Sidestep unnecessary fees. Airline fees aren’t going away anytime soon. To avoid paying hundreds of dollars in fees (on top of rising airfare costs), here are some ways you can save. 1. Fly Southwest or JetBlue.
Baggage fees are often the most difficult airline fees to avoid. Short of wearing all your clothes on board or purchasing a special travel coat with multiple compartments, consider flying Southwest or JetBlue. Not only do both airlines still offer free carry-on luggage, they also waive baggage fees for the first checked bag. Southwest goes even further, offering a second checked bag free. 2. Measure and weigh your bags. While checking a bag can easily cost $40 to $70 roundtrip, it’s the additional fees that really break the bank. If your bag weighs more than 40 to 50 pounds, you will likely be charged overweight baggage fees, which cost anywhere from $50 to $400 per bag roundtrip, in addition to the checked baggage fee. If your bag is more than 62 linear inches (measured by length + width + height), you will likely be charged oversized baggage fees, which cost anywhere from $50 to $600 per bag roundtrip. 3. Book your tickets online. With the exception of Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air, U.S. airlines typically do not charge travelers for booking tickets online. Booking online will help you avoid phone booking fees, which range from $15 up to $45, depending on the airline. If you are booking a short flight, these fees can constitute a significant percentage of the total cost. 4. Be certain about your travel plans. Refundable tickets are significantly more expensive than nonrefundable tickets. However, if you purchase a non-refundable ticket, it can cost you a great deal if you need to change your ticket later, as ticket-change fees range from $75 to $175. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline that does not charge for changing tickets. Instead, it offers credit redeemable for future air travel. 5. Book your tickets directly through the airlines. Surprisingly, some airlines charge an additional fee if you need to change a ticket booked through a third party, such as a travel agent or an online travel agent (like Expedia or Orbitz). United, Frontier, and Delta have ticket-change agency fees, which range from $25 to $50. Delta, however, makes an exception and waives the fee if the change is made online. 6. Don’t pay for “premium” seating in economy. Airlines continue to reserve an increasing number of select seats in economy or coach cabins as “premium” seating for frequent flyers and travelers willing to pay more fees. Emergency exit-row seats now command a premium for the little bit of extra legroom they provide. If you don’t want to pay the extra fees, select any available seat when you book your ticket. Then, keep checking online for seat availability. Airlines typically release some of the reserved seats as demand declines. 7. Make sure your carry-on items can fit underneath the seat. Some airlines offer priority boarding for $5 to $10 each way for travelers who want to ensure their bags get overhead storage. Avoid these fees by making sure your carry-on fits under the seat in front of you. Checking bags at the gate is a hassle and can also cost you. Spirit Airlines, for example, recently announced it will charge $100 per carry-on each way (beginning in November) if the bag is checked at the gate. 8. Bring a book and/or magazine. Most airlines allow passengers to carry on reading material separately. It will not count toward your carry-on and personal-item size and/or weight restrictions. Particularly on longer flights, having an interesting book or magazine will prevent you from succumbing to the temptations of onboard Wi-Fi and entertainment. Save the $12.70 most airlines charge for a 24-hour Wi-Fi pass and curl up with a good book on your flight. 9. Bring your own food. Airline food prices (and airport food prices) are inflated because they have to factor in the higher cost of using airport space (i.e. airport surcharges). Bringing your own food will help save you some cash. Unless you are traveling through San Francisco’s Virgin America terminal or New York JFK’s JetBlue terminal, where “state-of-the art” includes gourmet dining, bringing your own food will ensure you get a good meal. 10. Dress warmly and bring an extra sweater. It’s definitely a bit chilly thousands of feet in the air. Dressing warmly and bringing extra layers will help keep you comfortable and hopefully help protect you from germs and viruses that may be circulating. Plus, you won’t consider paying extra for a pillow and blanket. by US New/Money/Personal Finance Source: https://bit.ly/2P1nXto
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