The Bottom Line on Taking a Bike on Spirit Airlines:

Our team of highly specialized bicycle travel scientists give Spirit a Bicycle Flight Grade (BFG) of C+. Standard baggage allowance and checked bag fees are those of a budget airline. A carry-on bag is not included. Although there's usually space in a bike case for extra gear, a carry-on will most likely also be necessary. Be sure to anticipate how many bags you will need and pay for these bags at the time of booking because the fees increase the closer you get to departure. The bicycle transport fee of $75 is not crazy, but keeping it under 40 pounds might be an issue for some bike cases, and will limit how much extra gear you can pack in your case. 

If you're bringing a bike and another bag with you, Spirit Airlines baggage fees will likely cut away at - if not offset entirely - any savings you might have found by choosing a budget airline. For this and other reasons, we recommend leaving Spirit as an 'Airline of Last Resort' for bike trips. 

Spirit Baggage and Bicycle Policies at a Glance:

Please note that this information is subject to change and may not reflect the most recent information available on Spirit's website. (Updated May 2024) 

*Baggage fees vary depending origin and destination, and whether they are paid for at time of booking, before or during check-in, or at the departure gate. 

A few general notes on flying with a bicycle: 

A few things to keep in mind when flying with a bike on Spirit actually apply to all airlines. It’s important to come to the airport prepared with a knowledge of airline policies and procedures. Screenshots or printouts of relevant information can come in handy to help clarify these policies for less well-versed airline employees. It’s also prudent to take baggage policies into account when planning a trip and buying tickets. Why take the budget airline if they are sticklers at the baggage counter and will likely charge you double or triple to fly with your bike? 

Lastly, a true Airport Ninja knows that airline employees don’t always play by the book, and this can both help us and hurt us as customers. Many gate agents will never look twice as your bags, while others are vigilantes who play fast and loose with the tape measure. Checking in early, approaching a well-rested-looking ticketing agent and being very polite, or using curbside check-in and offering a small tip are all strategies that can all help turn the odds in your favor. For more advice on how to be an Airport Ninja, see our blog Ninja Tutelage Lesson 1 - What's in the Bag?

As always, your best chance to avoid paying fees is to pack your bike in the smallest possible bike case, especially one with no obvious markings that indicate that it is a bike. This is where the Orucase Airport Ninja comes to the rescue. Designed and tested by professional cyclists to minimize or even eliminate excess baggage fees. Become an Airport Ninja Today.