Good Cash Podcast — Pack Smarter, Save Extra: Knowledgeable Ideas for Environment friendly Journey Packing to Overcome Baggage Hassles - NerdWallet

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Good Cash podcast, the place we reply your real-world cash questions. On this episode:

Get skilled tips about the best way to pack for journey effectively and successfully, together with intelligent methods to avoid wasting on baggage charges.

How are you going to preserve baggage prices down throughout vacation journey? What are one of the best methods for managing carry-on baggage, particularly for worldwide journeys? Hosts Sean Pyles and Meghan Coyle focus on environment friendly baggage administration that can assist you perceive how to economize on baggage charges. They start with a dialogue of minimizing baggage prices, with suggestions and tips on rolling garments, borrowing necessities from members of the family, and sticking to a carry-on bag. Then, journey author Jessie Beck joins Meghan to debate efficient packing strategies, together with the advantages of utilizing smaller luggage to forestall overpacking, creating a flexible journey capsule wardrobe, and coping with potential points like gate-checked luggage and delayed baggage. In addition they cowl the significance of miniaturizing objects comparable to wallets, utilizing airline apps and AirTags to trace baggage, and understanding airline compensation insurance policies for delayed luggage.

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Are you actually bringing all that? Do you want every part in that bag? Are you positive? Could not you do with only one pair of footwear as an alternative of, oh, six? Effectively, if not, you are in all probability going to pay a reasonably penny for baggage whenever you’re touring over the vacations. We have got some well timed recommendation for conserving these prices down.

When you add on the price of paying to have a carry-on bag on that fundamental economic system ticket, you would possibly as properly simply get an economic system ticket and have the ability to be somewhat bit extra versatile. I feel that is a very powerful factor for me. If I did should make a final minute change, I can try this penalty-free.

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Good Cash podcast. I am Sean Pyles.

That is episode three of our nerdy deep dive into vacation journey and the prices therein. Meghan, I do know there are many people on the market who’re strict carry-on solely vacationers, and I’m one among them. I’ve not checked a bag in over a decade.

Wow! You are one among them. Okay. There’s lots to be mentioned for that technique, so long as you’ll be able to stay with fewer selections. There’s an entire cottage business round determining one of the best methods to stuff small suitcases and even put on a number of articles and layers of clothes on the aircraft, so they don’t seem to be even in a bag.

I’ve not gone that far but. I principally attempt to roll my garments as tightly as attainable, so I can nonetheless have choices whereas becoming every part in my carry-on. There are a number of causes to limit your self like this, although. One is that your baggage won’t ever be misplaced.

Oh, man. Do not forget that interval a pair years again, when folks had been shedding their baggage throughout European airports?

Yeah. What a nightmare. Once you go carry-on, there isn’t any shedding your bag, no worrying about stuff getting stolen out of it. One other profit to carry-on solely is that you do not have to pay luxurious charges to verify your luggage. You would put a child or two by way of faculty for what it prices to have your bag fly within the cargo maintain. I exaggerate somewhat bit, after all. However actually, the charges are fairly dangerous whenever you add them on high of airfare.

And selecting your seat, and your airplane snacks.

Yeah. I am carry-on just for two major causes. The primary is that I’m impatient. I don’t need to wait at baggage declare to gather my suitcase after I’ve spent nonetheless many hours touring. And two, I attempt to be accountable for my very own future as a lot as attainable. Handing off my bag to some airline and hoping it will get to my last vacation spot is simply not how I roll. And sure, that is a suitcase pun.

I am additionally a carry-on kind of particular person more often than not. I hate ready on the baggage carousel after a flight. I need to be at my vacation spot already. Sean, not everybody can smoosh every part right into a bag that matches within the overhead bin or underneath their seat. Particularly within the winter, and that features vacation journey. In the event you’re going anyplace with a risk of snow, ice, frigid temperatures, you have to have the boots, you have to have the sweaters, you have to have the puffer coats. Or when you’re escaping to the tropics, I do not know, possibly you want 40 units of swimsuits. Regardless of the motive, when you’re a bag checker, we have got some suggestions so that you can attempt to carry the fee down.

All proper. Effectively, we need to hear what you suppose too, listeners. To share your concepts and experiences round vacation journey with us, the nice, the dangerous, and the madness, go away us a voicemail or textual content the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373. That is 901-730-NERD. Or electronic mail a voice memo to [email protected]. Meghan, who’s speaking baggage with us at the moment?

