travel LIGHTLY!

 Light luggage is a good thing – we’ve all heard to “pack light” . Not only does it stink to carry around a huge, heavy suitcase, airlines are cracking down on oversized baggage, which means overweight luggage can get hit with big fees.  Many of the top brands of luggage are very heavy.  I’ve got some recommendations  for how to pack to minimize the weight.

 Airlines are trying to raise money by charging for checked bags, so checking anything is likely to cost you a lot. The maximum size for a checked bag on all the carriers is 62 linear inches (length + width + height). The maximum weight is 50 lbs.

When your baggage is over the weight limit, the airline hits you with a big fee. For bags between 50 lbs and 70 lbs, this fee can vary from about $25 to $50. Higher weights the airline usually tells you that you have to ship it by air freight.

There are just two possible ways make your baggage lighter: Lighten what’s inside, or lighten the bag itself.

Every pound counts when 50 lbs is fine, and 51 lbs costs you money.

So, once you have the lightest possible suitcase, you can give yourself a little extra insurance by making sure that what’s inside is lightweight too.

 Don’t pack so much stuff! You probably don’t need five pairs of shoes. Or 3 different overcoats. And maybe you can leave your coffee maker at home. Try to know what you’ll use, and what you won’t.

More on being F-L-E-X-I-B-L-E

Be sure when you are  searching for plane tickets, to get the best price if you are flexible. Consider flying into alternate cities and on alternate dates. A round-trip ticket from New York to Dublin can likely be cheaper than a round-trip ticket from New York to London, The two cities are located a quick ferry or a quick flight from each other. You might also consider flying  into one city and out of the other. This is particularly effective if you want to avoid the additional cost of traveling back to your arrival airport.

~Mike

How to prepare for last minute Airline tickets

Buying  airline tickets at the last minute requires a lot of research, preparation and some luck. Discounts on last-minute airline fares are harder to find than complimentary upgrades from coach to first-class.  The key to getting a decent last-minute fare is flexibility. Be ready to fly!

 

Many  airlines have clubs you can join. You will pay a small fee for access to last-minute trips or packages. Shop around. If the airline serves most of your preferred destinations, the fee can be a great value.

 

More on this as I develop this blog... stay tuned

~Mike

Find fares during the winter months

I would be interested to know if anyone finds a great fare from Providence to Miami during the months of January, 2012 through April 2012. My family really needs to warm up at that time of the year. and as we get older, my wife and I both need to save money on airfare and warm our old tired bones. So, any heads-up would be appreciated - Thanks Please email me - Mike

I use TravelZoo

I get a weekly email from Travelzoo which often contains some very good flight fares. I suggest you sign up for this weekly email. Try it out...

www.travelzoo.com/top20/