Save Money on Summer Air Travel by Packing Light
Airline charges for excess baggage can add up quickly, so learn to pack light and plan ahead.
(PRWEB) June 26, 2005 -- Want to save at least $50 on summer air travel?
“Learn to pack light!” says packing expert Susan Foster, author of Smart Packing
for Today’s Traveler (www.smartpacking.com).
Checking overweight bags or too
many bags can add up to major charges -- due before you proceed to the gate.
Exceed the 50 pound maximum per bag allowed by most airlines for domestic travel
and you will be charged $25 each way; try to check more than two bags per
ticketed passenger and the typical fee is $80 per bag, each way. Try to carry on
too many bags or too large a bag and you may be forced to check it, thereby
putting you over the limit. Oversized bags may also incur a fee -- it will cost
you $80 each way for any bag that measures over 62 inches based on linear
measurement of length + width + depth. Call your airline or check their website
for specifics, as rules differ.
Foster offers these four tips to avoid
any costly add-ons:
-Plan ahead so you pack exactly what you need and
nothing extra. Go to http://www.smartpacking.com for tips to pack less.
-Measure
your suitcase(s) before packing. The larger the bag, the more weight it will
hold, putting you at risk for the oversized and overweight fee added
together.
-Pack at least a day in advance so you have time to edit down and
still have what you need and want.
-Weigh each packed bag on your bathroom
scale before leaving for the airport and lighten the load to less than 50 pounds
(you do want to bring treasures home, don't you?).
Traveling
internationally?
Check with all the airlines you plan to fly. Americans
often choose a domestic carrier (United, Delta, American, etc.) to Europe and
regional discount airlines to fly between European cities. Domestic airlines
flying to an international destination generally allow two checked bags weighing
up to 70 pounds each, but discount airlines flying within Europe allow only 33
to 44 pounds total per person (again, rules differ) for all checked luggage. You
may carry on an additional piece weighing from 13 to 22 pounds. Excess baggage
fees can cost as much as $3.80 per pound.
For example, do the math…
2
bags @ 70 lbs each = 140 pounds (allowed from U.S.), less 33 pounds (maximum
allowed by some European discount airlines) = 107 pounds excess
baggage
Total fee: 107 overweight pounds x $3.80/pound = $406.60 one
way
Starting to get the picture? Traveling with too much luggage is a
burden and it can cost a fortune. Pare down and enjoy the freedom that comes
from traveling light.
By following these simple tips, you can save money
during this summer’s air travel and save back strain, too.
See http://www.smartpacking.com
for more family packing and airport tips.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb255046.htm