Baggage Fees: The Unexpected Cost of Carrying Your Belongings

Airlines have increasingly unbundled their fares, meaning that checked baggage is often no longer included in the base ticket price. These baggage fees can add a significant cost to your trip, especially if you have multiple bags or are traveling with a family. Airlines can also impose hefty fees for overweight or oversized bags.

The Impact: Unexpected baggage fees can easily add $50-$100 dollars (or more) per bag to your round-trip travel costs, significantly impacting your budget.

But, there is a lot to be done to avoid unpleasant and infuriating surprises that hurt the pocket. We have prepared a detailed guide for you.

• Know the Airline’s Baggage Policy: Before booking your flight, carefully review the airline’s baggage policy, including size, weight, and fee restrictions.

• Travel Light: Pack only what you need and try to fit everything into a carry-on bag to avoid checked baggage fees altogether.

• Weigh Your Luggage: Before heading to the airport, weigh your luggage to ensure it meets the airline’s weight restrictions. Use a luggage scale to avoid overweight fees.

• Consider Airline Credit Cards: Some airline credit cards offer free checked baggage as a perk.

• Ship Your Luggage: For longer trips or if you have a lot of luggage, consider shipping your belongings ahead of time using a service like FedEx or UPS.

• Pack Strategically: Use packing cubes or rolling techniques to maximize space in your luggage. Wear your heaviest items on the plane to reduce the weight of your bags.

• Pay in advance: The last and most important tip is to pay for the luggage already when purchasing the ticket. The cost at this point will always be cheaper than at the airport counter. If you forgot to do this, you can still go to the airline’s website and add a suitcase before you go to the airport.