How To Beat The Airline By Going Hand-Luggage Only

Air travel is a wonderful thing. It has opened up the world to more people by allowing us to travel to places much quicker than was once possible. But what isn’t wonderful about air travel are all the extra fees that airlines are constantly springing upon us.

A flight may be advertised at X amount, but every time you progress further into the booking process a constant stream of extra fees are added. You seem to get charged for everything that you do. Choosing your seats, the food and even paying for the flights with a credit card all costs you money.

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But by far one of the worst thing is having to pay for your baggage. The charge depends on the airline you choose but baggage can cost anything from £15 pounds and upwards. On top of this, no matter how many times you weigh your bag beforehand when it is weighed at the airport it always somehow seems to be heavier. This can become problematic as there are extra fees for overweight baggage and they aren’t cheap at all. If your baggage is over the airlines specified amount you will usually be charged for every kilogram that you go over. This will add up and very quickly eat away at your spending funds and you must not forget that it will still be a problem on the way back.

But don’t give up, there is still hope for a cheap flight! There is still a way you can beat the airlines. The answer is travelling with only your hand-luggage. It is a brilliant idea and can save you from being subject to all kinds of different airline fees.

Staying At The Airport

Before we submerge into discussing cutting costs whilst in the air, there are some factors that will add to your travel expenses that have to be considered whilst still on the ground. At times there’s no way around spending the night at the airport. This is especially true for long distance travel. Some airports have special areas for passengers spending the night between flights. The facilities can vary a lot however. Even in major cities, for example Philadelphia, the airport is just not designed to comfortably accommodate overnight passengers. Although staff at PHL will give out blankets to weary travelers, there are no beds or quiet areas to rest.

In this case, it is highly recommended to check in to an airport hotel. Most airports have a major hotel linked to the terminal itself. In Philadelphia, for example, you don’t even have to go outside to reach a major hotel. Also, remember when budgeting that the cost of travel to and from the airport can be deducted from the cost of staying at an airport hotel.

What Are The Advantages Of Travelling Hand-Luggage Only?

Many people are not very open to the idea of going away on holiday with only their hand-luggage but there are so many good reasons for doing it.

• You avoid the cost of large baggage that is becoming more and more expensive.
• You don’t have to worry about your bag getting lost as you will have it with you.
• No more waiting in the check-in queues. You can just head straight through.
• You won’t have to wait for your bag at the other end.
• There is no need for expensive taxis as you can easily use public transport instead.
• You can pack everything you need.

See there are just so many great benefits for travelling with just your hand-luggage.

But How Do You Pack To Travel With Just Your Hand-Luggage?

People often just presume that packing to go away with only hand-luggage is going to be difficult. This isn’t the case it is actually really simple and easy to do.

• First you need to check with the airline that you are going with what the weight and dimensions of the hand-luggage has to be. Once you have checked this you can find a suitable bag and begin to pack.

• The first rule is not to pack any liquids. This is because only liquids that are 100 ml and are put in a clear plastic bag are allowed in your hand-luggage. This puts many people off but where have you ever been that doesn’t sell toiletries? All you need to do is instead of buying all your toiletries with the shop the week before, save that money and convert it into the currency of the country you are visiting so you can buy some over there.

• Then comes the actual packing, which is probably the most difficult part. What you need to do is determine just what clothes you need, there is no room for any “I will just pack this just in case”. The two factors determining what you need to pack is the weather (which you should always check before going away) and the number of days that you are going away for. A good idea is to check the place you are staying at to see if it has washing facilities as this will mean that you can free up some room and reduce the weight of your hand-luggage.

• The final tip is to wear the heaviest and most bulkiest clothes to the airport. It may be nicer to arrive at your destination in shorts and flip-flops but it is just a sacrifice that you are going to have to make.

If you follow these pieces of advice you will be able to beat the airlines and put some more money aside for spending whilst you are away.

Byline:

By author and travel enthusiast, Linda Michelle, writing on behalf of Marriot Hotels. If you’re looking for Philadelphia Hotels, be sure to check out their offers!

Tags: air travel, airline, airports, brilliant idea, cheap flight, credit card, extra fees, flights, hand luggage, kilogram, long distance travel, major cities, money, travel expenses, wonderful thing

Category: Travel Tips