Research Airlines So You Can Pack Correctly for Your Trip

Image: It’s true. Some airlines charge over $100 for a last-minute checked bag! Avoid that cost by doing your research.

It’s Day 3 of 30 Days to Packing a Better Bag, and we’re still in the planning stages of our guide. This post is all about researching your airlines.

Before you even think about booking your ticket, there’s the process of researching potential airlines to find yourself the best possible deal. Once you’ve found where you’ll be flying in and out of, you’ll need to be diligent about choosing the airline that can get you there cheapest without the hassle of additional baggage fees.

Everything plays into what you pack, especially what airline you fly.

How to Find a Flight Deal

Flights are often the most expensive part of any trip, especially if you’re traveling overseas! Using these tips may help you find a great deal!

1. First, look on sites like Skyscanner or Kayak (or check out these other essential travel apps) to get an idea of what you’ll be paying (sometimes you’ll find the same price as on the airline’s site) before searching and comparing on competing sites. 
2. Set a price tracker to get alerts by email for when your selected fare will be going up or down. 
3. Try booking in a different currency against your home currency or booking through foreign affiliates (Expedia.co.uk, Kayak.jp), as this could also be cheaper.

Look for Alternatives

Sometimes it may be cheaper to fly to a bigger hub nearby and take a train or bus to your destination. 

Look at multi-destination tickets instead of flying in and out of the same airport. It may end up costing a little more, but it prevents the hassle of having to get back to your arrival city, wasting precious travel time. In other cases, bypassing the need to transport back to your arrival city could work out the cheapest.

Look at budget and regional carriers to get around the area after arriving in your main hub cities. For example, if you’re flying into Porto, Portugal and out of Berlin, Germany, consider taking a budget carrier flight from Porto to a regional German airport to save money.

Check Airline Baggage Policies

Budget carriers like Spirit and Southwest in the United States, Ryanair and Easyjet in Europe, and Tiger and Jetstar in Asia have strict rules about how much baggage you can check and carry on board without facing fees. 

Some airlines even charge for carry-on bags these days!

If you’re flying a budget carrier and are trying to save money on baggage fees, it’s smart to travel personal item only and pack ultralight. Traveling personal item only is the only true way to travel without paying for your luggage.

If you’re traveling personal item only or carry-on only, measure and weigh your bag in advance because you don’t want to get to the airport and have your bag not fit the specifications.

Why? We’re glad you asked.

Pay in advance if you know you’ll need to check a bag because the price can double or even triple when you get to the airport. 

Here’s an example of flying Spirit Airlines domestically from Atlanta to New York in June 2024:

It will cost you $55 to add a checked bag to your ticket during online booking. If, after you’ve booked, you want to add a checked bag to your trip, the price increases to $59. If you add the bag during the online check-in process, this will cost you $64. When you get to the airport, this price increases dramatically. It will cost you $79 to add a checked bag to your flight at the airport. That means if your carry-on bag is overweight and they weigh it at the gate, you’ll be shelling out $79 to get that bag on the plane.

Let’s say you are traveling from Houston to Chigaco in June 2024:

When booking your ticket, a checked bag is $45. After you’ve booked it will cost you $49. During online check-in, it costs $54 and at the airport, it again costs $79.

Also, print your ticket in advance if you prefer a physical copy. Some airlines will charge for that too. For example, Ryanair has an app, but they will charge you for printing a ticket if you need it Plus, bring your own food on board if you can since the snacks tend to be highly overpriced. 

If you’re checking a bag, check the airline’s lost baggage policy and ensure that your travel insurance covers lost or delayed luggage. You don’t want to arrive at your destination without clothes or other essentials.

Choose Luggage Wisely

Once you know your airline’s baggage policy, decide how many pieces of luggage you will bring. 

Will you go carry-on only or check multiple bags? 

If you’re going carry-on only, make sure you can lift your bag above your head to put it in the overhead compartment. Backpacks and rolling suitcases tend to work best, but if you’re checking a bag, you may want luggage with a tough outer shell that won’t get destroyed by the baggage handlers and carousel. 

To protect your backpack when checking, invest in a rain cover or duffel that will help keep it from getting dirty, and keep those straps from getting caught in the carousels.

We’ll be discussing more about choosing the right luggage tomorrow.

We know this post is about researching airlines so you can make better packing and baggage choices, but we have a few more tips that can help you save some extra cash when booking flights. 

Saving money is never bad, and if you are able to save a few extra bucks here then maybe you can afford to bring home some extra souvenirs.

Be Flexible

There are a few steps you can take to make your fare cheaper. 

• Fly during the week instead of on peak days like Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays. 
• If you’re looking for fares frequently on your computer, clear the cache because the price may increase if the website knows you are constantly checking back. 
• Select the “flexible dates” option when booking, which will give you cheaper options on different days of the week surrounding your planned departure.

Travel Hacking

There’s a way to get as much out of your money as possible, known as travel hacking. Many times you can receive enough points to book a free flight by signing up for an airline credit card. Some credit cards will provide perks, such as airline miles, club passes, and discounts on flights.

Let us know about your luggage goals for your upcoming trip and whether or not airline restrictions are playing a part.