How is everyone packing since airlines will only take one bag per person

[disneymiss]

okay not sure what to do, so afraid now that they will lose my one bag

so what is everyone one else doing, specially the solo people??

I have DVC and I know you can do laundry, but I have a studio so it is not in my room.... but in a local laundry room that is available to us, but I am afraid everyone else will be using it too, not my idea of a vacation plus I have a scooter that I have to use to get around, so it is not easy for me.....so what is a girl to do...okay Lady

all Ideas would be helpful, and yes I am mailing a box with foods,etc that I would normally put in the second bag....

I leave soon and am so confused.... I am trying to pack to just take it all with me and not put it under the plane but with the scooter there is not much room for a bag and my legs.... Help

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I'm paying the extra charge. Luckily Air Tran is only $10 extra per bag. We have a family of 5 travelling to Disney for two weeks. No way I can get away with one suitcase per person! DH always has a fit that we overpack anyway, I can hardly wait to see his reaction to having to pay more for our luggage!

 

[goofiecrazy]

This is news to me when did this happen?I usually bring 2 bags for myself.This is not good, i guess our carry on bags will just be a little bigger.

 

[stopher1]

You can still utilize carry-ons... you can still bring one bag and a personal item per person (purse, backpack, briefcase etc). A duffle bag or a rolling bag still counts as carry-on luggage. Some very creative packing will still accomplish what you used to have as checked luggage. It might not be as convenient, if you're used to checking the majority of your luggage, but still is very viable.

 

[stopher1]

This is news to me when did this happen?I usually bring 2 bags for myself.This is not good, i guess our carry on bags will just be a little bigger.

One of the major carriers decided they'd start charging like $25 for each 2nd checked bag a month or so ago, and then the rest (or most of them) pretty much jumped on the bandwagon. Most of them will start charging that 2nd bag fee around the middle of May.

 

[disneymiss]

One of the major carriers decided they'd start charging like $25 for each 2nd checked bag a month or so ago, and then the rest (or most of them) pretty much jumped on the bandwagon. Most of them will start charging that 2nd bag fee around the middle of May.

Delta is starting to charge for the extra bags on May 5th, and the charge is each way, so that is $50. round trip, but it could be more if you go over weight etc, so everyone make sure you check under baggage for your airline.

here is Delta's
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/baggage_allowance/excess_baggage/index.jsp

 

[Crisgw]

Southwest allows 2 pieces per person. I'm hoping two bags and the double stroller will be IT for the 4 of us.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I usually pack very light. The last two trips I've taken I had one checked bag for DD and me together, and one carry-on. The past two trips were in February and I had to pack clothes for both hot and cold weather. Our coming trip will be in September so I figure I can pack even less than I did for the past 2 trips.

 

[westernmom]

If I'm reading United's site correctly, after May 5th, they will charge $100 for more than one piece of luggage per person (that's one way).

So unfortunately when we go in October, we will have to ship at least one of our strollers down (we will need two). I had also planned to use the airplane harness on the plane for our 2 yo & checking the car seat so we didn't have to haul his seat on the plane. Guess we won't be doing that anymore.

 

[goofiecrazy]

We go in Sept and i am bringing 2 strollers with us.This is crazy.What do they say about strollers?Last time we went it was just one kid and I rolled that right to the plane.That was the plan for this trip to roll both of them to the door of the plane like last time.

 

[goofiecrazy]

I checked Usairs and they said if ur traveling transatlantic then there is no fee for the stroller.So whats the deal are allowed one stroller?Then if there is another one then u pay xtra?Maybe its one stroller per person?What if my husband leaves one and I leave the other at the plane door?

 

[goofiecrazy]

I called Usairs about the bags and strollers and they said that u could check the strollers with ur check in bag.I told her we needed 2 strollers so what if my husband had one and i had the other we could check them with our one bag each and she said yes.I asked about checking them at the plane and she said yes.I asked if there was going ot be a charge and she said no.SO thats good but before we leave I will double check again.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

So with the economy the way it is, everyone worried about gas prices, high food bills, and such, the airlines decide lets just make life suck a little more. Greedy little not such a nice word here.

 

[thegrimdwarf]

I wasn't aware of the new fees, and some of them sound outrageous! I'm glad we're booked on AirTran, since they've kept their fee reasonable. We'll probably be safe anyway - we don't need 4 suitcases for my family - probably only 2 or 3 and then DS4's carseat. So unless they ding you a charge for gate checking strollers, we'll be good.

