I have to pay how much for checked luggage?!?!?

[bettymae1121]

My DH and I can each last a week with just carryon sized bags. I once spent 8 days in China on just a carryon bag, including several pairs of shoes and two "dressy" outfits. There are a lot of good ways to cut down on stuff you bring, and you can always do a load of laundry while you're down there if needed.

Remember, for carryon you get one larger carryon bag (usually 45 linear inches) PLUS one small "pesronal item". For that personal item you can use a backpack for each of you (something the size of a school backpack). I'll often put all my liquids, shoes, brushes, combs, toothbrushes, and other bulkly things in my backpack and use my suitcase just for clothes (also don't have to worry about one of the liquids leaking on my clothing).

There is no reason you shouldn't be able to either eliminate or at least cut down on the number of checked bags.

 

[jsrj21]

My family and I went down on August 2-10, 2010. I had to pay $100.00 in bag fees with AirTran. Worst part was the attitude from one of the attendants at White Plains, NY Airport....flat out rude and unprofessional. Complaining got me a $25.00 voucher but still, the fees are absurd. However, I live in Connecticut and although it's farther for us than the NY metro airports, Southwest has non-stop flights to Orlando from Hartford, CT. and they don't charge bag fees. I may look into that for next year.

I spoke to some people while at WDW as they complained about baggage fees and some said that they packed very light for their trip. Very hard with small children or teenage girls!!!

Good luck!!

Jose
Norwalk, CT.

 

[eyor44]

$182


Seriously. That is INSANE!

You're right, it's nuts!!!!!!

 

[mjkacmom]

We're a family of 7 who hasn't checked a bag in years. Everyone gets a carry-on, and we're fine.

 

[Aggiegrl]

Another reason we LOVE getting a villa. We take 3 outfits and wash them halfway through.

We'll be taking 1 checked bag for the three of us this fall. We *could* do only carry-ons, since we have 3 tickets purchased, but we'll have a carseat, stroller, and an 11 month old to deal with. $50 is a small price to pay for my sanity, I think.

 

[secretpantssam]

we've been using Spirit for the past few years and at first I didn't care about spending $10 on a bag. We mainly just liked the convenience of the Atlantic City airport. But now they raised their fees to a ridiculous level and two days after we booked, they announced they were going to start charging $20 for a carry on Well I've decided I'm not allowing them to rip me off anymore. I will deal with Philadelphia airport and use Southwest from now on.

These airlines have gotten way too ridiculous nickle and diming us and frankly, I'm not going to take it!

 

[robinb]

Pack less, use carry ons.

I agree. We flew Airtran last December and had to pack for every eventuality in weather: warm, cold, rain, etc. From tank tops to long sleeve shirts with fleece lined waterproof jackets. We packed in 3 carry-on bags: 2 22" bags and 1 20" bag. My DH and I both brought our laptops as our personal items and my DD brought a backpack.

 

[beansmom]

wow! can i pay one of you superpackers to pack my bag for italy????

 

[ksloane]

I heart SouthWest.

Exactly what I was thinking!

 

[robinb]

wow! can i pay one of you superpackers to pack my bag for italy????

The last thing you want to do is schlep multiple bags around Europe. In and out of trains, up and down escalators and stairs, bumping along the street on the way to your hotel ... you get the idea.

Pack light and pack items that can be washed easily in your room. Make sure that every item can be mixed and matched with another. I also recommend nylon blend underwear that will dry overnight. Woolite is your international travel friend.

 

[blessedby3]

I agree that packing lighter may have to be your answer here, but I get so frustrated with the airlines that consumers have to go through so much extra nonsense (shipping stuff to resorts, craming stuff into less suitcases, carrying on when you dont want to) just to save money. The prices are truely getting out of hand.
We love Southwest for this reason, but have to drive 3 hours just to reach a terminal that SWA flies out of. We just sucked it up and drove on our May trip- 12 hours each way- and may do that in the future if things dont get better.

