, river183, that kind of thing makes you want to pack everything in a paper bag next time just to avoid the hassle.