Don’t Pay These Easily Avoidable Travel Fees From Major Airlines

Since the pandemic, airlines have had to adjust many of their policies for the benefit of passengers as their industry has experienced ups and downs ( currently in decline, according to Bloomberg ). Some airlines have made it possible for families to sit with their children for free , get compensated if your flight drops in price, and get free cancellations and changes.

However, even now there are many tolls that are bullshit and can be avoided if you are aware of them.

Never pay for a bag that is “too heavy”.

Airlines will always weigh the baggage you check in. Each airline has its own checked baggage weight limit; overweight baggage fees range from $100 to $450 (depending on international and domestic flights). Google “checked baggage weight limit + [your airline name] + [domestic or international flight]” to find your carrier’s weight limit.

You should always weigh your bag at home before taking it to the airport to make sure it’s not overweight. Stand on the scale at home while carrying your bag and subtract your weight from the total to find the weight of the bag. Remember that you can always take heavy items out of your bag and put them on if you find yourself a few pounds overweight (eat or drink snacks, put on your heaviest coats, put on scarves, etc.).

Travel smart with these bags:

• Take an “airline approved” personal bag with you on your next flight: $8 YGR travel bag (usually $10)
• Travel light and avoid fees with this unisex airline-approved hand luggage: $40 (usually $46) LOVEVOOK hand luggage
• Here’s another airline-approved carry-on bag for women: the $40 Women’s Backpack .

Don’t pay for a “too big” bag

It is rare for an airline to check your hand luggage to make sure it fits the measurements listed on their website (however this can happen if your bag is obviously oversized). But if you check in a bag, the clerk will ask you to measure it for your size according to their policy if it looks too big to the naked eye. It’s best to make sure your bag fits your airline’s measurements. Google “checked baggage dimensions + [your airline name] + [domestic or international flight]” to find the dimensions. Fees vary depending on the airline and whether the flight is domestic or international. Fees usually cost around $100; some, such as Delta, may charge $300 for international flights .

Do not pay for checked baggage

The good old days before 2008, when checking luggage on domestic flights was free, are long gone. If your bag is small enough to fit under your seat as hand luggage, you can take it with you on a flight (or pack smaller to fit under your seat). Please be aware that most airlines allow you to carry “personal items/bags” free of charge in addition to hand luggage. Most major US airlines charge at least $30 to check in your luggage on domestic flights and $40 on international flights (some can go as high as $75 per bag).

Don’t Pay United’s Carry-On Fee for Savings

One of the few exceptions to the free carry-on baggage allowance are United’s basic economy tickets. They will charge you around $35 (it depends on the destination) for your hand luggage, so if you are flying United check how much their higher tier tickets on the same flight cost; maybe it’s worth it. Otherwise, make sure you pay for your hand luggage when picking up your ticket online or at the airport before going through security, otherwise you will be forced to check it in at the gate and pay a $25 “gate service fee”. airline trouble.

Do not overpay for booking or changing your ticket

Some airlines charge you for their assistance, and the fee is different if you are requesting assistance in person or by phone. For example, this is what United says : “There will be a charge for tickets issued by United. The ticket service fee from a United representative in the United States and Canada is $25 over the phone, $30 at the city ticket office, and $50 in person at the airport.” Find out how much your airline charges for their work and choose the cheapest option – I called the airline while at the airport only because they charge me double for talking to the person opposite.

Don’t pay to fly with a baby

Some airlines charge for flying with an infant on your lap (fees vary by destination). The same airline that you fly with an infant for free domestically may charge you for an international flight ( we’re looking at you, United ). So be sure to check out the infant policy before booking your flight so you don’t be surprised by the fee.

And finally, if you don’t like paying for seat selection, there is a way to avoid paying that fee too .