It’s time to start planning those summer vacations. As excited as you are to travel and visit friends or family, the airlines are just as excited to take your money. According to this government report, the airline industry raked in nearly $8 billion from ancillary fees last year. According to the fine print:
"Ancillary fees include baggage fees, reservation change fees and miscellaneous operating revenue, including pet transportation, sale of frequent flyer award miles to airline business partners and standby passenger fees. Revenue from seating assignments and on-board sales of food, drink, pillows, blankets, entertainment, or any other ancillary items are reported as Transport Related Revenue and cannot be identified separately."
Next time you are standing over your suitcase remember these few tips for packing and traveling to keep you from handing over extra money to the airlines.
- Pack light. Try to pack and bring only one carry-on size bag, plus you're allowed to bring on a purse or tote. Airlines such as American and Continental charge passengers $25 for their first checked bag and $35 for a second bag. Roll clothes instead of folding them and tuck things into your shoes. Wearing your bulkiest pieces like boots, or your jacket can help save room in your suitcase too. For more packing tips take a look at onebag.com.
- Be flexible. Take a mid-week flight and search up to three days before and after your ideal departure and return dates.
- Comparison shop with airfare aggregator websites. Turbocharged search-engines like Kayak.com hunt agencies, airline and travel sites to discover the best bargains at no cost to you. Once you pick a flight, you're directed to a vendor site (or a booking site) where you can buy the ticket.
- Mail your bags. If you must take multiple bags think about mailing some of your clothes. By filling a compression bag you can pack a postal service flat rate priority box until it’s ready to pop and then ship it for less than $10.
An extra tip is to remember to bring your own blanket (and disinfecting wipes). Sarah Scott, a former US Airways flight attendant, stated in 20 Tips From Air-Travel Insiders that blankets and pillows are only washed when they look dirty. "I hate to say it, but tray tables are rarely cleaned, so wipe them off before you use them."
For more money saving tips when traveling read Real Simple's Travel on a Budget and The Guide to Savvy Traveling. Or check out brass's Debtless Global Travel: Six tips for saving and exploring if you're thinking of traveling abroad.
-Makenzie
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