Baggage fees have a pesky way of unexpectedly driving up the overall cost of a trip. What initially seemed like a great deal on airfare can quickly balloon into over-budget territory if you’re unaware of all the rules, which vary from airline to airline.
While most people anticipate checked luggage weight limits—which can incur overage fees when not in accordance—there are other fees to anticipate, as well as a wide range of tips and hacks to avoid them.
To stay one step ahead, start by researching your airline to understand their policies. Then, equip yourself with the strategies listed below. Doing so can help ensure you’re never left unexpectedly handing your credit card over the check-in kiosk desk again.
In this article
1. Invest in a Luggage Scale
A good luggage scale isn’t the same as the kind you stand on in your bathroom. Instead, they’re designed specifically for suitcases, usually with a strap or hook that attaches to the handle. You then lift it off the ground and the weight will flash across a screen. Checking this way at home can save a lot of money over time, likely more than the initial cost of the scale itself. For example, a simple, well-reviewed digital scale at Amazon costs under $10.
2. Choose the Right Airline
Not all airlines view luggage the same. Some ultra-budget carriers make it seem like you’ve snagged a great deal, only to discover they charge for every single bag brought on board, whether or not it’s checked. Before booking, make sure to review any airline’s baggage policy, especially if it’s a budget brand.
3. Book With the Right Credit Card
Most airline-branded cards will waive the fee on your first checked bag, as well as for your traveling companions, so long as you fly with them and use your card to pay. If you travel even a few times a year, this perk can easily offset any annual fee.
4. Check Your Bag Before You Arrive at the Airport
Some airlines offer a discount on checked bags if you prepay fees before arriving at the airport. United, for example, discounts the price by $5 (only on some routes, though) when you pay more than 24 hours before your flight. American Airlines also knocks $5 off the price of both the first and second checked bags on domestic flights when fees are prepaid online. Frontier offers a discount if you prepay during the booking process. Always check an individual airline’s policies before showing up at the airport. You might save a few extra dollars.
5. Go Carry-On Only
If you don’t have an airline or travel-friendly credit card, you can always try to avoid a checked bag the old fashioned way, by simply not checking one. If you can make it work, this is the best way to avoid fees, so long as it meets all carry-on size and weight restrictions. Just remember to check your aircraft type. On smaller planes servicing regional routes, overhead bins can be too small for roller bags.
6. Wear Your Bulkiest Items
This strategy works best on cold-weather trips, but if you’re flying with jackets, boots, or other chunky clothes, try to wear them. Stuffing them into a suitcase takes up a lot of room, and risks overweight fees. Plus, you won’t have to worry about feeling chilly onboard the plane.
7. Utilize Compression
Many suitcases and packing cubes are designed to compress your belongings down, allowing you to fit more inside. Of course, they’re not magic and have their limits, but they can be a useful tool in bringing down overall volume. Alternatively, you might consider compressing clothes into vacuum-sealed bags, which help maximize every possible inch of space.
8. Share a Checked Bag
If you’re traveling with a partner, you can also pack at home together into one bag if you don’t each need your own. Airlines charge per bag, not per person, so if you’re both light packers, combining items into one can cut costs in half.
The Shortcut
Account for baggage fees in the total cost before booking. Prices and allowances vary by airline.
The right credit card or loyalty status can make baggage fees disappear entirely.
How you pack matters as much as what you pack.
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