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

[r&kmommy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixk0ssHPy2s

 

[Dizneydaz]

That's why I fly Southwest! No fees, the 3 of us can bring a total of 6 bags. And now that POP (and most other Disney resorts) have airline check in it's perfect. Not to mention from our area SW is usually the best price. Even if I pay $60 (total) for us to have Early Bird check-in I'm still money ahead!

No airline flies direct from my local airport (ONT) to MCO anyway. So even is we have to change plans on the way with SW we've had to do the same with Delta.

Oh, and I hate to do laundry while at WDW. We did it one time at POP and we planned to do it while using the pool. Problem was that a rain storm hit, the pools were closed, and we just sat there, outside under one of the few umbrellas, waiting for our laundry to finish and the rain to stop.
If I had to pay for checked bags then I probably wouldn't hate doing laundry while at WDW as much, but I still wouldn't like it.

 

[surfgirl]

As an overpacker I feel for you. I also have a history of delayed flights, it's much more pleasant wandering an airport when not trekking luggage.

Here's the flipside and the reason we do carryon only...

We were using ff miles to go from home - Ft. Lauderdale on a Friday night, stay in an airport hotel, then drive to WDW Saturday am. (about a 3 hour drive).

When we arrived at the gate, I overhead the gate agent talking about how overbooked they were. I walked up, told her I could help solve her problem. I offered 5 seats on the JAX flight for exchange to a direct flight to MCO (leaving about 30 minutes later). She was worried about bags... alas! we hadn't checked any!!!

We were able to get flights switched, cancel our hotel and get one for the Hyatt airport (MCO), change car reservations, and WE GOT 5 FREE TICKETS FOR THIS TROUBLE!!! (and saved about 3 hours of driving time)

How awesome was that ?

(btw, I'm the girl that traveled to Paris/London for 10 days with carry-ons only. Yes, you learn to do laundry .... We were a family of 5 with 3 carry on size bags + personal items. Its the electronics/chargers and books needed that kill us!)

 

[dalstitch45]

Thank goodness for Southwest Airlines.

 

[OThopeful35]

yes you probably will have to pack lighter....try to condense. We flew down on Airtran(never again) and we had one checked bag and 2 carry-ons but my DS7 had so much trouble pulling the carry-on it was not worth it (it was not heavy). Next time I will make sure I use southwest or budget in the fees so we can check 2 bags and have no carry-ons....they were just to much of a hassle for us.

 

[39CINDERELLA]

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?

they will take your bag and check it in for you

 

[39CINDERELLA]

I am definietly planning on packing lighter then originally planned. We are going to do laundry while we are down there but we are doing 12 days so we will need more then if it were a 7 day trip. I am going to try to get it to 2 down 3 back, but really I have 3 large suitcases and one small. There is no way to carry on one of the large ones so I need to check out how I can do this.

we had 8 in our group. Everyone had a carry-on and a personal. I took one large for check-in that had food and items that would not be coming back with us. That is what we put all our suvs in.
We also were there for 12 days in a condo so we had washer/dryer.

(all the carry-ons were able to fit in United's smaller planes overhead)

 

[Ava]

So all of you that cram everything into one bag how do you avoid going over the weight limit? I know we fly Jet Blue and they give you one bag free up to 50lbs. They have now raised the 2nd bag from $20 last year to $30 this year. But that 2nd bag $30 is a lot less then the $50 for a 1lb overweight bag or $100 for a 21 lb overweight bag. I now have to weigh each and every bag before it leaves the house

Pack toiletries & other heavier items into a carry-on. If you take extra shoes (for example, sneakers & sandals), have everyone wear the heavier shoes & pack the lighter ones. Wear sweatshirts/jackets on the plane instead of packing them - I find it to be cold on planes a lot of the time anyway, and it's easy enough to take them off & shove them into your suitcase when you claim it. If you put just clothes into your checked luggage, it shouldn't be too heavy.

We've become really good at packing light from taking Amtrak a lot. You really learn to minimize when you have to shlepp all your stuff - along with a baby in a stroller - from your apt to the subway (down the stairs because our station has no elevator), then the subway to the train station, then have to shlepp it all OFF the train & through the station when you arrive.

 

[Heidi Loves Disney]

they will take your bag and check it in for you

Thanks. I was just wondering. We're planning to check our bags because I don't want to have to lug around stuff with me. The last time we flew (in 2007) there weren't checked bag fees. The overhead bins were crowded then, I imagine they will be more crowded now.

 

[FlyingBelle]

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?

No problem, you'll be able to gate-check it (no fee). In fact, we often do this if the flight looks full and we don't want to lug our larger carry-on bag on and off the plane with our toddler.

By the way, since we travel with a diaper-wearing toddler often, if we're staying someplace longer than 3 days, I usually just purchase diapers from an online grocery store and have them delivered to the hotel. It saves a ton of room in my bag!

We rarely check a bag, I've learned to just bring essentials and stop overpacking!