Money Saving Tips To Avoid Paying Airline Luggage Fees

As many of you know, the airline industry is one of among thousands of multi-billion dollar businesses that are constantly trying to find ways to make more money, keep the money they've made or just find a way to not pass the "buck" to us consumers.

I read an article by Christopher Elliott in Tribune Media Services today about ways to do just that. He says and I agree that the days of gate-checking carry-on luggage may be numbered.

Here are some tips that may assist you in your personal fight to pay the extra fees to the airlines for your luggage. Here are some Money Saving Tips To Avoid Paying Costly Airline Luggage Fees.

1. Check with hotels that actually offer credits to cover luggage fees
2. Check to see if your frequent flier status exempts you from bag fees
3. Bring less
4. Fly a no-fee airline

JetBlue Airways doesn't charge for the first checked bag. Neither does Southwest Airlines. In fact, it doesn't charge for a second bag, either. Both of these companies have acknowledged what the rest of us already know: People travel with at least one bag. Shouldn't we be rewarding these airlines with our business?

5. Get creative

Consolidate! Put your purse, laptop bag, and anything else you can into one or two slightly larger than barely legal bags they allow you to store in the overhead. It allows you to avoid paying the $15 fee.

6. Exploit policy differences

Airlines don't have uniform luggage rules so when you're flying on two or more airlines use that to your advantage. Consider what happened to Kristi Nelson when she flew from Oahu to Portland recently. A Hawaiian Air agent in Lihue asked if she wanted to check her bags all the way through to the mainland. "You bet I do," she said. "I thought for a minute and wondered how we would pay the baggage fee for our Northwest flight from Honolulu." But when she landed, no one bothered to charge her.

Paying extra fees for luggage is down right greed! We are already paying for the airfare and shouldn't our luggage be included?

Next the buses and trains will find a way to cash in on this ridiculous trumped up cost. I don't know about you, but I for one am getting sick and darn tired of it! It's time to fight back.

Posted: August 3, 2009