Travel Deal of the Day (June 18, 2008)

If you are looking to save money, you may want to start re-thinking about the way you pack for your next vacation.

The Deal:
Many US airlines have begun or will begin imposing fees for checked luggage – even (on some airlines) for the first checked bag. Here are my rules for checked baggage in light of the new fees:

(1) Try not to check a bag at all. I have not checked a bag in years. I simply fit all belongings into a carry-on bag – it reduces the amount of excess “stuff” I take on a trip, it reduces the risk that my belongings will be lost and it helps me avoid any excess baggage charges. (There are various books and online articles that teach “rolling” techniques to allow you to fit quite a bit of clothing in a carry-on bag that fits in an overhead bin – you may want to read one of these resources (such as the article at this link) as it can dramatically expand the storage capacity of your bag.) Note that once airlines impose the new increased baggage charges, you are likely to encounter more competition for overhead bins so boarding early will be important. You also should ensure that your carry-on bag meets the airline’s carry-on restrictions – as more people try to bring large/heavy/full carry-on bags onto planes, I would imagine that airlines will increase their enforcement of carry-on bag rules.

(2) If you must check a bag, research the carrier’s fees before you book your ticket. The total cost of a trip, including any fees, should be considered. Just looking at the fare (without any fees) can be misleading if you are going to check bags.

(3) As mentioned in previous posts, research freight forwarding options for heavy bags or bags with ultra-important contents. These services are convenient, allow you to track the progress of your shipment and may actually be cheaper than checking a bag (if you have multiple bags or if the bag is quite heavy).