10 Tips On Ways Around New Luggage Fees.
by Yolandi on 27/01/10 at 7:09 pm
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In just two years, the US has gone from one airline experimenting with a pay-to-check baggage system, to an industry where paying to check any bag is the new standard. Scott Carmichael on Gadling.com posted an article to show you the ways around having to check a bag. With the 2010 World Cup only a few short months away, I’d like to share this post with you and you’re international relatives who’ll be visiting soon from the US. Scott does warn though that these tips won’t work if you’re planning on “carrying everything plus your kitchen sink”. Smart packers will definitely benefit from these little tricks.
1. Rethink your bag strategy to maximize what you can carry
Are you travelling with a laptop bag and a small duffel bag? Or a handbag and a small rolling case? Rethink how you carry your things. Rather use a really large rolling case (or duffel) or a large expanding laptop bag that can fit under a seat. Ladies, your handbag counts as a ‘personal item’ so rather leave room in another bag to put it in.
2. Find lighter luggage
“Every extra pound wasted on your luggage, is a pound you could use to pack more stuff.” So, get lighter luggage.
3. Use a jacket as a third carry-on
It’s sneaky but sufficient. Annie on Gadlin.com took the $120 Scottevest “Women’s essential jacket” for a spin last year, and showed how its 18 pockets can carry the contents of one bag in your jacket. Want one? Go to scottevest.com.
5. Never make it LOOK heavy
When packing your bags, don’t make it look heavy. The moment a gate agent sees you struggle with a bag, is the moment they’ll ask you to have the bag weighed, or point out that it is just too heavy for the overhead. Also, never drag a non-rolling bag through the airport, and never ask the flight attendant to help stuff your bag in the overhead.
4. Board first
Early boarding means the overhead compartments will still be relatively empty. This isn’t always easy but worth a try.
5. Have a backup plan
Always designate one of your bags your “flight bag”. Pack everything you need in one bag, and use the other one for less important stuff. So, if someone demands that you check in one of your carry-on luggage then at least all your necessities are in the other bag.
6. Gate-check
Did you make it past the check-in and the security checkpoint with your obviously overweight bag? If the gate area is very busy, ask the agent for a gate check of your bag. They’ll appreciate your honesty and willingness to part with your bag. But best of all, they’ll put a tag on your bag free of charge.
7. Dump the extras and lighten your load
When you start packing, start going through some of the nonsense you’ve added. Chances are you don’t need half of it.
8. Ship, don’t schlep
In some cases, it can be cheaper, faster and safer to ship your luggage instead of trying to carry it on the plane (or check it). So, do the maths before hand and weigh it up as an option to consider.
9. Rethink your technology
Laptop vs. netbook. Books vs. Kindle. Also, throw your old chargers in a box and get a universal lightweight laptop charger.
10. Borrow a friend (but not a stranger)
Ask a friend to carry one of your bags for you. Obviously, only do this with someone who trusts you, and don’t betray their trust by using that bag for things you hope won’t be discovered by airport security.
Yolandi Janse van Rensburg writes about social media, marketing, life and, of course, cars. We say “of course” because Yolandi is nuts about anything on 4 wheels. Besides moonlighting as the Heavy Chef girl at World Wide Creative, Yolandi runs Autofemme, a blog about cars, as a business on the side. View more articles by Yolandi.
