Woman flies Frontier Airlines. Then she tries to be sneaky with her Beis carry-on: ‘It’s $100 per bag’

Packing for a flight has got to be one of the most frustrating activities, especially if you’re not a minimalist. The restrictions around baggage, along with the high fees that come with bringing more of it, mean you have to do a lot of mental work about what’s absolutely necessary and what isn’t.

One passenger flying with Frontier Airlines decided to put a “hack” to the test, to see if she could pack more luggage and end up not paying for it.

In a video that has garnered over 252,200 views, TikTok creator Sarah Stamm (@sarahstamm) says she’s recording her attempt “for the girls.”

Did The Frontier Airlines Hack Work?

“Does the Béis Weekender bag work as a personal item for a Frontier flight? Risked it for research purposes,” Stamm wrote in the video’s caption.

At the start of the clip, Stamm explains her plans.

“OK, we’re flying Frontier, and they have really strict bag policies,” she says.

According to Stamm, the airline does not give passengers a carry-on unless they pay for it.

“They don’t give you a carry on unless you want to pay $100,” she says. “I don’t roll that way.”

The problem, she says, is that Frontier’s personal item dimensions don’t suit her.

“The personal bag dimensions are microscopic, and I’m an overpacker,” she says.

So she decided to see whether she could get away with a hack.

“We’re gonna see if I can get away with my Béis Weekender bag as my personal item or if they’re gonna make me check it as a carry on,” she says.

She says the bag is not a perfect fit. “Slightly too wide,” Stamm says.

However, she says she had seen at least one TikTok from another woman who claimed she got away with it on a Frontier flight.

“So I’m making this video for the girls,” she says. “Let’s see what happens.”

Then the video cuts to Stamm in the boarding tunnel.

“They enforced the rule,” she says. “Hundred dollars.”

Are Frontier Carry-Ons Really That Expensive?

On Frontier Airlines, the cheapest fare includes one small personal item. The airline says personal items must be no larger than 14 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 8 inches deep, including handles, wheels, and straps.

The Béis Weekender, on the other hand, is listed at 19 inches wide, 9.8 inches deep, and 15.7 inches high.

The $100 Stamm says she ended up paying was most likely more than she would have paid if she had added the carry-on while booking. Frontier notes that bag prices vary, and airlines commonly charge more for bags at the airport than they do during booking.

As for the inspiration behind the video, Stamm was likely referring to content creator Shanny Milligan (@shesthetea), who did claim she got a Béis bag through as a personal item on a Frontier flight.

Why it worked for one person and not the other probably comes down to enforcement. Some agents may check bags more closely than others. But if you do not want to risk an expensive gate fee, the safer move is to stick to the listed size requirements.

Commenters Reacted

In the comments, some viewers said Frontier was simply not worth the stress.

“Frontier is on my personal no fly list,” one commenter wrote.

Another said the fee only got that high because Stamm did not buy the carry-on ahead of time.

“It’s $100 because decided NOT to buy the carry on when you book your flight,” they wrote.

Someone else said they fly Frontier often and have a different strategy.

“I fly frontier all the time,” they wrote. “You have to do a backpack for the personal item. It can be waaaay too big but if it’s on your back they don’t usually question it.”

@sarahstamm

Does the Beis Weekender bag work as a personal item for a frontiers flight? Risked it for research purposes?

♬ original sound – Sarah Stamm

The Mary Sue has reached out to Stamm and Frontier Airlines via email for comment.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]