• Introduction
• 1. Carry On to Put Fees in Check
• 2. If You Must Check Bags, Check Wisely
• 3. Pack Sweet Dreams With You
• 4. BYOH: Bring Your Own Headset
• 5. Fight In-Flight Food Fees
• 6. Let Your Hotel Foot the Bill
• 7. Fly Southwest for Freedom From Fees
• 8. Join the Club
• 9. Don’t Get Beat on Your Seat
• 10. Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease

Carry On to Put Fees in Check

The most common-sense solution for avoiding checked baggage fees is to simply not check your bags. With American, Continental, Northwest, United, US Airways, Frontier, and Spirit now charging $15 for a first checked bag (and most legacy and budget airlines charging around $25 for the second one checked) on each leg of a flight, it just makes (dollars and) sense to carry on. Invest in a strong, yet lightweight bag that’s in accordance with the bulk of airlines' carry-on allowances (check individual airline websites for details as sizes do vary) and reusable toiletries containers (sized under the TSA’s mandated maximum of three ounces) and leave worries of lost luggage, hefty additional fees, and long waits at ticket counters (and carousels) for checked bags – behind.

Download our New Airline Fees chart for a quick-and-easy, up-to-date reference covering airlines' baggage and à la carte fees. 

See United States Travel Guide