Hi everyone,
Hope you all had a great week and Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all the Vets who have helped and are still helping defend our freedom here in the USA. Today I would like to talk about how ridiculous luggage charges are and how you can avoid paying hundreds of dollars when flying.
We all know that girls and some guys LOVE to pack their entire wardrobe when they go on a trip. I personally find that when I am going somewhere, especially when I need to fly there, that I tend to over pack by 2 or even 3 times the amount of “stuff” that I actually would need. I don’t know about all of you but I do not like having every days outfits laid out for me with no room for adjustments because who knows what my mood will bring for a particular day.
The downfall to this is that almost all airlines, except for Southwest, charge some sort of checked luggage fee. For those airlines that are now charging carry-on fees, my suggestion is to not fly them because if you do then other airlines are going to think that it will be okay to charge yet another uncalled for fee.
Step 1: Only Purchase a Medium Sized Suitcase
Why should I only purchase a medium sized suitcase you might ask… well the answer is simple, airlines charge in addition to their checked bag fee for anything that weighs over 50 pounds. Although that may seem like a lot of weight, you’d be surprised at how fast your clothes and shoes add up to over that threshold. Not only do they charge you an additional fee for anything over 50 pounds but the fee is extreme ranging from an extra $10 for being even a pound over to $100’s of dollars depending on how much you are over. As you can see, that extra pair of shoes that you packed may end up costing you a lot more than you bargained for.
Step 2: Use the Largest Sized Carry-On that is Accepted On Your Airline
The trick is to walk the line of too big to be carry-on and just big enough that it needs to be gate checked. Gate checking is when your carry-on luggage is too big to be stored under the seat in front of you or in the carry-on compartments so they check it at the boarding gate for no additional fee. The luggage then is waiting for you as you exit the airplane instead of having to wait at the luggage carousels. This trick works to maximize the amount of things you can carry onto the plane with you and reduces your checked bags thus dropping additional fees you may incur. Remember, everyone gets 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item. (Essentially this is a second carry-on bag but HAS to be smaller like a purse or briefcase)
Step 3: Research the Checked Bag Fees Before Booking Your Flight
Although an airline may have the lowest flight cost around, they may be making up for that low fare by charging you $50-$100 for a checked bag. You may be thinking you are getting a great deal until you arrive to the airport and find yourself paying astronomical fees for your luggage. Personally, I like to fly JetBlue because their luggage rates are reasonable and the planes are updated with many features like televisions for every seat. If you know you are going somewhere for an extended period of time or where you will need a lot of luggage then I would seriously consider flying Southwest. Many people dislike this airline because there is not assigned seating but if you are flying with a great deal of “stuff” then it is the most economical option. Southwest has no checked bag fee for the first 2 bags of luggage. This is unheard of in the airline industry so take advantage of it!!!!
If you follow these 3 easy steps then you are sure to save yourself a bundle on the hidden costs of flying and be able to spend that much more on the things you really want to buy.
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