Watch Out for This New Airline Fee

Spirit Airlines will starting charging for carry-on bags this summer.

Spirit Airlines announced April 6 that it will charge passengers for carry-on bags starting August 1. Several airlines have started charging for all checked bags, but Spirit will be the first to make passengers pay to bring luggage on board. The question is whether other airlines will follow.

Airfarewatchdog.com president George Hobica says Spirit's planes will load faster if people don't bring carry-ons. "The carry-on fees are actually higher than checked bag fees now on Spirit, so apparently Spirit is trying to get people not to bring carry-ons," he says.

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Cameron Huddleston
Former Online Editor, Kiplinger.com

Award-winning journalist, speaker, family finance expert, and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk.

Cameron Huddleston wrote the daily "Kip Tips" column for Kiplinger.com. She joined Kiplinger in 2001 after graduating from American University with an MA in economic journalism.