Dec
1
As the holidays approach and you consider getting away from the office and traveling to visit family & friends, I thought I would share 5 travel tips over the next few days from the MSNBC.com article “5 things you absolutely must know before you head out this season” by Christopher Elliott.
Tip #4: Ship your gifts and limit your baggage
“You’ll probably pay a luggage fee. It’s safe to say more travelers than ever will pay extra to transport their luggage and presents during the 2009 holidays than at any other time. Airlines have discovered their money tree, and its name is baggage fees.
“I see this finally making an impact, not so much on the first checked bag but on the second bag,” says Susan Foster, author of “Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler.” She predicts air travelers will try to consolidate their bags to avoid additional fees, and more “bin rage” as passengers fight for increasingly scarce overhead space for their property.
Her advice? Weigh your bag pre-flight, get familiar with your airline’s luggage policies and ship any gifts ahead so that you don’t have to haggle with your carrier over fees.
Survival strategy: Bring only a carry-on bag.”
