5 Packing Tips Flight Attendants Swear by That Save Big Money on Baggage Fees

The cost of plane tickets can send your budget into a tailspin during the holidays. Baggage fees make traveling an even bigger hit to your personal finances. Though the costs of checking a bag vary by airline, you can expect to pay about $30 to $35 each way for a domestic flight when you fly economy.

Packing efficiently so you don’t have to check bags can save you money on travel costs. Flight attendants are pros at packing lightly, as they usually avoid checking bags to save on time. Here are five tips for smart packing, courtesy of my sister, a longtime flight attendant for a legacy carrier.

1. Roll your clothing instead of folding it

One trick flight attendants swear by: Roll clothing items instead of folding them. Tightly rolled clothing is more compressed than folded clothing, which frees up baggage space.

Note that rolling works best for lighter, casual items, like T-shirts, jeans, and swimsuits. You can also avoid wrinkles when you roll these pieces because you’ll avoid the crease you create by folding. For bulkier items, like blazers, and coats, folding actually tends to be more efficient than rolling.

2. Wear your bulkiest items

Speaking of your bulkiest item: You probably shouldn’t be packing it in the first place.

Wearing heavy items like coats and hiking boots to the airport can free up serious space in your bag, though it may be a slight hassle when you go through security. As long as you can easily fit your heavy item under the seat in front of you, there shouldn’t be any problem on your flight.

You can also wear multiple layers of clothing so that you don’t have to pack the items. Just be sure to consider whether you’ll be comfortable when flying. If you get hot easily, this might not be a good option, but considering that temperatures are often freezing on flights, extra layers may actually make you more comfortable.

3. Stuff things inside your shoes

When you don’t want to check a bag, you have to make every square inch count inside your carry-on. So take advantage of the space inside any shoes you pack by stuffing smaller items, like socks and underwear, inside.

Lugging around lots of products (like foundation, moisturizers, and eye creams) can take up significant space in your carry-on. Many flight attendants put just enough makeup and creams into contact-lens containers to last for the duration of their trip. Contact-lens containers are leak-proof, so you won’t have to worry that your products will spill onto the other items you’ve packed.

5. Choose a personal item with plenty of room

To avoid checking a bag, bring a personal item that fits plenty of stuff in addition to a good-size carry-on. Because airlines often require passengers to check their carry-ons at the gate when flights are full and overhead bin space is lacking, your personal item should contain all your must-haves. This includes your wallet, phone, passport, prescription medications, laptop, and a change of clothes. In the event your bag gets lost, you’ll have the bare essentials. Just make sure that your personal item is small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you.

How to avoid baggage fees when you travel

Cramming everything into a carry-on and personal item won’t always be possible, especially if you’re taking a longer trip. If you travel frequently, you may want to try one of the following strategies:

• Choose an airline that gives you a free checked bag: Southwest Airlines allows you to check up to two bags for free, while JetBlue gives you a free checked bag for all fares other than Blue Basic. Some airlines that don’t offer free checked luggage for domestic flights do offer this perk for international flights. Check with your airline about its policy.
• Earn elite status: Earning elite status with an airline doesn’t happen overnight, but doing so will score you numerous perks, including a free checked bag on many flights.
• Apply for an airline credit card: Many of the best airline credit cards allow you (and sometimes your travel companions if you booked on the same reservation) a free checked bag.

But in some cases, you may need to shell out the extra $30 or $35 for a checked bag and budget for the expense. Packing lightly can save you money — but not if you pack so lightly that you wind up having to buy the things you didn’t pack while you’re traveling.