I'm a little confused as too what a personal free item is for example on their customer service line (no representative just a recording) they say that a free personal item is a purse, laptop case, brief case... but I asked google what personal item spirit airline accepts and I saw that you can take a back pack which is what I would like to do.. i really don't want to pay for a carry on if I would've known spirit charged for carry ons 35$ online and 55$ in the airport I would have spent my money else where, lesson learned. Anyways have you flown with spirit and were able to take a backpack as a free personal item?

Thnx.