The spirit air planes load in about the third of the time of a normal plane, so I can see the benefit in that aspect. Of course, the benefit is diminished when your flight is cancelled or very late, which happened to me on 2 of 4 flights last month.
To answer the OP, the regs, computers, and camera gear are all carry on. Everything else is checked. I have had things stolen, usually by my local TSA on the way out of the country. They X-ray all the bags so they know exactly what is in them and where in the bag it is.
To answer the OP, the regs, computers, and camera gear are all carry on. Everything else is checked. I have had things stolen, usually by my local TSA on the way out of the country. They X-ray all the bags so they know exactly what is in them and where in the bag it is.