• 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

If You Must Check Bags, Check Wisely

The steepest checked baggage fees are tacked onto bags that are overweight (usually above 50 pounds) or oversized (from 62 inches). So while it may at first seem logical to try to cram everything into one bag instead of using two, know that while a first checked bag won’t set you back more than $15 on any airline, if it ends up being oversized or overweight it can cost anywhere from $29 (AirTran) to $175 (Delta, for over 70 pounds). Considering second checked bag fees hover around $25 on most airlines (bringing the average total for two checked bags to about $40), it's near-always the more economical option to check two bags than to go overboard on one. Alternatively, think about packing a small tote bag in your luggage that can be pulled out to use as a quick-fix carry on to transfer luggage overflow that might make your checked bag overweight by just a pound or two. If you must travel with more than two bags, or with overweight or oversized luggage, looking into a shipping agent like FedEx or the USPS for cost comparison is a smart move, as rates can actually be quite competitive.

See United States Travel Guide