 

[iheartdisney]

For parents who are worried, you might want to check with your airline, but strollers and carseat do not count as a "bag" on Southwest or Jet Blue.

 

[iheartdisney]

So with the economy the way it is, everyone worried about gas prices, high food bills, and such, the airlines decide lets just make life suck a little more. Greedy little not such a nice word here.

No offense, but the airlines aren't being "greedy" here...they are trying not to go under. Their gas prices have doubled with the rest of us, but the prices haven't yet. Prices are only up 10% over last year. It is either raise ticket prices for everyone, for charge extra for those passengers who want extra "perks" I'd rather keep prices low and pack lightly!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

We are taking Spirit - we don't even get ONE bag, we have to pay for everything (other than carry-on)! Should have used Continental, but didn't know at the time. I think we will be OK since we will have a 2 & 3 year old (their clothes don't take up that much room) and we can use the extra for the food, etc.

 

[timzagain]

I'm travelling internationally so I still get to take 2 pieces + carry-on luggage.

However, I learned my lesson last year. A party of five each travelling with 2 checked piece and a carry on is a NIGHTMARE. Keeping track of 15 bags is NOT fun - last year, some of our bags got rushed through without being properly weighed and checked in - the American Airlines employee was trying to be helpful by getting us through quickly, but it caused quite a bit of stress, because someone actually had to go digging through the mountain of luggage to retrieve the bags!

We try to reduce the number of pieces to one per person, but we spread our belongings around so that if a bag or two goes missing, we won't have one member of our party being without clean clothes etc.

We pack with the intention of doing laundry - travel with some laundry detergent (or use hotel shampoo in a crunch!) We discovered last year that boardshorts and dry-fit tops are perfect - you can hand wash them in your room, squeeze the excess water out in a towel, hang to dry and they'd be clean and dry for the next day! I am sure that my DH survived on his three favourite shirts and three boardshorts that way.

 

[RMulieri]

This is news to me when did this happen?I usually bring 2 bags for myself.This is not good, i guess our carry on bags will just be a little bigger.

They are also cracking down on carry-on suitcases.they are enforcing the size rule.

 

[all4fun]

DH found this article on MSN about it.

Five of the seven major U.S. airlines (Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, and US Air) plan to charge most customers $25 each way to check a second bag starting May 5. Of the largest carriers, only American and Southwest have decided not to go along — for now. Airtran is adding a $10 second bag fee for travel on or after May 15. Spirit Airlines already had a $10 fee if paid online, or $20 at the airport.

But the new fees do not apply to all passengers, advises Airfarewatchdog.com. Those buying first-class or business-class tickets, or flying on frequent flyer awards in those classes, will typically be exempt, as will frequent-flyer program members who have achieved upper tiers with their airlines (such as United Mileage Plus Premier customers). Military personnel flying “with orders” are off the hook.

We are going on a cruise AND spending a week at WDW this coming winter so we will need to really plan ahead when it comes to the packing. I am pretty confident we can do it. Our last week at WDW we had 1 suitcase per person not including the one that was filled with food, and they weren't full or tipping the scale at the weight limit. We are learning to pack lighter. Thank goodness we are DVC members and we always get a 1 bedroom so we have a laundry machine to wash clothes in. Packing for more than one type of weather also complicates things somewhat. One thing that article linked above suggests doing, is shipping luggage ahead, instead of checking it. Definitely worth checking out to see if it would cost less if you know you're going over the limit anyway.

We just got our May '08 issue of Costco Connection in the mail and on pg 32 there are tips on packing light. those of you who are Costco members may want to check it out. It advises taking fewer cloths and making use of laundry facilities, and mentions rolling clothes instead of folding to maximize space & minimize wrinkling, also filling all the nooks and crannies with smaller items i.e. stuffing your auxiliary cords for electronic devices in a pair of shoes, stuffing socks around items that can't be compressed (like a book). If you bring a jacket, wear it on the plane and put it in your carry on instead of packing it. Taking some of your clothes like a spare shirt and some underwear in your carry on aren't a bad idea either. I was so glad to have a change of clothes with me on our trip home when we found out at the last minute our flight had been canceled and our luggage had already been checked!

If you know you're going to buy a souvineer t-shirt during your stay then that's one less shirt you need to pack. Also, for guys, it says that many swim trunks can double as regular shorts... pack two pair instead of one. They are also very light weight and take up very little room in a suitcase. My dh really prefers his twill-type shorts for regular wear, but I thought it was an interesting tip.