How to Avoid Airline Luggage Fees

The major airlines have suffered due to recent increases in fuel costs and other rising prices. As a way to make up for some of these lost costs, which the airlines state come in the form of extra costs for transporting luggage, many airlines have started charging for checked bags customers bring on flights. Of course, this doesn't help the consumer, who has also felt the effects of rising fuel costs and even an increase in the price of the monthly grocery bill. Anyone flying with the airlines would no doubt like to avoid having to pay these additional charges for baggage. This article will explore how to avoid paying airline luggage fees.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• internet connection and computer
• luggage
• desire to take a trip somewhere and fly

1. Choose an airline that has not instituted the extra fees for checked luggage. Southwest, for instance, does not charge for the first or second checked bag, as long as the bags meet the weight and overall dimension requirements.

2. Choose an airline that only charges for the second bag, if you can't find one that doesn't charge for the first and second bags. One airline like this is AirTran (American and United are now charging for the first bag).

3. Take advantage of discounts you can receive. Once you book your flight, figure out ways that the airline offers you to save money with the checked bag policies. For example with AirTran, if you check in online, you only will have to pay $10 for your second bag instead of the $20 you pay if you check in at the airport.

4. Read the airline's policies for checked baggage to avoid paying fees. What this means is that if you fly with AirTran, and AirTran allows you one free checked bag, then you should just check one bag. If you fly with an airline such as American that charges for even the first checked piece of luggage, don't check any luggage.

5. Take advantage of ways to avoid paying the luggage fees, such as not checking luggage. You will have to downsize immensely, but if you don't check luggage, you won't have to pay for luggage. You get one personal item and one carry-on. The personal item can be a purse or backpack. Use the biggest purse you have, pack it wisely, and put in as much as you can. Your carry-on suitcase generally won't have weight limits, so you can put more in then you previously used to. Just make sure you can still lift it up into the overhead bins.

6. Avoid baggage fees that were already in place with the major airlines. Aside from the extra checked bag policies, you will also have to pay luggage fees if your luggage is overweight or doesn't meet the overall dimension requirements. It doesn't do you any good to only have one checked bag if it's over 50 pounds and you still have to pay overweight fees.

7. There are ways to avoid the checked baggage fees even for the airlines that charge for the first piece of checked luggage. For example, American Airlines charges for the first checked bag. You can avoid this fee with American if you purchase a first class or business class ticket, or a full fare ticket. You can also not pay this fee if you are active military, traveling on government fares, or you are a platinum or gold member of the frequent flyer program.

Tips & Warnings

• When you decide which airline to fly, factor in all the costs involved. If it will cost you only $20 extra to check a second bag with AirTran, this option might still be preferable over paying an extra $100 to fly with an airline that doesn't have checked bag costs.
• With Southwest Airlines, you can even check a third piece of luggage for only $25.
• If you purchased your tickets before a certain date, you might still be able to avoid the checked bag fees. You need to check with the airline or online to determine this.
• Even though your carryon luggage won't have weight limits, you want to make sure that it isn't so heavy it breaks the overhead bin. Don't go crazy and put 70 or 80 pounds of stuff in your carryon just because you think you can.

Resources

• Southwest Airlines baggage policies
• AirTran Airlines baggage policies
• American Airlines baggage policies

[consumer1]

on 10/11/2008 Airline traveler BEWARE! Check your own baggage weight carefully before checking in at the airline.Air Tran baggage scales were FIVE POUNDS off recently. My bag weighed 34-35 pounds on my home scale. When I got to the baggage check-in counter, I noted that my bag was now 40 pounds! Hmmm...gained weight on the Metro ride over to the airport?!?

I didn't think anything of it until I did some research after a maintenance delay of my flight caused me to miss my connecting flight. I found many complaints about overweight baggage fees at Air Tran in particular!How could such a thing be proven? BINGO! My bag was delayed, too, and had to be sent to me via Fed. Ex. two days later. Looked on the Fed. Ex. tag attached to my bag when it arrived. There it was---WEIGHT: 35 lbs. PROOF that my bag had not gained any weight after all---there was a problem with the Air Tran baggage scale!

L