Our visitor at the moment is Jessie Beck. She’s a San Francisco-based journey author for Afar, a journey journal, and she or he’s finished loads of packing and unpacking in her profession. She’ll share her data of all issues baggage.

That is arising in a second. Stick with us.

Jessie Beck, welcome to Good Cash.

Hello, Meghan. Thanks for having me.

Inform us, what are your journey plans this 12 months for the vacations?

Oh, that is a superb query. For Thanksgiving, my husband and I are going again to the East Coast to go to household. However for Christmas, we’re making the most of the truth that we each have a number of time PTO round that point, so we’ll go to Japan. See the household one other time, when it is hotter.

Oh my goodness, that sounds unbelievable. Have you ever been to Japan earlier than?

Truly, we’re going again to a lodge that we stayed in in February 2020, proper when the pandemic was beginning in Japan. Actually excited to return and say whats up once more.

Effectively, let’s get proper into it. How a lot baggage are you taking with you for every of these journeys?

I’m a reasonably avid carry-on solely packer. Truly, that final journey I took to Japan within the winter to ski season, I solely did with a 40-liter backpack and a small purse as my private objects.

Okay. What number of coats had been you sporting on the airplane?

One very massive coat, and I used to be very popular.

Are you going to do the carry-on just for each your home journey and your worldwide journey?

Sure, positively. I feel it is virtually somewhat simpler whenever you’re touring to go to household, as a result of I’ve received a sister-in-law I can borrow garments from. They will have further hats and mittens, and all these sorts of issues. In the event you neglect your toothpaste, household will step in. Sports activities or ski journeys is usually a little bit trickier to stay to the carry-on baggage.

Inform us precisely what sort of bag you are utilizing for these carry-on solely journeys.

I’ve at all times puzzled how massive the backpack cohort is, by way of baggage fanatics. I’ve at all times used a journey backpack. I actually love how a lot simpler it’s to maneuver world wide with a backpack. I do know some folks will disagree with me as a result of they’re heavy, and all that stuff.

For individuals who do not usually journey with backpacks, are you able to inform us what’s the distinction between a travel-specific backpack and simply the backpack you employ to hold your laptop computer, or to go to highschool or work?

Oh my gosh. That is so embarrassing, however after I first began touring lots in faculty and proper after, I used to be utilizing this huge mountain climbing backpack that I simply present in my dad and mom’ storage. It was method too massive. Nevertheless it was additionally actually troublesome to get entry to something inside the bag, as a result of a standard mountain climbing backpack is top-loading, so you may normally see the opening of the backpack on the high of it. Perhaps you may have a zipper on the backside, to have the ability to entry issues on the backside of the backpack.

However a number of travel-specific backpacks could have a clamshell opening. They’re opening somewhat bit extra equally to a suitcase, and that makes it lots simpler to open your bag and see every part that is inside it with out having to take all of the stuff that is on the highest out. A whole lot of them can even have some extra pockets and organizational options. A few of them can even design with carry-on restrictions in thoughts, in order that they’re actually attempting to maintain it underneath that 40-liter restrict.

Yeah. One of many options I actually like about my journey backpack, I’ve one from Dagne Dover, is that it has the sleeve on the again of it in order that it will possibly very snugly match over your carry-on rolling suitcase, when you resolve to do each backpack and suitcase. I actually love that function.
Let’s get again to your travels. How a lot is that going to price you to journey backpack-only?

For simply the baggage, I cannot be spending something to carry a bag with me on both flight. I’ve observed, and that is purely anecdotal, I virtually by no means have my bag gate-checked after I’m sporting a backpack. If there’s some other backpackers on the market who’ve had a distinct expertise, I might like to know. However I’m working underneath this concept that backpack folks do not get gate-checked as typically as suitcase folks. Not solely am I not spending any cash, however I usually preserve my baggage with me.

For people who find themselves going to take a carry-on bag or checked baggage, how a lot would you say they should price range for luggage in the event that they’re touring for the vacations this 12 months?

By way of worth for checking a bag?

Yeah. And even bringing a carry-on, in some circumstances.

That is true. Some airways are actually charging for carry-on luggage. I at all times try this calculation as I am reserving the ticket. For instance, I’ve tried fundamental economic system a complete of 1 time.

