Tips to Avoid Airline Checked-In Baggage Fees

Every year many airlines collect millions of dollars as baggage fees. However, these charges are entirely optional, and one can easily avoid them.

After booking cheap flights from the USA to India, the first hurdle that you face before starting your trip is the check-in counter. Moreover, in case your luggage exceeds the set limit, be ready to pay for it.

All you require is a little bit of planning to ensure that your luggage gets through without you paying any extra costs.

To get through the check-in counter without any hassle, follow these pro tips:

1. No check-in Baggage

It comes out to be the most obvious tip to avoid baggage fees. No baggage means no extra
charges. Carry along only one bag as carry-on baggage.

It will not only save you from the baggage fee but also the long queues, no delaying of the
luggage, and no worries of baggage getting lost.

However, individual airlines might charge you for a full-size carry-on as well. But, some other airlines allow one free carry-on with one personal item onboard.

2. Check Airline Policy Before Packing

Even though an airline gives the best deals on flights from the USA, it might have complicated rules. Go through all the policies linked with the baggage allowance carefully. It is essential to take out some time to go through the policies.

It depends on the flight class that you prefer to travel. Your allowance will largely vary from
business class to economy class and on various airlines.

Whether the deals are for baggage or tickets, you should be well aware of everything
beforehand.

3. Join a Frequent Flyer Program

If you are a regular traveler, it will be better if you join the frequent flyer program for your
favorite airline. Many airlines provide discounts and deals to the frequent travelers that come under their loyalty programs.

These programs might include discounted baggage fees, or some waived off charges for elite or preferred members.

You need to carefully do all the mathematics before you pay the annual fee required to become a member. See the profitability and then make the final decision.

4. Weigh at Home

It is like doing your homework before you travel. When you are done with all the packing, you can weigh the luggage before you leave your place. It is a better way that will allow you to board in without actually having to unpack your stuff and pack them again at the airport.

5. The Lighter, The Better

Carrying a lighter bag along while you travel is a good idea, but packing smarter cannot be
neglected. You can wear heavier jackets and coats that can create more room for other items in the bag.

Also, you can think of putting the more substantial items in the carry-on bags. It is because the checked-in baggage is strictly weighted; airline crew can be lenient with the carry-on.

6. Smartly Pack your Carry-on

If you are one of the smart packers, you can stuff an elephant in your backpack. Packing the stuff most efficiently can help in avoiding the carry-on getting into the checked-in category.

You can follow a few practical techniques to avoid any fees due to overweight. Like wearing the heaviest pair of shoes to lessen the weight or buying a travel jacket with plenty of space for your stuff to fit in.

7. Do not Blame Your Luggage

The luggage that you are carrying accounts for a significant portion in increasing the weight of your baggage. Select an adequately sized luggage to pack your stuff. You can spend a little more on buying lighter luggage to avoid overweighing at the baggage counter.

There are a lot of lightweight suitcases available that are equally spacious and can weigh as
light as 1.7 kg. Avoid your luggage eating up your weight allowance.

8. Take Advantage of Free Items

Many airlines might not advertise it, but there are some items on the list that one can take for free in addition to your baggage. These include the baby stroller, wheelchair, and certain other medical items. You can get to know all this from the baggage policies.

The important thing to consider in this is that you can reduce some weight from your checked baggage and pack some items below your baby car seats. Airline officials never seem to notice this.

9. Get a Seat Upgrade

You might have already observed that the first-class travelers rarely have to pay any baggage fee. Buying business class or first class tickets while making the bookings can be costly, but upgrading them at the time of your flight is the key.

You can book cheap air tickets from the USA to India and then get these upgraded when you are about to board. You should note that the premium flights can be costly to book. But, when you get the upgrade done at the check-in counters, you can travel cheaper and with extra baggage allowance.

10. Ship your Baggage

It can be a costlier option but requires some aftermaths for a profitable result. It all depends on the destination that you are traveling to. The amount can be equivalent to or less than the actual baggage fee at the counter.

So, getting your luggage shipped at your destination can turn out to be in your favor. Of course, you cannot neglect to compare, but shipping is worth consideration.

11. Sign up for Credit Cards

Certain airlines waive off the baggage fee when you book tickets through credit cards that are linked with them. Moreover, most of the airlines’ programs give perks for the miles that you fly.

Airlines provide incentives for card-holders, but here also you need to do some research. For frequent flyers, it is advised to choose a card, but that does not necessarily call for opening a new account.

Surely, you do not have to leave the stuff back at your home, but packing smartly can be a way to avoid extra charges. You can avoid carrying certain amenities like soaps, shampoos, and conditioners as they are available at the restrooms.

So, next time, when you book cheap flights from the USA to India, keep these smart packing tips in mind to avoid any last-minute inconvenience.