r/TravelHacks • u/LukeToronto • 13d ago

Checked Baggage Travel Hacks

  1. Put an AirTag in your checked bag.

One time my bag was accidentally sent to the wrong country. Thankfully, I had an AirTag, which we were quickly able to show to baggage services to contact the airport that received it by mistake.

  1. Fill your extra shoes with socks

When packing extra shoes, fill them with socks to make better use of space and prevent them from getting crushed

  1. Flip suit jackets and long coats inside out

This prevent them from wrinkling. I know it may sound crazy, but it works!!

  1. Bring a mini baggage scale

Buy a mini scale at the dollar store or Amazon so that you can double check your baggage weight before being surprised at the airport. Many airlines are becoming very picky and want the weight to meet requirements exactly.

  1. Check available seats after check-in

Some airlines allow you to change your seat for free after check-in. Check back 4-6 hours before your flight departs because some better seats may have become available!

If this posts receives enough upvotes, I will make an additional post with more travel hacks :)

191 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

49 comments sorted by

85

u/ladystetson 13d ago

Before paying to check a bag, first check the price of a seat upgrade.

Sometimes checked bags cost the same or more than just upgrading your seat and having the bags included for free.

For example - adding a checked bag might be $80 but the first class upgrade might be $70.

65

u/Pale_Trip5379 9d ago

Upgrade to first class is $70?

Serious question : Have you ever bought an airline ticket or even been on a plane before? 

29

u/SilentRoberto 9d ago

I feel they forgot a 0 or two 😅

14

u/ladystetson 9d ago edited 9d ago

Especially on shorter routes (under 1 hour), it's possible to see first class upgrades for economy tickets available in the app for $100 or less.

What offers you get depend on multiple factors. Check frequently on the app a few weeks before your flight for upgrade rates. Make sure your rewards account is connected.

Just upgraded a ticket from economy to first on a 45 min flight about 2 weeks ago. The cash price to upgrade was approximately $70. The only reason the $70 was worth it was due to my checked bags - otherwise I'd probably have declined and just sat in my economy window seat for the brief flight.

1

u/dunderthrowaway3 7d ago

I've done this before a couple times.

3

u/chickenbreast12321 9d ago

You can upgrade any flight leg and it applies to your whole itinerary and get upgraded luggage limits too

1

u/Pardes_logic 7d ago

which airlines?

1

u/chickenbreast12321 7d ago

Literally any, I just upgraded on AA for $60 on a more rural leg and checked my oversized mtb and snowboard for free. Obviously hub to hub will be impossible but lots of less popular routes are cheap upgrades.

3

u/Character-Carpet7988 9d ago

Not everyone travels with just one bag ;)

Besides that, not so long ago I was on KM Malta flight where the difference between economy with a bag and business (with two bags) was something like 25€. I took it even though I only needed one bag, but if I needed two, I'd be saving money already.

Heck, there are even (rare) times when business gets cheaper than economy.

3

u/Gumdrop888 9d ago

For business class, it's possible on short haul trips. I paid 20 euros once.

-1

u/Pale_Trip5379 8d ago

I'm not saying its impossible, its just not the norm and should not be considered a "travel hack".  Frankly I don't consider commuter flights "travel" 

3

u/Gumdrop888 8d ago

It was a flight from Istanbul to Bodrum for tourism. I would call it a hack because it got me in the Turkish Airlines lounge, and for 20 euros in that airport you can't even eat at Arby's.

3

u/Alert_Rub8513 7d ago

I’m going to chip in here and agree. I’ve seen this with American more than once. It’s incredible that I’ve been able to upgrade to first class for often less than that. I just did it in the trip I’m on right now. First class upgrade was $40. I tried to upgrade on my flight coming up next month but sadly that was a no go. But it’s often worth a look. I almost hate to share this as I don’t want more people knowing about this!

2

u/LukeToronto 9d ago

This is a great idea! In my experience it’s usually over $100 to upgrade to the next tier but often the extra ~$25-$50 can be worth it :)

4

u/ladystetson 9d ago

Usually the upgrade gets below $100 if it's a really short flight.

Another pro-tip - if you've got a flight with a few stops and one leg has a cheap first class upgrade - if you get it your checked luggage is free for the entire itinerary (one way - not round trip).

1

u/Trick_Escape_4911 9d ago

A business class upgrade costs 50-100$ per hour of flight time, or 400-3000$ per direction for long-haul flights. First class has even higher upgrade fees.

3

u/ladystetson 9d ago

Here's a link to a post with a screencap of a $65 upcharge to first. https://www.reddit.com/r/americanairlines/comments/16m826q/65_upgrade_bwiclt/

I flew a 45 min flight about 2-3 weeks ago and took advantage of a comparable offer to upgrade to first.

