One of the most frustrating problems for travelers these days is baggage fees. It seems like every time you turn around, the airlines are raising their rates to check bags and these fee's can quickly add up to a substantial amount of money. A family of four can easily pay out over $200 a trip because of these ridiculous fee's! For some families, this could make all the difference, from taking a trip or staying home. So the question is, how can you avoid getting hit with these exuberant fee's? First of all, do the research on the airline that you are planning on fighting with. Southwest Airlines and other regional carriers still offers a first bag flights free option. Other airlines like United/Continental have a one bag free on international flights deal. Definitely take these types of deals into consideration when choosing an airline. It can save you a ton money in the long run.
Other ways to save on those annoying bag fee's, is to work around them. If you can learn to pack less and only bring the essentials, you will reduce the amount of luggage necessary for your trip. For instance, it might be fun to bring that cute pair of green heels that goes so well with that sleeveless green dress. This might take care of one night on the town, but would it not be more practical and easier to bring a more versatile pair of shoes, like a pair of black flats which you can pair with several outfits. This way you can avoid bringing a whole closet worth of shoes with you and still look amazing in the process. Packing light will reduce the amount of bags that need to be checked, and ideally get you to the holy grail of packing, a single carry-on size bag of 22" X 14" x 9". If you can ever make it down to one carry-on size bag, then you are set! Besides the fact that you will save yourself a ton of money, you can avoid many of the hassles that accompany having too many bags. You will never have to wait around at the baggage carousel for your luggage again. Think how great it would be to simply leave a plane and head straight on home or to start that incredible vacation, while those poor unfortunate souls who have not learned the virtues of packing light are wasting their trip away at the airport. Let's not forget about how horrible it is to have your luggage stolen off of the carousel before you arrive to pick it up, some thief's specialize in this type of larceny, or your bags could end up in Des Monies when you are ready for some fun in the sun in Miami. I cannot reiterate this enough, Pack Light!
You might be wondering about those health and beauty aids that we all just have to have. The trick is to lay out a quart size bag and place your cosmetics next to it. If all of the bottles are less than 3 oz. and they fit in the bag then you are good to go. If not, then ask yourself, are all of these bottles and containers truly necessary? Eliminate any unnecessary items and remember that each person is allowed a quart size bag of liquids for the flight. This includes husbands, wives, and children; so spread out these beauty aids between all of the travelers in your party. This will make it easier to beat this carry-on restriction. Also, realize that when traveling in the states, you can buy any and all products for the trip. This is one great thing about the mass proliferation of Wal*Marts, Rite Aids, and Walgreen's. These 24/7 establishments are everywhere and make it easy to pick up a bottle of hairspray or some deodorant. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself is it worth paying $50 to check a bag for a $3 bottle of shampoo?
What about those really cool souvenirs you pick up along your travels? Well, if they are larger than your carry-on size bag, than have them shipped back. It will cost you less to have a Turkish rug or a didgeridoo shipped back, than to shell out $50 to have it loaded onto the plane.
What about perfumes and liquors? You can find some amazing deals on these kind of items while traveling abroad and they make wonderful reminders of your trip. If you are buying iconic brands like Jameson whiskey in Ireland, than buy it from the duty free shop at the airport. By buying duty free you can skip the bag checking process and can take it onto the plane even though it is larger than 3 oz. However, this only works if your point of entry into the United States is your final destination, otherwise you are still obligated to pay the baggage fee for the domestic flight. Thus, with non mainstream liquors and perfumes over 3 oz. you are stuck. You will have to mail the item home or pay the fee pending on your airline and their policies.
I hope this clears up any misconceived notions about baggage fee's and how they are a necessary evil that we have to mindlessly accept. We don't have to pay them! That is as long as you can work around the system. I personally have not payed a baggage fee in years. So yes it is more than possible to avoid those nasty baggage fee's!
Check out this news clip about the Chinese man who went to great lengths to avoid those enormous baggage fee's:
http://gbtimes.com/news/man-tries-avoid-excess-baggage-fee-wearing-70-clothing-items
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