Determine what an airline’s luggage rules are ahead of time to avoid paying an excess baggage fee. Stick to the rules by only carrying the allowed number of bags and making sure they don’t exceed the dimensions and weight limits. If your luggage is too heavy, take advantage of your carry-on allowance by removing unnecessary items. If you’re taking multiple carriers on a trans-global flight, make sure you follow each one’s baggage policies.
Excess baggage fees can be avoided in a variety of ways, but the ones that apply to you will differ depending on your circumstances. It is critical to be aware of the luggage allowances in all cases. Remember to take into account the number of pieces as well as the weight. You will be charged extra baggage fees if your luggage is too heavy. Also, if you’re allowed two pieces of luggage, each weighing 50 pounds (22.73 kg), you won’t be able to combine them and carry a single 100-pound (45.45-kg) bag unless you want to pay an overweight luggage fee.
Make smart packing decisions to ensure that you have all of the items you require while still adhering to the luggage regulations. Packing unnecessary items like clothes hangers and items still in their packaging is a no-no. This is a waste of space and will increase the weight of your luggage. If you’re going on a long trip and plan to bring a lot of bottled liquids, such as shampoos and body washes, consider bringing only a small amount and buying more later.
You may find yourself in a bind because you want to buy gifts to have on hand when you arrive, but you won’t be able to pack them without incurring excess baggage fees. After you check in, consider purchasing your gifts from airport shops. You should be able to travel with your purchases for free unless they are excessively large. Another option is to buy your gifts on the plane.
Take advantage of your carry-on allowance if the luggage you plan to check is too heavy. The majority of airlines will let you bring one piece of luggage onto the plane for free. This is usually allowed in addition to one personal item, such as a laptop case or briefcase, so you don’t have to give up access to items you might need on the plane.
Avoid using multiple carriers if you are traveling internationally and purchasing your tickets through an online airfare discounter. When transferring from one airline to another, you run the risk of being charged for excess baggage. This is possible because baggage allowances differ from country to country. For example, you may be allowed two checked bags if you leave Washington, D.C. and fly to Paris on the same airline. If you try to fly from Paris to Prague on another airline, you might only be allowed one piece of luggage, which means you’ll have to pay for the second.