Savings Experiment: Packing light and cheap
Filed under: Saving Money, Travel
Airline prices may appear to be at a historic low, but that's just a flight of fancy. In fact, the major carriers have just shifted their costs to extra fees, and the ugliest one of all is the one you pay to check luggage. At $20 a bag, a family of four will pay $80 each way, or $160 round-trip. You can save $40 if you reserve space ahead of time, but don't even think about adding a second checked bag, which adds another $60 round-trip, per bag. (Update: Delta, U.S. Airways and Continental now charge $25 per bag! So make that $50 per round-trip for each family member!)
There are a few ways to get around the airlines' high cargo rates. Let's say you're going to Orlando. You could start by taking JetBlue Airways or Southwest Airlines, neither of which charge for the first checked bag (yet).
Some people claim the solution is sending your luggage ahead. It's not. Let's assume your bag is 30 pounds. That's reasonable, considering even empty luggage weighs 12 to 15 pounds. FedEx overnight from New York to Florida will charge you from $150. Two-day delivery: $116. Three business days is a lot cheaper: $25, but that's still more than the airline will charge you. (UPS is pretty much the same, within a few bucks.)
How about the U.S. Postal Service, then? Sorry, might as well use FedEx. Express Mail is $110 if bought online. Priority Mail is about $40. The best price, $26, is for Parcel Post. But that could take as long as two weeks -- a parenting nightmare. "Don't cry, Timmy. You'll see Mr. Teddy again -- in 10 to 12 business days."
And then you have to arrange to have your stuff sent, figure out who's going to receive your boxes for you at the other end, and somehow arrange to send them back during your vacation -- and on top of all that, you have to do without your things while they're in transit. So sending your bags isn't more convenient (unless you have a butler at your service to do all this for you), and certainly not cheaper than just biting the bullet and checking bags.
Which leaves simply packing well. Get your bag down to carry-on size and you can avoid charges entirely. That's about 22" x 14" x 9" in most cases. That's not much, but you can do it.
There are simple tricks you can use to consolidate your stuff. The key is packing things that are versatile:
Reduce your packing. Aside from I.D., tickets, your device chargers, and money, you don't need much. Most places you'll travel to will have whatever you need there.
Don't forget that you can also rent the big stuff while you're there. Leave your baby and toddler gear at home and rent it at your destination instead. Most hotels furnish cribs and playpens, but call ahead and double-check.
Also, use my secret: Lay your clothes flat like a stacked sandwich and then roll them together. It's a more economical way to use your limited space than simply folding and stacking, and it keeps things from wrinkling.
You could bring everything you want and suck your wallet dry. Or you can bring just what you need -- and save.
There are a few ways to get around the airlines' high cargo rates. Let's say you're going to Orlando. You could start by taking JetBlue Airways or Southwest Airlines, neither of which charge for the first checked bag (yet).
Some people claim the solution is sending your luggage ahead. It's not. Let's assume your bag is 30 pounds. That's reasonable, considering even empty luggage weighs 12 to 15 pounds. FedEx overnight from New York to Florida will charge you from $150. Two-day delivery: $116. Three business days is a lot cheaper: $25, but that's still more than the airline will charge you. (UPS is pretty much the same, within a few bucks.)
How about the U.S. Postal Service, then? Sorry, might as well use FedEx. Express Mail is $110 if bought online. Priority Mail is about $40. The best price, $26, is for Parcel Post. But that could take as long as two weeks -- a parenting nightmare. "Don't cry, Timmy. You'll see Mr. Teddy again -- in 10 to 12 business days."
And then you have to arrange to have your stuff sent, figure out who's going to receive your boxes for you at the other end, and somehow arrange to send them back during your vacation -- and on top of all that, you have to do without your things while they're in transit. So sending your bags isn't more convenient (unless you have a butler at your service to do all this for you), and certainly not cheaper than just biting the bullet and checking bags.
Which leaves simply packing well. Get your bag down to carry-on size and you can avoid charges entirely. That's about 22" x 14" x 9" in most cases. That's not much, but you can do it.
There are simple tricks you can use to consolidate your stuff. The key is packing things that are versatile:
- You can get your younger kids' stuff into your luggage. Give them a small carry-on of their own if they insist.
