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That lumpy person seated next to you on your next Spirit Airlines flight may not be so large in real life.

The budget carrier announced Tuesday it will begin charging a fee of up to $45 for each piece of carry-on luggage placed in overhead bins. The fees will be assessed on travel August 1 and beyond.

That means that come summer, you may notice some Spirit Airlines customers wearing multiple layers of clothing on flights in an effort to avoid the carry-on fee.

In the modern era of unbundled airline service fees, customers now pay for everything from sodas and snacks to extra leg room and seats on the aisle. On most airlines, passengers also pay hefty fees to check their bags.

George Hobica, president of travel Web site Airfarewatchdog.com, said Spirit is the first airline he’s aware of that plans to charge for bags passengers bring on board.

“Even Ryanair doesn’t charge,” Hobica said, referring to the low-cost Irish airline rumored to be mulling pay-to-pee lavatories on its planes. “The real question is: Will other airlines follow and will this actually be good for air travel?”

In the company’s press release announcing the policy change, Spirit Airlines Chief Operating Officer Ken McKenzie suggested the fee will be good for air travel, as it will “reduce the number of carry-on bags, which will improve in-flight safety and efficiency by speeding up the boarding and deplaning process, all of which ultimately improve the overall customer experience.”

Further, by unbundling the fees even more, McKenzie said passengers might save money. “Bring less; pay less. It’s simple.”

To read more go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36199332/ns/travel-news/

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