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Planning a trip abroad is a ton of fun but sometimes there are costs (like baggage fees) that can sneak in and push your budget beyond what you intended.
To help you avoid unwanted surprises on your travels, we’ve put together 9 tips that give you ways to save on baggage fees and keep your travel costs under control.
When you’re getting ready to book your next flight, one of the most important things to do is to check the airline’s baggage policy.
The amount and type of luggage that you can bring on your flight will change with each different airline and usually with each different fare type that’s sold.
We’ve written some guides to help you navigate the baggage policies of popular airlines like Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines, and Air Transat, and you can also always find up-to-date information on the airlines’ individual websites.
By knowing the baggage rules for your flight and fare, you can make sure that you’re not surprised by extra fees when you check-in. You can also confirm what size bags you’re allowed to bring — a piece of information that’s especially important with lower cost airlines that tend to have the strictest size restrictions.
If you like travelling with a checked bag but don’t want to pay the fees, you’ll definitely want to consider getting a credit card that includes free checked bags as part of its benefits package.
For example, when flying with Air Canada, you can use one of the following Aeroplan co-branded credit cards to get free checked bags for you and up to 8 travel companions:
For travellers flying with WestJet or Porter Airlines, you can enjoy free checked bags and other perks with the following credit cards:
The right credit card can also help you save in other ways, as you can also usually redeem your points to cover baggage fees, seat selection, and lots of other travel expenses.
Alternatively, you could choose a credit card that offers an annual travel credit to offset any baggage fees that you need to pay.
The National Bank World Elite Mastercard® gives cardholders an annual $150 travel credit that they can use to cover baggage fees, seat selection, airport parking, and more.
The card also comes with lounge access at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, loads of travel insurance coverage, and the ability to earn points on all your purchases.
Another key way to save on baggage fees is by booking a fare that already includes carry-on and checked bags.
At this time, most airlines are breaking up their fares into multiple categories so that you can theoretically only pay for the services you need. However, this does mean that it’s possible to book a fare that only allows you to bring a small personal item and no carry-on (like with WestJet’s UltraBasic fare shown in the image below), so watch out for those unless you’re a VERY light packer.
Generally speaking, higher fare classes come with more baggage included. In fact, it can sometimes make sense to book a higher fare class than you were originally planning because it will actually get you a checked bag for cheaper than if you paid for it separately.
With this in mind, when booking your next flight, be sure to check your fare options, what baggage you’re allowed, and whether any of the other fares offer the right combination for a lower total cost.
If you’ve done the math and it makes the most sense to book a fare and then add your baggage separately, you definitely want to book and pay for your required luggage at the same time as you reserve your flight.
This is because baggage fees almost always go up in price the closer you get to your departure date – in fact, it even tends to get more expensive as quickly as 24-hours after you finish booking your ticket.
As an example, you can see the difference in baggage fees for WestJet’s UltraBasic fares:
By pre-booking your baggage for each flight, you’ll avoid any nasty surprise fees at the airport and keep your travels running smoothly.
Before you head to the airport, it’s always a good idea to make sure you that your bags are within the weight and size limitation set by the airline.
Weight overages and over-sized luggage fees are considerable — we’re talking hundreds of dollars — so you want to make sure that you won’t get dinged with a surprise charge when you go to drop your bags off at check-in.
One of the easiest ways to save on baggage fees is to simply not bring a checked bag.
Now, obviously, this is easier said than done, but if you’re able to travel light, you can often save yourself a good amount on these costs.
To help you minimize your packing requirements, be thoughtful with regards to what you’re packing and try to keep your items to only what’s necessary and/or what fits in your carry-on bag.
Also, if you can’t avoid bringing certain items, but they’re going to take up too much space in your suitcase, you might be able to still keep it “light” by just wearing the bulkier items like sweaters, winter coats, and boots.
Once you’re on your way, you can typically put your extra layers in the plane’s overhead compartment and maybe even switch out your footwear if you brought another pair.
For more tips on how to travel light, make sure to read our guide on how to travel with only a carry-on.
With most airlines, you don’t need to book the same amount of baggage in both directions.
To avoid unnecessary baggage fees, ask yourself whether you really need a checked bag in both directions, and if you don’t, consider just booking one to bring home your souvenirs and gifts.
In the past, I’ve used this strategy by only taking a carry-on for my departure flight but including a large foldable backpack that I can store until I need it for the trip home. This lets me transfer some clothes into the backpack, which I can now carry on, and use my original carry-on suitcase as a checked bag for my return flight. This has allowed me to bring back considerably more than I left with (like a great bottle of mezcal from Mexico!).
Alternatively, you can always buy a suitcase at your destination and fill it with the extra stuff you’re bringing home — just make sure you pack your breakables well and follow all of the customs regulations.
A great way to avoid baggage fees is by booking a premium fare.
You can typically expect to get at least one checked bag included with all business class and first class fares, and sometimes these fares include up to 3 checked bags and multiple carry-ons.
Notably, these perks are available for both cash fares and award tickets, so you can access them when you redeem your miles and points.
Plus, with a premium fare like Air Canada business class or WestJet business class, you’ll not only enjoy bringing your luggage with you for free, you’ll also typically enjoy perks like priority check-in and boarding and airport lounge access.
One final way to save on baggage fees is to make sure you’re taking advantage of any airline elite status you might hold.
Elite members of airline rewards programs like Aeroplan, WestJet Rewards, and VIPorter’s Avid Traveller often get free baggage as part of their status, alongside other helpful benefits like lounge access, priority airport services, higher earning rates for points/miles, and more.
Airline baggage fees can really add up if you’re not careful, but luckily, with a little bit of planning, there’s lots of ways to avoid them altogether.
Whether you pack light, book a premium fare, or use a credit card that supports your travel goals, keeping those baggage-fee dollars in your pocket is a great way to stretch your travel budget and keep exploring longer.
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