How to Avoid Airline Checked Bag Fees (Part 2)
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Welcome back.
It’s been some time since I returned from my business conference in Miami.
And yeah, I paid JetBlue big time for my checked baggage.
This week, we’re unpacking 17 more ways to reduce and eliminate airline check bag fees.
In case you missed Part 1, click here.
Packing up from last week, let’s explore another 17 ways to reduce or avoid checked bag fees.
Again, the key to minimizing or avoiding checked baggage fees is to minimize the weight of your suitcase and fit everything into one suitcase instead of two or into two suitcases instead of three.
If we can’t beat the Airline Industry, let’s buckle up, fight fire with fire and pack these 17 ways to avoid airline check bag fees or at least reduce airline them:
Check out “Compression Packing Cubes.” Compression Packing Cubes fit in your suitcase and help you stuff your suitcase to the gills.
Go Prime – Amazon Prime that is. Buy some new clothes and ship them to your destination. If you’re staying at a hotel, make sure you mark the package “Hold for Arrival” along with your arrival date.
Last year, I visited my friend Riley in Southern California.
Somehow, I forgot to pack my bathing suit. I purchased a bathing suit on Amazon and shipped it to her house.
To be fair, I subscribe to Amazon Prime. Shipping is generally free (free shipping) – well included in the annual membership fee.
And I did need a new bathing suit.
But of course, on the trip home the bathing suit took up some space in my suitcase and added some weight to my suitcase. . .
Rent equipment instead of lugging it along.
While it’s impractical to wear for example ski boots in flight, perhaps you can get creative and wear some other clothes as mentioned above.
Skiing. Same story with skis, ski poles and ski boots. . . If you’re flying to the ski resort, in my opinion it’s easier to rent than ship your skis. But that depends on how much you’re wedded to your ski equipment. Me? I’m Not a fan of the cold so it’s irrelevant.
Golf. I’m a mediocre golfer at best and take in a round only once or twice a year. Rather than haul my golf clubs, I rent clubs – yes at resort prices. I guess we have to pay one way or the other.
Leave a set of clothes at your destination if you frequent a particular city.
During COVID 19, I was dating Terry who lived in Los Angeles.
Over time, I built up a second wardrobe which I stored in an extra closet in her house.
Love the local dry cleaner. Before I left Los Angeles to go back to New York, I would drop off slacks and a few dress shirts at the dry cleaner instead of lugging them back and forth. When I arrived in Los Angeles, I picked them up.
Of course, when we broke up, despite my asking Terry to ship my stuff back East, she handed them to me, leaving me to endure the checked baggage fees or pay FedEx a pretty penny. You can’t win ‘em all!
If you’re visiting friends or someone is driving to the vacation spot, ask them if you can borrow some of their stuff.
Maybe our good old friend Becky has a laptop charger cord that’s compatible with your laptop, an overcoat and a few other goodies. However, depending on your itinerary, you may want to keep your charger cords and adapters close at hand – in a carry-on – in case you need to charge up.
Hair dryers tend to weigh a fair amount and take up a lot of space in your suitcase. I find that most hotels have a hair dryer in the rooms.
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Buy Innovative Suitcases and Bags
Buy a “Fannie Pack.” You can carry stuff in the pockets.
Backpacks – buy a backpack that has lots of zippered pockets.
Check out:
‘Centerfold Garment Sleeve’ from Away. It’s a garment bag that’s designed to fit inside your suitcase. Check it out here.
“Awearness Garment Duffle Bag by Kenneth Cole™, which is a “2 in 1 Duffle Garment Bag.”
Recently, I purchased one and it’s great.
Awearness includes a shoe pouch on each side, two hanger loops, zippered necktie pocket, multiple accessories pockets and a compartment for your suit, slacks, a skirt or dress and a couple of dress shirts or blouses.
Ideal for a short trip – say two days.
Clever design – the zipper “rolls” the garment bag into a log and becomes a duffle bag so you can pack your stuff in the duffel bag.
I used it last week on my overnight trip to Tampa. It fit right into the overhead compartment on the airplane. Easy.
Wear a vest, ideally with zippered pockets.
Store your electronic gear, cosmetics and some toiletries in your pockets to free up space in your suitcase and reduce the weight of your suitcase.
Check out the ScotteVest. These engineered vests have a whole bunch of zippered pockets. It seems cool but it’s over the top for me.
Buy lighter electronic gear.
I typically purchase the wired headsets for my iPhone. A couple of times I lost an expensive headset. But many love their music.
In the Military of a Veteran? Some airlines will waive the checked bag fee.
5 Financial Ways to Save Money on Check Baggage Fees:
Buy your check bag tickets online when you book your airline tickets, Not at the airport. When you purchase a checked baggage tag At the Airport instead of online in advance, typically you’ll pay $5 to $10 more.
Check out Cobranded Credit Cards. They typically offer one free checked bag for each ticket you purchase. Make sure you purchase the airline ticket with that airline’s cobranded credit card to qualify for the free checked baggage. As this blog post launches, these cobranded credit cards offer one free checked bag per airline ticket or an annual cash travel award (statement credit) which you can apply towards checked bag fees:
Delta American Express®
JetBlue® MasterCard
American Airlines from Citibank
United℠ MileagePlus Explorer
Southwest Airlines
Alaska Air Mileage Plan
Capital One Venture Visa and Capital One VentureX. The Venture cards award you 2% on all your purchases and you can “erase” your travel costs. You can apply your points to avoid paying checked baggage fees.
American Express® Platinum Card. Amex gives you a $200 annual airline fee credit, which you can put toward checked bag fees. Check the rules because you may have to enroll in the program.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a $300 annual travel credit that you can use towards baggage fees.
Be sure to link your frequent flyer account to your cobranded credit card to capture the frequent flyer miles on your airline tickets.
While you’re flying at 30,000 feet, use your cobranded credit card to purchase food and beverages onboard. Typically you receive a discount of 25% to 50%.
Upgrade to business class or first class.
Some first class tickets include a free checked bag.
Although of course, the extra cost of a first class ticket probably exceeds the $40 or $50 for a bag check fee.
Fly safe!
See you next week.
Arthur VanDam, CPA MBA
P.S. To Save More Money for Vacations – Clickhere.
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