Money Saving Travel Tips for Cash Strapped Flyersby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 06 Aug 2008 11:00 PM By now you know that a single flight could easily put a major dent in your family's budget. From rising airfares to insane luggage fees to the "brilliant" idea of charging passengers for everything from water to pillows and blankets, airlines are not ruling out any means to milk flyers for everything they are worth. If you are planning to fly in the near future now is the time to devise ways you can get from point A to point B without going broke. Here are some tips: WEIGH YOUR BAGS BEFORE HEADING TO THE AIRPORT The ol' human scale routine is not going to cut it anymore. If your checked bag weighs more than 50 pounds you will be socked with a $50 fee. Which means the difference between a 49-pound bag and a 51-pound bag could cost you the equivalent of a full tank of gas. To avoid this hit to your wallet take time prior to leaving for the airport to weigh your bag at home. Simply stick your luggage on a scale, see how much it weighs and redistribute the contents accordingly. Note: It's important to check the luggage rules of the airline you are flying. While most carriers charge $50 for any bag over 50 pounds, Delta charges $80 and Frontier charges $75. RELY ON THE HOTEL If you are planning to stay at a hotel during your trip then let them pick up the tab on toiletries. Many travel items can be obtained free of charge in your hotel room or from the front desk. Essentials including razors, mouthwash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, shower caps, hair dryers and more can be eliminated from your suitcase (or carry on) if you simply request them at check-in. BYOE Bring your own entertainment. Now that some airlines are requiring passengers to pay extra for the use of in-flight headphones (which attach to the aircraft's entertainment system), it might be a good idea to start bringing your own. You can save money and eliminate the hassle of dealing with defective products. Related Articles: More Airline Fees: Pillows, Blankets, Water and More Saying Farewell to In-Flight Movies New Airline Fees--Keeping it Straight More Bad News for Cash Strapped Flyers Say Good Bye to Free Pretzels and Peanuts No Such Thing As A Free Ride... Or Free Pretzels Travel Insanity---Airline Charges for One Checked Bag Airline Luggage Wars--Can It Get Any Worse? More Luggage Restrictions... Are You Ready For This? Can We Find A Way To Eliminate Liquid Restrictions On Airplanes? Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments erikbudde (5) 23 Dec 2008 03:02 PMAnother tip is to look for discounted off-airport parking rates online. www.AboutAirportParking.com is a great resource that lists all of the off-airport parking options for each city and includes the daily parking rates and helpful user reviews. Community Tags air travel, luggage, travel tips, travel fees Discuss this article
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