Is Spirit Airlines still flying?

No. Spirit Airlines ceased all operations on May 2, 2026, at about 3:00 a.m. Eastern time, and moved to liquidate under Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You can no longer book or fly Spirit.

What was Spirit Airlines' personal item size?

While it operated, Spirit Airlines' free personal item was 18 x 14 x 8 in (45 x 35 x 20 cm) and had to fit entirely under the seat. Its carry-on bag was 22 x 18 x 10 in including handles and wheels and was charged as a paid bag on every fare. These rules are no longer in effect.

Which airline is most like Spirit now?

Frontier and Allegiant are the closest ultra-low-cost replacements, and both use the same 18 x 14 x 8 in free personal item Spirit did, so a bag that fit under a Spirit seat still fits under theirs. Avelo and Southwest cover many former Spirit routes as well.

Shut down, May 2, 2026

Spirit Airlines carry-on size

Spirit Airlines is gone. It ceased all flights on May 2, 2026, so you can no longer book or fly Spirit. This page keeps its old carry-on and personal-item rules for reference, then points you to the budget airlines that fly the same routes now.

What happened to Spirit Airlines

Nov 18, 2024
Spirit files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the first time and later restructures its debt.
Aug 29, 2025
Spirit files for Chapter 11 a second time in under a year as losses continue.
Spring 2026
A jet-fuel price spike burns through the airline's remaining cash while it negotiates a roughly $500 million rescue package with the United States government.
May 2, 2026
Late that week Spirit is told the financing is off. At about 3:00 a.m. Eastern it ceases all operations, requests an FAA ground stop and begins an orderly wind-down, telling customers not to go to the airport. The last Spirit flight lands at Dallas-Fort Worth shortly after midnight, in from Detroit.
After May 2
Spirit moves to liquidate under Chapter 7. Credit and debit card purchases are refunded automatically; points and vouchers are not made whole, and agency bookings have to go through the agency. United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest cap fares for stranded Spirit passengers.

Spirit's old carry-on and personal-item rules

These are historical. Spirit no longer operates, so do not rely on them for a booking. They are kept because Spirit's sizes were searched by millions of travelers.

Personal item (was free)

18 x 14 x 8 in

45 x 35 x 20 cm, under the seat

The famous “Spirit personal item.” It had to fit entirely under the seat in front of you, and the sizer was enforced strictly. Same size as Frontier and Allegiant use today.

Carry-on (was a paid bag)

22 x 18 x 10 in

includes handles and wheels

Wider and deeper than the usual 22 x 14 x 9 carry-on, but Spirit charged for it on every fare, including the base ticket, so most flyers packed to the free personal item instead.

Where Spirit flyers go now

These live budget carriers cover most of the ultra-low-cost routes Spirit flew. Frontier and Allegiant even use the exact same 18 x 14 x 8 in personal item, so a bag that was Spirit-legal still slides under their seats. Open any carrier for its full rules, or run your own bag through the free fit checker.

Frontier Airlines

Carry-on: 24 x 16 x 10 in
Personal item: 18 x 14 x 8 in
Carry-on fee: paid

Same personal item as Spirit

Allegiant Air

Carry-on: 22 x 16 x 10 in
Personal item: 18 x 14 x 8 in
Carry-on fee: paid

Same personal item as Spirit

Avelo Airlines

Carry-on: 22 x 14 x 9 in
Personal item: 17 x 13 x 9 in
Carry-on fee: paid

Southwest Airlines

Carry-on: 24 x 16 x 10 in
Personal item: not published
Carry-on fee: free

Compare all 19 airlines Check if your bag fits

Sources, retrieved July 9, 2026

Wikipedia: Spirit Airlines shutdown date, final flight, Chapter 11 filings, liquidation.
One Mile at a Time: Spirit Airlines Ceases Operations 3:00 a.m. ET wind-down, failed bailout, refund policy.
KAYAK: Spirit Airlines shut down, carry-on rules historic carry-on 22 x 18 x 10 in and personal item 18 x 14 x 8 in.
Spirit Airlines Support: personal item (KA-01149), via the Wayback Machine archived March 24, 2025: "18" x 14" x 8" (45 x 35 x 20 cm) maximum personal item."

Shutdown facts are dated above. Historic Spirit dimensions are kept for reference only and are no longer in effect. Alternative-airline sizes come from our own dataset; open each carrier for its official citations.