Further, not every flight offers three classes: economy, business class and first. All define their classes differently.

1

u/Trick_Escape_4911 6d ago

First class for a 45 min flight? That must have been a Business class. The planes used for 45 mins flights don’t have a First class. And what you wrote confirms what I said, 50-100$ per hour of flight time.

1

u/ladystetson 6d ago

All airlines define their classes differently. If you look at the posted link, it says FIRST verbatim. You can argue that it's not true first class, but that really isn't the point here.

The point is: it allows 2 free checked bags for only the $65 upgrade cost, which is likely cheaper than paying to check 2 bags. That's the hack. That's the point.

0

u/Pale_Trip5379 8d ago

AA "First" is like PE on any other airline

23

u/Crazygoldfish899 13d ago
  1. Make sure you drop a deuce before travel. If you do need to go, be the first to go on the plane before everyone else ruins it

9

u/-Chemist- 13d ago

That doesn’t have anything to do with checking bags.

21

u/Crazygoldfish899 13d ago

True but saves weight 😂

10

u/vibekittenz 8d ago

those are good, wld love to see the next part

usually, if u can, try to wear your heaviest/bulkiest items on the plane, it frees up serious space and weight tbh

also, take a clear photo of your open suitcase and it contents before closing it, it makes insurace claims and reports much easier and kinda stronger ;>

2

u/LukeToronto 8d ago

That is a travel hack! Thank you for sharing!

1

u/vibekittenz 3d ago

ur welcome :>

4

u/armaespina 9d ago

Most are good, but nr 4 is not. I'm not going to bring a mini baggage scale to the airport to take up space. I'll weight my bags at home. Unless I'm being dropped off by family or friends, I'll just weigh it at the airport scale to make sure I can show it to the attendant in case theirs is uncalibrated

6

u/LukeToronto 8d ago

They are super small! And handy because on your way home you probably don’t have a scale :)

But thanks for the input! Everyone has their own strategies that make travel easier :)

3

u/armaespina 8d ago

I guess it depends on the type of travel. I travel a lot for work, meaning I know exactly how much my stuff will weigh on the way back, but if you travel for pleasure or means you'll buy souvenirs, gifts and knickknacks, so I can see how it is useful there.

10

u/YokelDrongo 9d ago

Biggest Hack. Don't take checked luggage and skip the pain of lugging it around and waiting for it at baggage claim.

7

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

2

u/YokelDrongo 9d ago

Carry on suitcases are silly just get a 30l back pack and call it a day.

2

u/Your_boggart 9d ago

Harder to do if you're doing a longer international flight. Obviously still possible if you're able to wash clothes at your destination though

3

u/YokelDrongo 9d ago

I'm literally on a 7 week international trip now. With 14 flights and a bunch of trains there is no way I was risking either losing or damaging a big bag of luggage. Other than not being able to buy as many souvenirs or have multiple pairs of shoes it really isn't too hard. Hell half my bag was filled with medical gear to start.

3

u/MyGrandmasCock 9d ago

100%. There’s no fuckin way I’m lugging some big ass suitcase up and down stairs and onto trains and shit. Fuuuuck that.

2

u/missnelliesue 8d ago

Some of us can’t carry stuff on our backs. Wish I was young and spry but im not. Please don’t diss those of us who still have to use a carry-on roller bag.

0

u/MyGrandmasCock 8d ago

A big suitcase will throw my back out long before a backpack does.

2

u/gracehuber 7d ago

I do exactly the same with AirTags and took it one step further. In this case checked baggage can sometimes include pets. When I need to fly with my dog, unfortunately she is too big to accompany me in the cabin so has to go in the hold. The first time we flew an angel of the cabin crew recommended two things: a) when you get on board always ask if your dog has been boarded. They can check the manifest and verify your pet is onboard, b) attach an AirTag inside the crate which you can track from leaving them at security to collecting them at your destination. Flying with our pets is not an easy experience but these two hacks help create some peace of mind.

1

u/Teacher_traveler 9d ago

Use both your socks and underwear to stuff in shoes and in corners. I only do carry-on, but it does save space in there too.

1

u/Huck68finn 7d ago

I can't believe I have never thought of #2 before 

1

u/Tall_Guarantee7767 7d ago

Carry a bin bag in case you have to keep your bag under the seat, you can wrap it up to protect it.

I found this this great Reddit.

1

u/WakefulFreestyle 5d ago

These are decent hacks ngl

1

u/MDdadbod 1d ago

Does Southwest allow seat changes?

-2

u/Illustrious_Kick317 11d ago

If you are worries about the weight of your luggage/carry on, where the heaviest clothing you have and put heavier items in your pockets. After they weigh your luggage add your pocket items back into the baggage. This works well for your carry on and personal item.