If you are ready to take a romantic vacation or a honeymoon where flying is involved you should know and abide by the newest airline luggage and baggage fees, regulations and rules which will assist in making your trip go more smoothly. Here are some tips on how to fly with luggage which will help you travel like a pro.
Know the Weight and Size Limits for Your Carry on Bags: Flying variables including the passenger load and type of aircraft used can affect the size of carry on bags which are allowed on the aircraft. For example, the overhead bins on a small commuter plane will probably not accommodate the same size carryon luggage as a jet. You should check with the airline that you are flying on regarding the allowable dimensions of carry on luggage for your particular flight. If your carry on bag has been rejected as being too large when you try to board the aircraft, never argue with the flight attendant if you want to board the aircraft. The best thing to do in this situation is to remove the essential items and relinquish the bag. The carry on will fly separately and may or may not be tagged. You can then either reclaim it with your regular luggage that has been checked or at the gate.
Edit Your Carry on Luggage Carefully: Pack your valuable items that you cannot live without in a small carry on bag. The basics include extra eyeglasses, if necessary, jewelry, medication, and your travel documents including your passport. After those are secured, determine what you would need to get by for a day should your luggage not arrive. Cosmetics, birth control, and an extra set of underwear, may make your list. Next, consider what entertainment, food, and other items would help you to make it through a flight comfortably, particularly if it should span several hours. If you are traveling economy, be sure to bring a snack or sandwich. An iPod, a book, or a magazine can help you pass the hours.
Limit the Amount of Liquids That You Carry Onboard: The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has rather strict rules about bringing aboard liquids on an aircraft that are still in effect:
• There is a maximum of 1 clear, zip top bag no larger than a quart that is permitted in a person’s carryon luggage.
• This plastic bag may have a container of gel or liquid of 3 ounces or less.
• Don’t try to bring bottled water aboard. You’ll have to dispose of it to get through security.
Watch Your Weight: Most airlines allow passengers to check a single piece of luggage. There are, however, limits on weight for the standard allowance for free baggage. For example, American Airlines on most of its international and all of its domestic flights restricts the weight of checked bags to 50 pounds. Usually, passengers who have luggage that exceeds the allowed weight that the airline permits are charged a fee.
Know the Cost of a Checked Bag: Both large and small airlines have recently changed their luggage checking policy which means that they can now make passengers pay to check another piece of luggage. Initially the fees were as low as $10 on smaller airlines to as much as $25 on larger airlines. Be sure to check with your airline to determine if there is a fee for the second bag and if you will have to pay for luggage that is overweight.
Use Luggage Locks that is Recognized by the TSA: The TSA claims to screen every passenger’s baggage prior to it being placed on an aircraft. If their security inspectors decide to physically open a piece of luggage, they may break the lock unless it is a lock that has been approved by the TSA, in which case one that officers can open it with a master key. The locks that are made by TSA have a sideways diamond or flame logo so that you can identify them.
Choose Colorful Luggage: Although black may be timelessly fashionable in clothing it is, however, a bad choice for luggage. The reason for this is that black is the color of luggage that is most often mistakenly claimed. Do yourselves a favor and select a more distinctive color of luggage, or apply some type of identifier such as an oversized luggage tag or colored tape to mark your luggage which will enable you to easily recognize your luggage at the airport baggage carousel.
Roll It Nice and Easy: It would appear that 99% of travelers already know that rolling luggage can help them transport more weight more easily. But if two of you are traveling together, with two or more pieces of checked luggage, two carry ons, or a backpack or purse it can become very unwieldy. However, airports provide rolling luggage carts which can make things much easier.
Send Your Luggage Ahead: There are many companies that will guarantee that your luggage arrives at your destination before you do and then returns to your home in advance of your arrival. The only drawback is that these services are very expensive, and you will need to be completely packed and you must also arrange the pickup of your luggage several days before you leave for your trip