- Bring fleeces instead of sweaters (too bulky)
- Choose one pair of shoes that can be either for dinner or for casual stuff, and shirts that can do the same.
- If you think the weather will be changeable, bring clothes that can be layered rather than bringing two wardrobes.
- Flip-flops can substitute for sandals (same reason)
- Buy swim trunks that look like shorts (they can double)
- Jeans are durable, hide dirt, and are increasingly appropriate for many occasions, especially on vacation
- For beach locations, sarongs double as beach towels and take nearly no space. They don't have to be absorbent if it's warm there. (And they'll dry faster.)
- Pack black: dark clothes hide dirt, while white shows it faster.
- If you're really feeling clever, pack clothes you want to get rid of. Then, as you wear each outfit, discard or donate it. Your suitcase will empty and make room for souvenirs.
- Portable luggage scales cost less than $15 and can save you from going over weight and paying way more. This is important, because if you buy stuff when you're traveling, you've got no way to know if you're over or not. It's not like hotels weigh stuff for you -- it's super easy to get screwed.
Reduce your packing. Aside from I.D., tickets, your device chargers, and money, you don't need much. Most places you'll travel to will have whatever you need there.
Don't forget that you can also rent the big stuff while you're there. Leave your baby and toddler gear at home and rent it at your destination instead. Most hotels furnish cribs and playpens, but call ahead and double-check.
Also, use my secret: Lay your clothes flat like a stacked sandwich and then roll them together. It's a more economical way to use your limited space than simply folding and stacking, and it keeps things from wrinkling.
You could bring everything you want and suck your wallet dry. Or you can bring just what you need -- and save.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 16)
1-08-2010 @ 6:39AM
susan said...
What really pisses me off is paying $20 for my bag then watching folks carring on a bag they know won't fit in the over head, they're about as big as the one I checked, then the airlines places them on the tarmac, gives them a tag and let's them pick the bag up at their next plane change. I thought the charge was due to extra weight taking extra fuel! What. the bags don't weigh anything if they place them in the cargo hold after you board the plane?
Reply
1-08-2010 @ 7:15AM
Casey said...
I agree... and what about the people who have two or even three carry on bags and go unchallenged by airline staff?
The airlines should charge for carry-on bags.
Getting on and off the plans would go a lot smoother.
1-08-2010 @ 8:27AM
phyl said...
had the same situation many times -- people carrying at least 2 bags and when you get to your row -- no space. Or the airbus where the overhead in the center couldn't carry even two bags and there are three in a row? We'll see if all this changes with the "security upgrades". We haven't learned much or put it into practice since 9/11
1-08-2010 @ 8:32AM
robin said...
I agree that the "oops its too big?" suitcase is annoying
What is worse than that though is ...why does a 350 lb person fly for the same price as a 150 lb person?
They use more petrol.
They use up others seat room
Arrgh! Very frustrating to em!
1-08-2010 @ 9:52AM
Toby said...
I agree! It's frustrating to see this so many times. And, why is my overhead compartment always filled with bags from people who are sitting at the other end of the plane? My seat, my compartment. If airlines are going to charge they should charge for carry ons. That way, more people would check bags and we could board and deplane so much quicker.
1-08-2010 @ 9:58AM
Stephanie said...
....Or when you have a small carry on bag but when its time for you to get on the plane the people with more then 1 or 2 bags have already used all the space and you have to search to put your bag and then they make you check it. It ticks me off!
1-08-2010 @ 10:19AM
colin said...
yeah, i just witnessed something like this from seattle to phoenix. the stewardess spent 5 minutes trying to squash a passenger's oversized bag in the overhead bin. though that one wasn't taken out, another was stored by the first class cabin.
1-08-2010 @ 10:39AM
naki poo said...
no it does not cost for the fuel they make you think that way but its not so. I work for Delta and its not that, they make you pay because they are running out of money no one wants to fly afraid i guess and they complain about all you do when paying for flight. its not the guilible happy airline anymore fly me come fly away. its all about greed and money!
1-08-2010 @ 11:10AM
Bob said...
