Travelling is one of the best ways to get out of a busy schedule and experience something new and exciting. It also can prove to be a perfect remedy for stress, boredom, or the feeling of being stuck in a rut. However, there are things that can really dampen the excitement of jetting off on holiday.
Suppose you get to the airport and you’re suddenly faced with excess baggage fees at the check-in desk. Although the fine may not be that high, it may still ruin your plans. The good news is that you can take a few extra precautions to avoid such a scenario.
From reading the airline’s policy cover to cover to putting on an extra layer of clothes or using a backpack instead of a regular carry-on – easy tricks like these might be all you need. With that being said, read the article below to learn more about ways to avoid these pesky excess baggage charges, so you never have to worry about them again!
Pack Smart
There are times when packing light simply isn’t an option. You might know that you’ll be travelling for a long period of time, or you might be going on a two-week vacation and need clothes for every possible weather. In such a case, it’s natural that you want to take as many different pieces of clothing as possible and throw in some personal belongings such as chargers, toiletries, or your trusty skincare.
That’s the situation that calls for packing in a smart way. First, try to invest in a lightweight suitcase – this will allow you to spare a few extra kilos for your luggage. Ditch the bulky and heavy suitcases. When travelling, wear your bulkiest clothing, such as jeans, hoodies, or jackets, to make room for the essentials. Put on the shoes that take the most space to leave room for other stuff. On top of that, you should consider the possibility of buying some necessities at your destination or using a parcel mailbox, instead of wasting the precious space in your suitcase.
Read Your Airline’s Baggage Policy
One of the easiest ways to avoid paying out for excess baggage at all costs is quite easy. You should take some time to read your airline’s baggage policy thoroughly. Each airline has a different policy, so you can’t just assume that all are the same, especially if you’re booking with a certain airline for the first time. Just because something worked with one airline doesn’t mean that the heavy baggage you managed to check the last time is going to go through the same process again when flying with a different carrier.
There are a number of factors that typically determine your baggage allowance, including your flight destination, suitcase measurements, or class of service. Most commercial airlines charge excess weight per kilo at the airport. You can usually check the baggage allowance from your ticket.
Wear Extra Layers of Clothes
This trick might seem like a no-brainer, but some people think that they should put as many clothes on before even leaving the house, while the truth is that you can just go ahead and pack your clothes as you’d normally do. Go to the airport and check-in for the flight. You might want to have some spare time because this could not work if you’re running late. If anyone says that your baggage is overweight during the check-in, leave the line and go to the bathroom.
There, take out some of the heaviest clothes like jeans, hoodies, jackets, or sweaters and put them on. If your bag turns out to be too heavy, put on as many layers as you can. Then go back and check in again. Don’t worry that you’re going to get overheated. Firstly, planes are usually quite cold during the flight and, secondly, when you board and take your seat, you should be able to take some stuff off.
No one can say anything about the number of clothes you’re wearing (unless you get to the point where you can’t move, but that would be the worst-case scenario). Wearing the clothes you want to take for your trip instead of packing them in the luggage is perfectly fine, and you can’t be charged extra as long as your bag doesn’t exceed the weight limit.
Use a Backpack
Usually, it’s the airline staff who expect that backpacks are light from the get-go, but suitcases used as carry-on luggage are seen as heavy containers. The truth is that a small suitcase and a decent size backpack can fit pretty much the same amount of stuff. Still, suitcases tend to be bulky and can waste a lot of space, while backpacks are simply more flexible and better for cramming things a lot more effectively.
On top of that, backpack carriers are almost never asked to put their backpack into the cabin baggage size checkers to see if it meets the size restrictions – which are often set to 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Things can be much easier for you if you decide to pack your belongings in a backpack.
The Bottom Line
These days, finding an affordable ticket might only be the beginning of your journey to avoid spending excessive amounts of money when travelling via an airplane. Fortunately, you can do some clever hacks such as using a backpack instead of a suitcase, packing in the smartest way possible, or putting some extra clothes on yourself, instead of cramming them in your luggage. Showing up at the check-in counter with a huge suitcase doesn’t have to cost a fortune if you follow these tips. Happy travels!