I used to be like, “Okay, I am a light-weight packer. I can do that. Private merchandise solely, visiting a pal in Chicago in the summertime, straightforward. No downside. Bought it.” However I feel for many eventualities past that, the stuff you’re shedding by going from an economy ticket to a basic economy ticket do not make that financial savings value it, particularly if you wish to carry a carry-on bag. When you add on the price of paying to have a carry-on bag on that fundamental economic system ticket, you would possibly as properly simply get an economic system ticket and have the ability to be somewhat bit extra versatile. I feel that is a very powerful factor for me. If I did should make a last-minute change, I can try this penalty-free, whereas you’ll be able to’t try this with a fundamental economic system ticket.

It positively varies by airline. You are in all probability going to finish up spending someplace between 30 and 50 every method. Positively try this calculation and that math earlier than you e-book your ticket, as a result of when you’re touring with a bunch of baggage, fundamental economic system shouldn’t be the best way to go.

I completely agree. It makes it onerous to match costs whenever you’re taking a look at fundamental economic system, versus economic system, versus price range airways. There’s a lot it’s important to add up earlier than you make your selection, primarily based on worth.

I want Google Flights had a straightforward function the place you might add all of that as much as the full worth of your ticket so you might see the precise price of what your ticket’s going to be. However in in need of that, a easy spreadsheet works. I am tremendous nerdy, I really like a spreadsheet.

Inform us what has occurred to bag costs this 12 months. If folks have not traveled for the reason that final vacation season, they may be somewhat shocked after they do go to take a look at and see the bag fees.

I’ll be completely trustworthy, I have not been conserving tabs an excessive amount of on this particular story as a result of I’m such a carry-on solely packer. Although, one change that I used to be actually excited to see is a few airways are actually contemplating sporting tools, like bikes, as only a common bag, whereas beforehand they weren’t. That is one thing I encountered lately this summer season, after I was touring with a motorbike. I had traveled with a motorbike beforehand on United Airways, they usually had been charging me $200 every option to fly with this bike. I used to be like, “That’s ridiculous.”

Yeah. That may very well be greater than the ticket in some circumstances, I might think about.

For home, no less than, I switched to Alaska Airways after I was touring with a motorbike as a result of they at all times handled bikes as common baggage, so so long as it stayed underneath 50 kilos. However lately, United modified their guidelines as properly, in order that they, too, are actually qualifying a motorbike as common baggage. That is in all probability the one change I have been being attentive to essentially the most as a result of that is just about the one time I ever verify a bag, is with a motorbike.

One story I have been following this 12 months was bag charges not solely went up throughout a number of airways, and it is a fairly nominal quantity. Delta, United, American, Alaska, all of these airways raised their bag charges by $5, in some circumstances $10. There is a distinction between when you verify your bag earlier than you get to the airport, whenever you’re reserving your ticket, or when you wait till you are actually at that kiosk checking in and also you add a bag there. However the one which me essentially the most was that JetBlue even added peak and off-peak pricing to their luggage. Get this. They principally printed a set of dates for peak pricing in your luggage, the place your luggage will price $5 to $10 greater than their regular pricing. In fact, the height pricing is throughout the holidays.

If there’s a option to, such as you mentioned, go to your loved ones and borrow some toothpaste, I might say when you’re flying JetBlue, this may be a superb time to attempt it out. What are another ways to save on bag costs?

You introduced up one good level, which is that some airways will cost you extra when you’re paying on the airport versus paying in your checked bag upfront. Once more, not a ton of cash. Nobody’s going to hate on saving $5 or $10. Bank cards are one other good option to save on checked baggage charges. When you have airline-branded credit cards, then you’ll be able to verify that bag totally free. That is a superb choice when you journey typically. In the event you’re solely touring a few times a 12 months, I do not know if an airline-branded bank card is basically the best choice. However in case you are touring often and you’ve got that, that is one thing to look into. Or when you’re touring with different folks, attempt to consolidate so that you’re solely checking one bag between the 2 of you, or one thing. There is a bunch of the way to get artistic and simply decrease how a lot you are bringing or checking with the airways.

It has so many advantages past simply saving cash. When you have only one bag to fret about, it brings you a lot peace of thoughts in different methods of touring as properly. Inform us somewhat bit about your journey historical past and when this concept of being workforce carry-on solely actually began to resonate with you.

