Paying for Baggage

[Belle2007]

I always try to do carry-ons. I've been on some flights where hardly anyone checked their bags in.

Rolling clothes saves a lot of space! Of course, using carry-ons, you cannot bring liquids.

 

[dsneygirl]

Plan on doing laundry and pack less. We were 4 people for 10 days last Sept and only had 2 packed bags. (free on SW though) Laundry will cost you a lot less than $100 for your baggage.

Wear your heaviest shoes not your flip flops and wear your hoodies/sweatshirts to save space.

 

[MamaLema]

We are a family of 6. We are taking 12 suitcases to South America this summer. I am so happy Copa Airlines doesn't charge anything

We flew on American at Christmas though, so I feel your pain

 

[Shanora]

Oh my…
yeah I've got it down to 2 Suitcases right now. Packing a bunch into our carryon… still have to figure that out. We've got a bit of time still.

However one of our airlines DOES have a weight limit of 40lbs… so if we stuff our carryon, I still have to weigh it.

One of our carryons will be a backless booster… LOL

 

[kellymarch]

Oh my…
yeah I've got it down to 2 Suitcases right now.

For our 1st trip the 4 of us each packed a bag of our own with the horrid baggage fees. I found on the return home that we had one whole suitcase of clean, never-worn clothes to re-pack. Our next trip we had a free bag each, but we needed more clothes for a colder weather forecast. If the weather is supposed to be warm, try to go with maybe 3 bags.

 

[alc571]

We hate paying for bags. I just don't get what everyone is bringing on their trips that take up so much space? We are a family of three, and have done carry-on only for our last four trips. We've gone for as long as 10 days, and still managed to be under limit for carry-on.

 

[bdoyledimou]

We hate paying for bags. I just don't get what everyone is bringing on their trips that take up so much space? We are a family of three, and have done carry-on only for our last four trips. We've gone for as long as 10 days, and still managed to be under limit for carry-on.

my wife changes clothes 3 times a day -- has about 5 pairs of shoes -- and then there is her hair care products -- those take their own bag -- we also go for 16 day trips -- so always a lot of luggage for 5 of us,

 

[dis_guy]

Yeah I've been weighing mine on the digital bathroom scale. And I think we are going to pack our carry ons as well....just to make sure that we have enough room. 13 days until we leave so ill have to keep at it this way and we should be able to move items around as needed.
Thanks.

We have the same dates exactly! We fly out of YEG on Friday at 11:55 PM on United connecting through Houston. Love this flight because we get to MCO before lunch which means an extra park day.

Have a great trip, Shanora!

 

[Shanora]

We are flying out of Calgary cause its $1000 cheaper for all of us. LOL But we live in Edmonton. Staying off site in a condo.
We are leaving at 7am, and we get into MCO at 8:30 at night…. lol Long day!

 

[LittleFlounder]

I'm SO glad I chose for us to fly Southwest out of Buffalo this time! Before I booked out flights, I didn't even realize the allowed 2 free bags. Cheap(er) flights and free bags!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I just don't get what everyone is bringing on their trips that take up so much space?

It really depends on what time of year you are travelling, and where you are staying.

We stay in our timeshare now, which has in-room laundry facilities, so we can pack less clothing (since washing is easy). But those staying at Disney resorts have to make a trek to a laundry room, which can be cumbersome at best (it sure was when we stayed at POR in '09), so it can be easier just to pack more clothes.

If you happen to be travelling during the winter months, you need to pack twice the clothes as you could end up needing shorts and t-shirts or jeans and hoodies, depending on the mood Mother Nature is in.

And heck, then there's all the shopping. We travel down super light (everything in our carryons, suitcases empty) but they're all full coming home. We have had exceptional success at the outlet malls on each trip, so we need that space to bring home our purchases.

I know many families do well as minimalists on vacation, but I have to have at least some of the comforts of home. Things like a hair straightener and a couple of different pairs of shoes I just won't travel without.

 

[dis_guy]

We are flying out of Calgary cause its $1000 cheaper for all of us. LOL But we live in Edmonton. Staying off site in a condo.
We are leaving at 7am, and we get into MCO at 8:30 at night…. lol Long day!

We live out of Edmonton to begin with so for us Calgary is just too much farther to go. We booked last May and paid $440 pp. To me, that's very reasonable.

Long day, yes, but you'll be there!

I'm SO glad I chose for us to fly Southwest out of Buffalo this time! Before I booked out flights, I didn't even realize the allowed 2 free bags. Cheap(er) flights and free bags!

It's great that you have that option. We live 7 hours away from the border and flights from MT cost more than flights from AB.

At least for now United has pretty good fares and schedules for our trips.

 

[dsneygirl]

We hate paying for bags. I just don't get what everyone is bringing on their trips that take up so much space? We are a family of three, and have done carry-on only for our last four trips. We've gone for as long as 10 days, and still managed to be under limit for carry-on.

We went 19 days in 2012 to Aulani and DL. 2 checked bags going and 3 coming home. But we had a rental car and washed every couple days. With carseats, stroller etc we cannot carry all that stuff. I don't mind wearing the same outfit (after being washed of course) it's not like I am seeing anyone I know

 

[Shanora]

We live out of Edmonton to begin with so for us Calgary is just too much farther to go. We booked last May and paid $440 pp. To me, that's very reasonable.

Long day, yes, but you'll be there!

Yeah we booked our tickets in January of this year....so paid quite a bit more for the tickets. Lol. But it gives me a chance to visit with a good friend in Calgary anyhow

 

[minnie56]

At dinner last night with friends, he's an AC captain....he had a great suggestion. He thinks checked baggage should absolutely be free and carry on should have a fee. There's a baggage limit on those bins, though you'd never know it! One day, there will be a hard landing ..bins will fly open ( I've seen that) and someone will suffer a nasty injury. Just waiting for it to happen!!!