Search Results for: blog cracking down on carry ons

Cracking the Code

Have you ever wondered what the single-letter code on the bottom of your airplane boarding pass represents? Most people could care less about any information on their tickets, save for the flight number, gate number and boarding time. However, there’s a lot to be learned by paying attention to your fare basis code. The single-letter code is typically found alone on the bottom right hand corner of your ticket. However, it can also be shown as the first letter of a longer code with a mix of other letters and numbers. If you see it, don’t ignore it. The code … Continue reading →

The Downside of Ski Vacations

Two words: Luggage fees. My brother just took off for a 10-day ski vacation with his wife and son, but yesterday I got a call from him saying it may be the last one they take—-EVER! Apparently, the amount of money they spent on airline luggage fees was almost as much as a roundtrip ticket. Admittedly, my brother is not the world’s savviest packer, but considering that they planned to rent most of their ski equipment, it was quite a shock that they spent in excess of $150 on luggage fees. I won’t bore you with the breakdown of their … Continue reading →

Cracking Down on Carry-Ons

Weeks ago when American Airlines announced it would be charging passengers $15 to check in their first piece of luggage (and $25 for the second bag) every travel analyst in the country echoed the same comment: Beware of an impending crack down on carry ons. Sure enough a few days ago American Airlines announced it will be clamping down on the size of carry-ons (and you can bet other carriers will follow suit in a timely manner). American is the first airline to issue a statement regarding carry-ons. According to an American spokesperson, the airline usually adds extra staff during … Continue reading →

Money-Saving Packing Strategies

I took a crash course in efficient packing shortly after I was forced to fork over $100 to United Airlines for failing to keep my bags under 50 pounds. For an extra $150, I could have purchased my bag a seat and let it ride next to me on my flight. I kicked myself for months following that debacle.  It was a costly mistake that should have never happened. With holiday travel peaking in a few days, consider the following packing tips so that you won’t be forced to shell out extra dough on your flight to grandma’s house: Make … Continue reading →

Ways to Save on Airline Fees

Just when you thought commercial carriers couldn’t possibly penalize your pocketbook any more with their exorbitant baggage fees, Spirit Airlines just announced it plans to charge passengers $100 for carry-ons. Fortunately, there are ways you can avoid being hit with this outrageous fee. Beginning November 6th, Spirit will slap passengers with the 100-buck fee if they wait until they get to the boarding gate to pay. If you fly the discount airline and pay before getting to the airport, you will save a substantial amount of money. Here’s how you can avoid being hit with the sky-high baggage surcharge: Option … Continue reading →

Adding Up Travel Expenses

Traveling isn’t cheap. Whether you are embarking on a cross-country drive to see Mickey and friends in Anaheim, California, or you’re hopping a puddle-jumper from Milwaukee to Minneapolis for a marathon shopping spree at the Mall of America, traveling expenses can add up fast. Hotels: Before booking a hotel room make sure to inquire about all fees. Don’t be blindsided at check-out just because you neglected to read the fine print on your receipt. Some of the most egregious fees include mandatory valet parking. The privilege of being able to park in the hotel’s lot can set you back a … Continue reading →

Make Peace with Packing

We all love to travel, but unless you are Martha Stewart-organized, packing for vacation can be a real pain. Whether you are jetting off to grandma’s house in Omaha or planning to watch history being made in London during the Summer Olympics, you will likely need more than just a toothbrush and underwear to get through a week-long trip. Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce stress when packing for a summer getaway. For starters, if you are flying on a commercial airline that charges an arm and a leg for excess baggage, consider wearing your heaviest shoes and clothes … Continue reading →

Avoid the Pains of Packing

One of the downsides of taking a vacation is packing. Let’s face it; packing is a pain. Fortunately, there is a way to lighten the pressure of gathering travel essentials and placing them in various bags. The key: Keep it simple. Given the astronomical luggage fees imposed by commercial airlines these days it’s best to streamline your packing. Don’t take items that you can find at your travel destination. For example, most hotels feature hair dryers, towels, shampoo and bathrobes, so keep yours at home. If you are worried that your accommodations won’t have certain necessities, call and ask, so … Continue reading →

Playing the Airfare Game

Timing is everything when you are trying to land an amazing deal on airfare. This is especially true if you are booking online. Whereas there are dozens of travel websites out there, convenience and accessibility doesn’t make snagging a rock bottom deal less complicated. For example, many travelers scoop up airline seats thinking they’ve scored a super deal, only to discover that two days later prices plummeted by 30 percent or more. So how do you win at the high-stakes game of airfare poker? According to travel experts, there are two main strategies that come into play when searching for … Continue reading →

The True Price of Flying

I am constantly on the look out for cheap flights to Hawaii. Last year, I thought I had struck gold when I happened upon a roundtrip, non-stop fare from Chicago to Honolulu for a mere $500. Turns out the actual retail price after taxes and mandatory fees was a not-so wonderful $665. How is that possible? I didn’t bother doing the math to determine the exact breakdown of the additional costs. Rather, I chocked it up to the chokehold the airline industry has on consumers and went about sulking. Fast-forward six months and I’ve turned that frown upside down. According … Continue reading →