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Home » Spirit » How A Celebrity Skateboarder Skillfully Avoided Spirit Airlines Carry-On Fee
Spirit

How A Celebrity Skateboarder Skillfully Avoided Spirit Airlines Carry-On Fee

Matthew Klint Posted onAugust 20, 2022November 13, 2023 18 Comments

a collage of a boy and a skateboard

A celebrity skateboarder took drastic measures to avoid paying a carry-on fee on Spirit Airlines.

Skateboarder Avoided Spirit Airlines Carry-On Fee Through Drastic Action

Whether you are a celebrity, politician, or just an occasional traveler, Spirit Airlines restricts your carry-on items. One “personal item” which fits underneath the seat in front of you is included in your fare. If you want a second larger carry-on item for placement in an overhead bin, you have to pay up.

While you can save some money by purchasing this allowance in advance, it will cost you $89 at the gate if you get “caught” with an item that does not fit underneath the seat in front of you. This is to discourage holdouts who may end up delaying flights.

Shaun Hover, a prominent U.S. skateboarder, was told that his skateboard was too large to be his “personal” item and he would have to pay $89 to take it onboard. To confirm, Hover placed the skateboard in the carry-on sizer and indeed it was too big.

So he removed it from the slot and placed it on the ground.

He then said, “Here we go, this should do the trick,” then stomped the middle of the deck with his right leg, cracking the board. Next, he folded it in half, fully snapping it. “All right,” he he proclaimed as he tossed it into the carry-on sizer, them remarked, “How’s that?”

@shaunhover

Never let @spiritairlines know your next move

♬ original sound – shaunhover

I love it!

The gate agent replied, “That was unnecessary, sir.”

Of course it was unnecessary…unless he wanted to avoid the $89 fee. Apparently, a new deck (the part of the skateboard you stand on) only runs about $50.

(and what a great publicity stunt)

The flight attendants onboard caught wind of what happened, were quite apologetic, and even offered him free snacks.

I’m not sure that generosity was merited. Theoretically, they could have come after him again. As one commenter on TikTok noted:

“Technically you’re allowed only one carry on item and you just turned it into two…”

CONCLUSION

I just love this story – the best of TikTok. And all kidding aside, as long as the fee disclosures are clearly disclosed during booking, Spirit Airlines was right to charge for his carry-on. His theatrics were more self-serving than anything else, but still quite clever. It’s actually a good reminder that before paying any fee for a carry-on bag or checked luggage, we should ensure the contents inside are worth the price!

One more funny thing: Hover ultimately put the broken skateboard…in the overhead bin.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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18 Comments

  1. derek Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 1:08 pm

    Could he have said his skateboard was his wheelchair? Or stick the wheelchair in his pants and back of his shirt?

  2. Koggerj Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 1:54 pm

    The guy looks like trash.

    • Malik on Wall Street Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 4:32 pm

      This is a travel forum, not reddit

    • O. K. Boomer Reply
      August 21, 2022 at 2:26 pm

      At least he doesn’t smell like trash, like you do.

      • koggerj Reply
        August 21, 2022 at 10:51 pm

        Enjoy that cat, it will be the only companionship you’ll ever have.

  3. Debit Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 2:03 pm

    Sounds like a business plan. Folding skateboard that locks in place with a pin. Watch it to be on the market soon if not already.

    A lot of ideas are stolen from boardingarea.

    • Tony N Reply
      August 20, 2022 at 7:10 pm

      He (or someone) can actually patent the product and become a millionaire.

  4. Malik on Wall Street Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 4:31 pm

    At the end of the day, the person ended up saving ~$39 and got snacks with this stunt. I still don’t think it was worth money-wise, but it definitely made a statement.

  5. Yiannis93117 Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 4:38 pm

    So. He’s a celebrity skateboarder? I’ve never heard of this guy but if he’s a celebrity why in the hell was he flying on Spirit Airlines, instead of a real airline? I’m sure the dude prolly makes a ton of money and can afford to fly first class.

    • Darkstar Reply
      August 22, 2022 at 7:56 am

      “Where have you gone,Joe DiMaggio,our nation lifts it’s lonely eyes to you”…

      Boo hoo hoo

  6. Yiannis93117 Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 4:42 pm

    I just looked up his net worth…..he’s worth aprox 1 million. More from his social media etc….and certainly more from this stunk…buddy, buy a ticket in the front next time…..even if you’re from Michigan, you can afford it.

  7. gerald Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 6:14 pm

    Or, stick it down his pants and explain that he is “Truly Gifted”.

  8. Tony N Reply
    August 20, 2022 at 7:08 pm

    CLICK-bait of news. But I fell for it.

  9. Olivier Reply
    August 21, 2022 at 3:24 am

    Considering my travel manfrotto tripod was not allowed in cabin as deemed dangerous item that could be used as a club to attack people on board, I fail to understand how, one skateboard, let alone two halves could ever be permitted….

  10. Kevin Reply
    August 21, 2022 at 6:49 am

    Apparently celebrity skateboarding isn’t a well paying gig if he has to fly Spirit…

  11. AlohaDaveKennedy Reply
    August 21, 2022 at 12:05 pm

    Paging SCOTTeVEST – one of their long coats should have the ability to hold a skateboard. Big and Tall sizes might be able to hold a small bogeyboard?

  12. BillyH Reply
    August 22, 2022 at 1:01 pm

    Penny saved, pound foolish seems most appropriate here.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      August 22, 2022 at 1:08 pm

      I would think so too, but apparently these skateboards must be pretty cheap?

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