The reason I do not want to check a bag is that is too likely to be lost or stolen. There is no security at baggage pick up at most airports I have been to in the last few years. They do not check ticket stubs against baggage tags. I could get on the plane with 1 checked bag and walk out with 2 in most places
1-08-2010 @ 12:46PM
Purple Sport said...
I agree with pretty much all of these comments - hopefully the airlines are paying attention. It's really the fault of the airlines for not enforcing the carry on size as well as only one of two bags should be allowed above. Nothing more frustrating than only having one carry on and having to stow under your seat when you see a matched set of two full size ones above and the person enjoying leg room! The other one is where they stow their bags in the front and go to the back of the plane. You get on board in the front and there's no room, so you have to wait to get off the plane because your luggage is in the back! They need to assign carry on space to each seat and that's all you get period, end of story!
1-08-2010 @ 2:19PM
Alex said...
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1-08-2010 @ 2:45PM
gennifer malzahn said...
Couldn't agree more. I try to follow all the rules, and see so many trying to "fudge" around me--hugely annoying!!
1-08-2010 @ 6:53PM
Juli said...
Susan, the charge isn't for extra weight using up fuel, or anything like that ! They do it to make money !
1-08-2010 @ 7:03PM
Christina said...
I agree with you about people bringing in larger bags onto the plane instead of checking them. Its ridiculous! But Robin you are an idiot, trying to charge people who are larger? Seriously? What for? If you want to keep charging larger people for things why not charge the extra small because they themselves are not of the normal size and therefore cause a change in the mold size. So lets say anyone who is a medium is normal and the rest should be charged. Sounds stupid doesn't it? And why bring it up in the first place, especially since we were discussing people bringing luggage that is not the proper carry one size.
1-08-2010 @ 8:09PM
Rich said...
I go to a relatives in California a few times a year. Instead of packing a lot, I buy clothes on-line (from LL Bean, etc) and have them shipped directly to my destination. It allows me to have an extra set of clothes or two that I don't have to travel with. Just leave it there and save room in the suitcase. LL Bean pays for the shipping instead of me and I don't have to pack much.
1-08-2010 @ 8:40PM
JWatson said...
I agree. That frustrates me to no end! Airlines should be charging for carry-ons not checked luggage. Now that the airlines are charging for food (except for 1st class) they are not counting the food bags a person carry's on. Put personals in the bag under the food. As a child my mother taugh me to pack tight. My biggest problem is keeping even a smaller checked suitcase under the 50 lbs limit for national travel.
1-08-2010 @ 8:50PM
Susan said...
I saw this happen on a US Airways flight. I checked my slightly oversized duffle just to see people try to bring bags on the size of a tuba, delay boarding and then the attendant just takes the bag and checks it and they don't end up paying. I complained and was told that they didn't want to delay boarding by having these people pay for their checked bags.. I was so angry that I wrote to US Airways when i got home asking for my checked bag fee back. Of course they refused. So now if I am not flying Southwest, I bring it right to the gate..It's usually a duffle bag but I will never check again unless its a suitcase..After seeing everyone skipping out on the baggage fee I figured I was an idiot to cooperate and follow the rules..But I usually fly Southwest but thats a different story!!!
1-08-2010 @ 9:26PM
Eric said...
I agree 1000% susan. I see this gimmick being pulled all the time. They know their carry on will not fit and they know that the agent will tag it at the gate at no fee. It totally pisses me off to know I paid for my bags and they didn't.
1-10-2010 @ 1:12AM
kay said...
People who cheat should be told they might have to wait for their luggage to arrive one or two days, as it will go out on whatever flight has the room, not necessarily the one they're on! Even if it's only 2 or 3 hours waiting at an airport, they might think twice about doing it again. In another post, whatever happened to charging very the very obese for two seats? One enormous woman took up half my seat on one flight (they're not that roomy as it is) and the attendant said there was no other seat available; he said he was sorry, but there was nothing he could do, and I knew he was genuinely sorry. I've learned to really travel light; you'd be amazed at how little you really need - roll clothes up, and keep them to a minimum.
1-13-2010 @ 11:40AM
Bill Worthman said...
I could not agree more. My wife and I went to Vegas. We had two small carry- ons. We opened the above bin and noticed it packed with two large bags. The man and wife in back of us just laughed. They must have boarded right away and used all the space.