Don’t wanna pay baggage check-in fees? These are my tricks…
1. Pack lighter
- Yes, it sounds silly but it’s true. Leave more stuff at home. And by having less, you have much less work to do. Try to underpack and then buy or borrow whatever things you don’t have. Life is so much easier this way. Also, this leaves room for souvenirs when you come home.
- Bring fewer things. Also carry back fewer things. You can probably throw some things away.
2. Pack tighter
- Knowing how to really squeeze your things tighter, allows you to use a small luggage which is less likely to get noticed.
3. Wear your clothes
- Everybody knows this one. Wear 4-5 layers of clothes just so you can get your boarding pass.
- If it’s not clothes that’s heavy, then hand carry your heaviest electronics.
4. Don’t let the check-in lady see your baggage.
- Leave it with a friend while you check in. Or leave it next to a stranger’s bag (maybe one that’s sleeping) while you check in.
5. Try to get 2 carry-on bag straps.
- Check in with only 2 smaller bags (leaving your big luggage out of sight). Which will easily qualify for that cabin bag tag.
- Then after checking in, you transfer the cabin bag tag to your bigger luggage.
6. Don’t let you flight staff see your big bag at boarding gate.
- Don’t sit down in that area.
- When they’re boarding people, leave your bag somewhere on the outside of the ribbon barrier. Then after they scan you in, you grab your bag and board the plane.
7. Do the airport check-in jacket.
- Big wearable trenchcoat with tons of big pockets.
8. Combine luggage with your travel buddy.
- If you’re traveling with another person who also has to check stuff in, perhaps you can combine luggage. Buy a big cheap duffel bag and stuff with both your items and check it in as one piece.
- Or perhaps if your travel buddy has space, you can transfer only your heavier items to theirs temporarily.
9. Don’t buy baggage on connecting flights.
- Think about it, you only have to get past the counter at your first flight. After that, you’ve already landed inside the gates at the next airport and bypassed checkin and security already.
10. If you absolutely must buy baggage…
- See if there’s a combo deal for baggage AND priority boarding.
- Regardless what anybody says, see if you can buy baggage directly from the airline online. 2nd best is at the airline counter in person.