How To Avoid Airline Baggage Fee
Now that the rumblings over the "unfair" checked baggage fee that air carriers have
started charging travelers for have settled down, its time to look for some solutions. Hoping that the airlines would revise their decision some day is not one of them.
A checked bag fee is not just another minor inconvenience of air travel, but a serious addition to the total cost of flying. And as if that isnt enough, there is a heavy penalty on luggage that is over the stipulated weight requirement of the air carrier youre flying.
So, what do you do if you want to avoid or at least minimize the baggage fee you pay? It might seem impossible, but its not, provided you follow some simple dos and donts.
The good news is that there are still some air carriers that dont charge for checked bags. If one of them offers flights to your destination, hop on without blinking. If not, you can look for airlines that dont charge for your first checked bag. Some airlines also have lower fees than others, so it makes much more sense to fly these carriers.
You can also check if you are eligible for some discounts offered by airlines to frequent fliers, privilege club members, military personnel, etc. First and business class travelers are also generally exempted from paying for their checked baggage.
In case these options dont work for you, try to limit your luggage to just a carry-on whenever possible. Ive heard many road warriors swear that they can pack for as much as three weeks in
carry on luggage. However, if you are amongst the must carry my entire wardrobe wherever I go travelers, then it involves bringing about drastic changes in your packing behavior which is easier said than done.
But just think about it, if you manage to streamline your entire packing list into a carry-on bag, you not only save the checked bag fee, but also eliminate the risk of luggage delays, loss, or damage.
However, it may not always be realistically possible to travel with just a carry-on. At those times, you can make sure that your luggage stays within the required weight limit, so you dont have to pay the overweight baggage fee.
For that, you should look for
luggage thats lightweight for the simple reason that the lighter your bag, the more weight allowance youre left with to pack your stuff without going over the limit.
It's a road less traveled, but many tourists have started shipping their bags to their destination ahead in time. Request for quotes from different service providers such as USPS, UPS, Fed Ex. etc. to see if thats an economically viable option for you.
Lastly, dont forget to ask your hotel or resort if theyll cover your checked baggage fee. Youll be surprised that many hotels, already reeling under the impact of the economic downturn, are offering to pick the checked luggage tab for their patrons in a bid to attract and retain customers.
by: Luther Davies
Hot-air Balloon Flight Over The Nile River's West Bank Flight Day Excursion To Cairo From Luxor Tips For Buying Your First Rc Plane Or Helicopter How To Find Cheap European Airfare Make Airport Limo Inc, Your Airport Limousine Service In Toronto The 'naked' Scanner In Manchester Airport The Most Considerate Airport Gatwick Airport Choosing A Good Sfo Airport Hotel Why To Take Flights To Lusaka Zambia? In The Endearing Spell Of Phuket And Flights By Singapore Airlines Airport Transfers Made Easy! Easy Airport Transfers Between Bheathrow And Gatwick Airports Proflightsim For The Pc -- An In Depth Review