Just Say No - To Checked Bag Fees!

Low cost airlines in the UK have been implementing draconian weight limits and checked bag fees for years. Last year, most of the major US airlines got on board with this idea to try and claw back some revenue when fuel prices reached an all time high. Ironically, the only airlines that didn’t jump on this band wagon were the low cost ones: Southwest and Jet Blue. Kudos to them for that and for managing to run a solvent business.

Well, the fuel prices are much lower now but rather than rolling back those checked baggage fees, they are increasing them (I’m talking about YOU, American Airlines!). The airlines have got used to this extra source of income, so sadly, it looks like baggage fees are here to stay.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/101209dnbusairfees.3d4c624.html

So, how do we, the travellers, deal with this situation? Well, we take a stand, refuse to check bags and only travel with carry on. Which of course is easier said than done – especially if you are a woman. In this blog, I will discuss how to pack that carry on effectively.
In the olden days, travelling with just checked baggage was no big deal. In fact, for short trips away, it was the preferred mode for many travelers who wanted to avoid long carousel waits or lost luggage. Airlines would actively try and persuade people to check their bags because less carry on meant speedier boarding times. Remember how you would quite often hear a flight attendant on the tannoy saying, if you can’t find a space in the overhead locker for your case, they would be happy to check it for you? Bet you haven’t heard that announcement in a while.

But that was in the olden days, back in the days when you did not have to squish all your toiletries into a clear quart size bag! After that requirement came in, everyone started checking their bags. Then they introduced checked bag fees. Quart size bag requirement plus checked bag fees equals screwed passenger.

OK, let’s deal with the quart size bag requirement. Each individual item in that bag can be no more than 3 fluid ounces. These days, if I am going to be staying in a nice hotel, I no longer pack shower gel, body lotion, shampoo or conditioner as I am relying on the hotel to provide those necessities. In the olden days, I used to coo when I saw these toiletries in the hotel bathroom, then pack them into my case to take home to add to my collection of little bottles of toiletries. I never actually USED them. Well, now I do.

If I am travelling to the home of close relatives or close friends, I use their cleansing and conditioning toiletries. If I am going to be staying at a lower end hotel or with friends whom I don’t know so well, I pack the little bottles of toiletries from that collection I amassed before the change.

Hair gels and face creams I decant into little bottles and tubs. I tend to buy perfume in travel sizes anyway, but if you don’t, decant it into small atomizers (Nordstrom and Sephora sell these).

Remember, it is only liquids and gels that are subject to the quart size bag rule. Pack a solid deodorant rather than a spray or gel one because that doesn’t count. Ladies, leave your liquid lip glosses at home and pack solid lipsticks as they don’t count.

Good news for contact wearers like myself. Contact lens solution is counted as a medical product and a full size bottle can be carried outside the bag. Be sure to put it in the screening tray and mention it to the TSA officer. I print out the page from the TSA guidelines which has these instructions on it and wrap it round the bottle with an elastic band – just in case there is any dispute.

It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the TSA website for their latest guidelines on what does and does not have to go in the bag.

http://www.tsa.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtm

Please do bear in mind that the TSA guidelines are for travel in, and from the USA. Different countries have their own variations on the rules.

Are some of you thinking that there are some toiletries you just can’t do without and there is no way they will fit in the bag? My advice to you is to go to a pharmacy once you reach your destination, buy your products and then leave them behind with your friends/ hotel maids before your return trip. At up to $20 each way for a checked bag (still looking at you, American) you can buy your stuff, have change left over, give to your friends and be able to bask in the satisfaction that the airline didn’t get one extra penny from you. I am going to Miami in November and I cannot be without copious quantities of Neutrogena spray sunscreen, which, unfortunately, does not come in mini sizes. I will buy it once I get there.

Now we have sorted out our toiletries, let’s take a look at packing clothes and shoes (and more shoes….). You’ll probably want a roll on that is the absolute maximum size allowed for carry on (which does vary by carrier so please check with yours) generally around 24 X 16 X 10. You can take a second bag (personal item) on board but that has to fit under the seat – so a small back pack or a large handbag is appropriate.

In the olden days, you probably just carried your wallet, cosmetics and a book in your personal item. These days, be prepared to stuff shoes and underwear in there.

Also be prepared to be shameless. These days I will ask the family and friends I am visiting if I can do a load of laundry. If you are staying at a hotel, wash clothes out by hand (pack some powder detergent or improvise with the hotel’s shampoo).

Finally, layer up. This can be a bit of a pain when you are travelling from somewhere which is generally warm, like Dallas, to somewhere cold, but suck it up and put on that sweater and coat just before check in and pull them off after security.

There are some times when checking in a case is absolutely unavoidable – like when you are travelling internationally. Fortunately, the airlines are still allowing one (some airlines allow two) piece of checked luggage. Unfortunately, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, American Virgin Islands and Hawaii do not count as foreign countries, even though some of them actually are and they are all places where you are likely to be taking a lot of luggage like ski gear or snorkel gear. I really do think this is a cynical ploy on the part of airlines to exploit vacationers.

Just try and pack lightly and minimise the damage. I recently went to Mexico with a friend on Sun Country which charges $20 each way for the first piece of checked luggage. We packed cooperatively so we only had to check one large suitcase between us.

Please do note that for most airlines the weight allowance for each checked bag is only 50lbs (more for actual designated international travel) and the fees for excess weight are absolutely extortionate. Weigh your case at home (ours just squeaked by at 49lbs).

Check here for baggage fees and weight allowances on different airlines:

http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/AirfareWatchBlog/tabid/54/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/868/Checked-bag-fees-airline-by-airline.aspx

So remember, just say no to checked bag fees and spend your savings on a souvenir 