7 ways to cut costs

A checked bag is one stored in a plane’s cargo hold during a flight. While that service was free in years past, it’s now standard for major airlines to charge for checked bags.

Major U.S. airlines started doing so in 2008, levying around $15 a bag, Nastro said.

By late 2023, it was about double for many carriers: $30 to $35 for one checked bag, Nastro said. That means travelers who checked a bag on each leg of a round-trip itinerary could add an extra $60 to $70 to the total cost of their basic fare.

Recent changes from American and United mean travelers could now incur an additional $80 total if they check one bag at the airport.

Rates generally increase for each additional checked bag.

Travel partners may also consider combining suitcases.

A family of four may be able to condense four bags into two, potentially cutting checked-bag fees in half, experts said.

Families with small kids may be able to leverage the space within a car seat carrier, “since airlines don’t charge for one car seat per child,” Nastro said. “You can often fit a small soft duffel into that space to keep items contained,” she added.

Passengers need to consider airlines’ weight requirements for bags and whether consolidating suitcases could trigger additional fees.

Traveling light — only with a personal item and/or carry-on bag, depending on what your airline and fare class permit for free — is “the only fool-proof way” to avoid paying a checked-bag fee, Napoli said.

Of course, this won’t be possible for everyone.

But passengers “can sneak quite a bit into the cabin” within airline limits, especially with a well-packed backpack — aided by packing cubes — combined with a sling bag and/or a tote bag, Higgins said.

Passengers with softer, duffel-bag-type luggage that’s more pliable may have an easier time meeting carry-on size requirements versus those with a hard case, Nastro said.

Even the major carriers generally charge for carry-ons on basic economy fares, experts said.

A higher-tier ticket for a higher cost might include a baggage allowance, in which case passengers may wind up paying the same total price compared with a lower-cost fare while also getting some additional benefits such as the ability to choose a seat or make flight changes, experts said.

“If you are using an aggregator like Skyscanner, it can sometimes work out cheaper to go with the 2nd or 3rd most expensive flight if the airline is [also] offering baggage,” Higgins said.

Travelers should read the fine print to discern what baggage is included in their ticket, which varies by airline and ticket class, Napoli said.

Buying and using a luggage scale before traveling can help travelers avoid surprise fees at the airport due to exceeding a weight limit on checked bags.

“At least weigh your suitcase before you even book the flight,” Higgins said. “Once upon a time, airlines might have turned a blind eye” to additional weight, but not anymore, he said.

Travelers can also invest in ultralight luggage, Higgins said.

“You can easily save one or two [kilograms] by buying specially designed ultralight travel gear,” he said. However, such bags can be pricey and may not be as durable as sturdier packs, he said.

“Many credit cards, especially airline-branded cards, offer free checked bags as a perk,” Napoli said.

Of course, travelers shouldn’t necessarily open a credit card account just for this perk, experts said. Some cards might also carry an annual fee, though travelers might come out ahead if their annual benefits (e.g., savings on bag fees) eclipse that expense.

“It varies credit card to credit card and airline to airline,” Nastro said.

Joining an airline’s frequent flier program may also come with perks for travelers such as free or extra baggage, Higgins said.

Correction: Some data came from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. An earlier version misstated the name of the agency.

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