How to avoid paying a fortune for airplane luggage: 5 tricks from travellers

Major airlines such as American Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Delta have recently made changes to their fares by raising checked baggage fees, which can significantly impact the costs of passengers. However, there are various tricks to help avoid these additional baggage fees, from packing smartly to choosing the right fare and learning about each airline's policies.

It's worth considering these strategies as they can help passengers save money and make travelling more economical and enjoyable. According to Yahoo, the answers to these questions lie right on the surface.

5 tips for those who don't want to overpay for airplane baggage

1. Pack Light

The Reddit r/Frugal forum has a lot of useful tips on how to save money on travel. One of the frugal travellers, r5d400, said that the key to saving a lot of money is the ability to pack light. He noticed that many people pay for luggage even on short trips or spend money on laundry when travelling for less than 1 week.

r5d400 shares his strategy of travelling with only one backpack, including trips of 2 weeks, and even in snowy places where you need more clothes. For example, carrying a warm jacket in his hands. This allowed him to save about $100 on airline baggage fees.

2. Buy what you need in your destination city

Buy the necessary items upon arrival. You can reduce the amount of carry-on luggage or reduce your checked baggage by purchasing small samples of personal items, such as toothpaste or deodorant, upon arrival at your location. In addition, use the shampoo, conditioner, and soap provided by the hotel. By reducing the number of items you need to bring with you, you can simplify your beauty routine while travelling.

3. Join the Frequent Flyer Club

Joining a Frequent Flyer Club is a good decision because it can save you from baggage fees. Even if you don't manage to accumulate enough miles to reach the highest tier, you can still take advantage of this benefit. For example, Delta provides baggage fee waivers for SkyMiles Medallion members starting at the first (silver) level.

4. Use the right credit challenge

Some premium travel credit cards, or cards associated with specific airlines, may exempt you from checked baggage fees if you book a flight with that card.

For example, the American Airlines AAdvantage Aviator card issued by Barclay's Bank allows you to check one bag for free for you and up to four companions travelling with you, and provides certain in-flight benefits such as preferred boarding and a 25% discount on purchases.

Additionally, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers a $300 annual travel credit that can be used for any travel-related expense, including checked baggage fees on any airline.

5. Know the rules of your airline

Before you look for ways to avoid baggage fees, it is important to familiarize yourself with the airline's rules and policies on this issue. To do so, check the airline's website for the most up-to-date information on the size, weight, and number of bags you can check or bring. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprises when checking in for your flight and ensure a comfortable trip.

Earlier, a British Airways flight attendant recommended seats to choose to have access to food without any problems. Read various tips in the TravelWise article.