 

[Hannathy]

To the OP so now you are paying for what you are actually using on the airplane instead of everyone else paying a share of your freight. I like the ala carte pricing! everyone pays what is important to them. If I can go with no baggage why should I pay for you to take 3? If I don't care where I sit why should I pay to have someone assigning seats, etc. Pay for what YOU use or feel is important don't split it between people who don't use it. It is kinda like going out to dinner and splitting the check equally but I had a burger and water and you had a 3 course meal and 3 drinks from the bar. separate checks.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Airlines are simply trying to get to the point where, someday, they operate at a profit. Passengers balk at fare increases.

Consumers (passengers) don't HAVE to go through "so much extra nonsense". Simply realize that if an airline with free luggage, or if you don't qualify for free luggage with an airline that normally charges, isn't geographically convenient for you, you simply need to calculate the PER TICKET checked luggage charge into EACH passenger's ticket cost.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It is kinda like going out to dinner and splitting the check equally but I had a burger and water and you had a 3 course meal and 3 drinks from the bar. separate checks.

Oh! I have an app for that!!!!

 

[robinb]

Airlines are simply trying to get to the point where, someday, they operate at a profit. Passengers balk at fare increases.

Consumers (passengers) don't HAVE to go through "so much extra nonsense". Simply realize that if an airline with free luggage, or if you don't qualify for free luggage with an airline that normally charges, isn't geographically convenient for you, you simply need to calculate the PER TICKET checked luggage charge into EACH passenger's ticket cost.

Exactly. I was on another thread where the OP ended up paying $90 more per person for SWA over Delta but she was happy that she didn't have to "pay for her bags to fly". Huh?!? She did say in another post that she felt that SWA was more reliable than Delta but I would have still gone with the lower fare myself .

 

[Ava]

Exactly. I was on another thread where the OP ended up paying $90 more per person for SWA over Delta but she was happy that she didn't have to "pay for her bags to fly". Huh?!? She did say in another post that she felt that SWA was more reliable than Delta but I would have still gone with the lower fare myself .

Okay, this makes no sense. But, to each their own I guess. I would've gone with the lowest total cost also.

All of my options for direct flights from NYC to MCO charge baggage fees. We'll most likely be going with Delta, as at least they don't charge to choose your seat (as of now at least). Hopefully we can fit all of our clothes into 1 suitcase to check, and the rest of our stuff in carry-ons. Thankfully toddler clothes don't take up much space!

 

[robinb]

Thankfully toddler clothes don't take up much space!

I have a hint for toddler clothes. Put whole outfits in gallon sized ziplock bags and squeeze the air out. They take up even less room and you have the matching socks right there instead of having to dig for them.

 

[Heidi Loves Disney]

I have a question about taking only carry-ons.
We are flying with United, which has a checked bag fee.
Our seating is in the front of the plane.
What happens if we're boarded last and all the room is taken in the overhead bins, but it too big to squeeze under the seat in front of you?

 

[kaytieeldr]

And Ava? I know you're on vacation, but chances are no matter where you stay they'll have laundry facilities. Pack LIGHT!

Exactly. I was on another thread where the OP ended up paying $90 more per person for SWA over Delta but she was happy that she didn't have to "pay for her bags to fly". Huh?!? She did say in another post that she felt that SWA was more reliable than Delta but I would have still gone with the lower fare myself .

Ya think? I just booked my return fare for Christmas - not WDW. Continental wanted $139 for the airfare. I would have prepaid for one checked bag, so another $23 for a total of $162. JetBlue wanted $179 for almost the same trip. Differences: JetBlue is 'making' me stay at my vacation destination an extra 22 hours; JetBlue's nonstop flight will take eight hours including time changes, while Continental's would take eleven including a flight change; JetBlue's single-class planes allow me to use the restrooms at either end of the plane while Continental's two-class planes would have required a special escort to the first class restrooms (mobility issues) IF I were even allowed to use them...

Oh, and JetBlue will take my suitcase free. Now, based on a trip I took a couple of years ago, I'm not 100% certain where they'll take it, but wherever it goes, they won't charge me

 

[elgerber]

We have the AMEX card, and we checked 3 bags last week, we usually only check 2, because we could because they were free on Delta LOL! My biggest problem with the charging for the bags, that makes everyone try to carry everything on, and then the overheads are crammed full, people can't fit everything in, and then it takes forever to load and unload the plane while people mess around with their carryons.