Checking Bags, Grumbling About Fees

October 25 2010 by Chris McGinnis

iStock_000004699454XSmall.jpgMost frequent business travelers have packing down to a science. They almost always carry their bags on board and rarely consider checking them with airlines.

Cooler weather means bulkier clothing, and holiday travel usually involves bringing along family members who aren't as practiced in proper packing procedures. So the likelihood of checked luggage, a visit to the luggage carousel and pain of paying new airline fees could increase in the coming months.

Got a checked bag in your future? Then consider these tips:

  • Fly airlines with no or low checked bag fees. Best Western partner Southwest Airlines does not charge fees for checking the first two bags. JetBlue doesn't charge for the first bag, but you will have to fork over $30 for the second.

  • Consider driving! Most major airlines now charge $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second each way, for a total of $120 per round trip. That can add up, especially for a family of four. If you're traveling with co-workers or family members and can drive to your destination in five hours or less, consider making it a road trip instead.

  • Look for ways around the fees. Both Delta and Continental will waive the fee for the first checked bag if you charge your ticket on certain partner credit cards. (Delta's partner is American Express; Continental's is Chase.)

  • Ship your bags. While there's a hassle factor of packing a few days early and heading to to the Fedex or UPS store to drop them off, it's nice to know your bag(s) will be waiting for you when you arrive--no airport schlep, no carousel. Shipping costs are high (especially cross-country), but not out of the question. For example, for my holiday trip from San Francisco to Atlanta, UPS would charge about $50 each way for a 35 lb. bag (about the size of a roller board) shipped via ground (which would take up to five days to arrive). If I were to go skiing in Colorado this winter, I could pack up all my ski gear and ship it to the resort for about $30 each way. (Calculate your own costs here.)

  • Take advantage of your frequent flier status whenever possible. Airlines waive most if not all standard baggage fees for elite level members of their frequent flyer programs.

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