With all the news about U.S. airlines charging a fee for your checked luggage, it may come as a surprise to you that many flyers don't pay a nickle for that service. They check their bag -- or bags -- for free, sometimes even luggage that is over the 50-pound limit.
You don't think that folks in first class pay for their checked luggage do you? Or the business travelers who buy the higher priced tickets? Or the frequent flyers who have elite status? No, none of them pay for checked luggage. And neither do some credit card holders. I was talking this week with a customer service representative for my Chase Mastercard, which gives me frequent flyer mileage on Continental Airlines every time I use the card. As the customer service rep ended our conversation, she reminded me that Continental tickets bought using that card include one free checked bag, a savings of $15.
Don't forget to weigh your bags
On most airlines, if you buy a vacation ticket, expect to pay $15 or more to check your suitcase at the airport and pick it up at your destination. A second bag may cost you more than $15. And if a bag weighs more than 50 pounds, you face an additional fee -- if the airline will accept the overweight luggage.
The 50-pound limit is reason enough to own light-weight luggage and to weigh your packed bags at home before you leave for the airport; better two 48-pound bags than one at 58 pounds and the other at 38.
Every time I go to the airport I see people madly unpacking and repacking bags at the check-in counter to balance their weight limits. Books here, undies there: That's an embarrassment you may want to avoid.
How the luggage scheme works
The luggage fee is not a luggage fee at all; it's a hidden fare increase that is charged mostly on the lowest priced tickets. It was an innovative way for airlines to raise fares on those tickets.
U.S. competition laws prohibit airlines from talking with each other about future fare increases. The lowest fare tickets are highly competitive, so when an airline wants to raise the rates by, say, $15, the company announces the new rate and hopes other airlines will follow. If the other carriers don't go along, thus grabbing more business because of their cheaper fare, the original airline drops its fare back to the old rate. This ping-ponging of ticket prices has been going on for years.
This year, with the luggage fee scheme, most airlines have fallen into line and now charge for every checked bag. The airlines that don't charge a luggage fee -- including Southwest -- are giving away $15 every time they sell a cheap ticket to a passenger with one bag.
One way for vacation travelers to save on luggage fees is to keep your airline frequent flyer programs up to date. Depending on your status, luggage is free. Find out if your program provides you with a free checked bag. If so, make sure your frequent flyer status is included on your electronic ticket and/or boarding pass. Or perhaps, buy your ticket on an airline affinity credit card.
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Molyneaux is editor of TravelMavens.net. CLICK for articles on cruising, golf, Florida, Europe, adventure and travel gear and gadgets.
