How to reduce — or avoid — airline fees for checked bags

Checking a bag on the airport has gotten pricier for vacationers — and tougher to keep away from.

A checked bag is one saved in a airplane’s cargo maintain throughout a flight. Whereas that service was free in years previous, it is now normal for main airways to cost for checked luggage, specialists mentioned.

Main U.S. airways began doing so in 2008, levying round $15 a bag, mentioned Katy Nastro, journey knowledgeable at low cost flight alert platform Going.

At this time, it is about double: $30 to $35 for one checked bag, Nastro mentioned. Meaning vacationers who test a bag on every leg of a round-trip itinerary can add an additional $60 to $70 to the full value of their fundamental fare. Charges usually enhance for every further checked bag.

Passengers paid about $6.8 billion in whole baggage charges in 2022, the final full 12 months for which knowledge is out there, in accordance with the Bureau of Transportation. That is up 17% from roughly $5.8 billion in 2019, despite the fact that fewer passengers flew on U.S. carriers in 2022, Bureau of Transportation knowledge exhibits.

Extra from Private Finance:
4 massive methods to save lots of in your subsequent journey
Do not let this passport quirk upend your subsequent trip
2024 is the ’12 months of globetrotting,’ journey knowledgeable says

“Except baggage is included in a higher-class (premium financial system, first, enterprise class, and so on.) ticket, passengers ought to anticipate to pay a charge,” Eric Napoli, vice chairman of authorized technique at AirHelp, which helps passengers file claims for airline compensation, defined in an electronic mail.

Here is some recommendation from journey specialists on scale back these charges, and maybe keep away from them altogether.

There are a number of airways that also do not cost for a checked bag.

Southwest, for instance, is the one outlier within the U.S., specialists mentioned. The provider permits two free checked luggage.

The “Large Three” Gulf Airways — Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates — nonetheless supply free baggage, as does Air India, in accordance with Aiden Higgins, senior editor of The Broke Backpacker web site.

These carriers might have sure restrictions, together with for baggage dimension and weight.

After all, simply because they could not cost for luggage does not imply their fares are cheaper than others when assessing total value. In addition they might not fly routes that work for vacationers’ itineraries.

Journey companions may additionally think about combining suitcases.

A household of 4 might be able to condense 4 luggage into two, doubtlessly reducing checked-bag charges in half, specialists mentioned.

There’s one caveat, although. Passengers want to contemplate airways’ weight necessities for luggage and whether or not consolidating suitcases may set off further charges.

Touring gentle — solely with a private merchandise and/or carry-on bag, relying on what your airline and fare class allow totally free — is “the one fool-proof means” to keep away from paying a checked-bag charge, Napoli mentioned.

After all, this would possibly not be potential for everybody.

However passengers “can sneak fairly a bit into the cabin” inside airline limits, particularly with a well-packed backpack — aided by packing cubes — mixed with a sling bag and/or a tote bag, Higgins mentioned.

Passengers with softer, duffel-bag-type baggage that is extra pliable might have a better time assembly carry-on dimension necessities versus these with a tough case, Nastro mentioned.

Even the key carriers usually cost for carry-ons on fundamental financial system fares, specialists mentioned.

The next-tier ticket for the next value would possibly embrace a baggage allowance, by which case passengers might wind up paying the identical whole worth in comparison with a lower-cost fare whereas additionally getting some further advantages corresponding to the power to decide on a seat or make flight adjustments, specialists mentioned.

“In case you are utilizing an aggregator like Skyscanner, it might probably generally work out cheaper to go together with the 2nd or third costliest flight if the airline is [also] providing baggage,” Higgins mentioned.

Vacationers ought to learn the advantageous print to discern what baggage is included of their ticket, which varies from airline to airline and ticket class, Napoli mentioned.

Whether or not you are checking a bag or carrying one on for a charge, declaring that early can prevent cash.

For instance, a typical passenger flying Spirit Airways from New York to Los Angeles this week would pay $39 for a carry-on, in accordance with the provider’s worth chart. A checked bag is cheaper at $34.

However these costs assume passengers add their luggage through the preliminary on-line reserving course of. Those that wait to pay till arriving on the gate, for instance, would pay $99 for a checked bag or carry-on, the chart signifies.

For many who know they will want so as to add a bag, “9 instances out of 10 it is at all times cheaper to do it upon reserving” as an alternative of deferring till later, Nastro mentioned.

Comparatively excessive charges for “add ons” corresponding to luggage imply a price range provider will not be the most cost effective possibility when assessing whole value and worth, she mentioned.

Shopping for and utilizing a baggage scale earlier than touring might help vacationers keep away from shock charges on the airport because of exceeding a weight restrict on checked luggage.

“At the least weigh your suitcase earlier than you even guide the flight,” Higgins mentioned. “As soon as upon a time, airways may need turned a blind eye” to further weight, however not anymore, he mentioned.

Vacationers can even put money into ultralight baggage, Higgins mentioned.

“You possibly can simply save 1 or 2 [kilograms] by shopping for specifically designed ultralight journey gear,” he mentioned. Nevertheless, such luggage may be dear and will not be as sturdy as sturdier packs, he mentioned.

“Many bank cards, particularly airline-branded playing cards, supply free checked luggage as a perk,” mentioned Napoli.

After all, vacationers should not essentially open a bank card account only for this perk, specialists mentioned. Some playing cards may also carry an annual charge, although vacationers would possibly come out forward if their annual advantages (e.g., financial savings on bag charges) eclipse that expense.

“It varies bank card to bank card and airline to airline,” Nastro mentioned.

Becoming a member of an airline’s frequent flier program may additionally include perks for vacationers corresponding to free or additional baggage, Higgins mentioned.

Do not miss these tales from CNBC PRO: