A well-planned vacation can easily be ruined by paying unexpected excess baggage fees, as well as put a dent on your financial budget for that specific trip, so here are three foolproof ways to avoid paying for excess baggage.
1. Pack Smart. Packing light is a key component into making sure you don't pay excess baggage fees, however, it is easier said than done, but it is manageable. The key to packing light is to prioritize the essentials and the basics.
Essentials include underwear, socks, tee shirts, a pair of jeans, a scarf or a jacket if the place you're traveling to has a cold climate. The basics include clothing that you can use more than once for the duration of your trip, example, pajamas, and jeans.
Once you've figured out what the essentials and the basics are then you can figure out what to pack depending on where you're going and how long you will be staying. You don't need to fill your entire suitcase, in fact leaving some space in your suitcase can even help when you plan to buy souvenirs from your trip.
2. Weigh Your Baggage. Using a standard scale to weigh your baggage will not only help you avoid unnecessary excess baggage costs, it will also help you to pack better. Keep in mind that excess baggage fees can cost more than checked baggage fees. Traveller gave out some good insights on how you can further avoid excess baggage costs.
It's a mystery why not a lot of people do this, so if you haven't it's time you should. If you know your airline's baggage allowance, spare yourself the headache of having to pay excess baggage fees or having to check your baggage and just weigh your luggage.
3. Read About The Airline's Baggage Policy. Different airlines follow different baggage policies so it is best to familiarize yourself with the baggage policy of the specific airline you're going with. Just to give you a ball park figure, 20kgs to 25kgs is usually the standard baggage allowance given by airlines, this means that you can have your baggage as a carry on and you don't need to check it in, but if it exceeds 25kgs then you have to check it in.
Keeping these tips in mind will help ensure that you avoid paying for excess baggage fees as well as having to check in your luggage. NBC26 mentioned more details on how airlines can upcharge passengers through means other than charging you for excess baggage.