It has been a course of. I began by lowering from that 65-liter, to purchasing a 45-liter backpack. I traveled with that for fairly some time. Together with after I was within the Peace Corps, that is the primary baggage that I introduced with me, together with a day bag. Then in my two years within the Peace Corps, I really tried to reduce even additional. Largely as a result of, within the nation the place I used to be at, Madagascar, you are principally touring by bus. In case your baggage can’t slot in your lap or underneath the seat in entrance of you on these buses, it goes above the bus. Which usually, would not sound like such a foul concept, besides it isn’t lined. If it rains, your baggage will get moist. I ended up with a soggy bag full of garments and was like, “I am by no means doing this once more. I am simply going to carry two outfits subsequent time I journey, as a result of they’ll keep dry.”

I am by no means placing something on the roof.

Yeah. Oh, what a bummer to have soggy baggage.

What’s your packing technique, then? To have the ability to match every part in such a small bag?

It may be intimidating to attempt to go from a number of baggage to a really small quantity. Simply begin small, attempt to scale back what you are carrying by possibly 10 liters, 5 liters. A number of the methods that I’ve discovered actually efficient. The primary one is get a smaller bag. All of us have this case the place, if our bag is larger and we’ve further area, we’ll fill it. I used to be touring with a pal to Portland over the weekend, and she or he had precisely that situation. She packed every part she wanted for the weekend. Then she mentioned she had half of her bag empty, so she determined to only begin throwing in some further sneakers and a few further towels and all these items that she did not actually need, simply because she had the area. I feel that is a extremely good forcing operate, is get a smaller bag. Do not give your self the chance to pack these issues you do not actually need within the first place. That may be a extremely useful place to start out.

It is like when you’ve gotten a smaller dinner plate and you do not fill your plate as a lot.

As a result of there’s simply much less area for it.

Sure, so true. I feel there’s in all probability some psychological reasoning for all of this. However yeah, positively observed it really works.

What else are you doing? What’s a should pack for you, by way of your carry-on?

The opposite two issues I do. One, I miniaturize or carry a travel-sized model of every part. I’ve even taken my large pockets and gotten an excellent small travel-friendly pockets. It looks like a small factor to only go to a smaller pockets. However whenever you try this throughout a bunch of various objects, you may get from a medium-sized bag to a small bag value of issues. The opposite factor I do is I do a journey capsule wardrobe. That is taking that capsule wardrobe method, however travelizing it. So as an alternative of 30 objects of clothes in your full season, which is what a number of capsule wardrobe fanatics will advocate, I am focusing extra on 10 to 12 objects of clothes. Plus your PJs, underwear, and not more than two pairs of footwear. I feel that is an enormous one, too.

Oh, the footwear take up a lot area.

It is so onerous to decide on simply two footwear.

Let’s get to what occurs in case your bag does get gate-checked, you get separated out of your bag by some means. Are there any stuff you do to provide your self some peace of thoughts so you recognize you may get your bag again or have the ability to find it?

The primary factor, at all times obtain the airline app. Even when it is an airline that you do not fly very often, at all times, at all times, at all times obtain that app earlier than you go. They will present a number of info and providers simply by way of that app in your cellphone. A whole lot of airways will assist you to monitor the standing of your bag by way of their app. At any time when the barcode on that tag is being scanned in your baggage, it should replace in that app. It’ll inform you the place it’s. When you have a connection, it’s going to inform you in case your bag made the flight with you.

One other factor that different folks love to do is placing an AirTag or one thing related of their baggage, simply to have the ability to see that location. I try this with my bikes, simply because these are actually costly and I need to be sure that they don’t seem to be getting misplaced someplace. That is positively a pleasant option to preserve peace of thoughts along with your baggage.

What are some airline insurance policies round compensation for delayed or lost bags? Simply in case one thing does occur to it, what ought to prospects find out about getting some form of reimbursement for that?

I do know there’s a couple of, however positively Alaska Airways. Then I feel it is Delta. Each of them will compensate you in case your bag is late. I feel lots of people do not know this, which is an excellent good tip to remember. If it takes greater than 20 minutes to get to the carousel, you’ll be able to write in and get some miles as compensation for that bag being late. I neglect what Delta’s coverage is.

I feel it is 2,500 miles in case your bag would not present up in 20 minutes. So yeah, very related.

Precisely. That is an honest quantity of miles only for being like, “My bag was 10 minutes late.” And it takes you a pair minutes to write down in and say, “Hey, my bag was late. Are you able to compensate me?” I feel lots of people do not make the most of that.

I agree. It simply takes that one further step of wanting up the net type. However then, it is a straightforward option to get miles. At the very least you bought somewhat one thing for ready at baggage declare for thus lengthy. One different tip I at all times wish to remind folks is that your journey bank card would possibly at all times have some misplaced baggage or delayed luggage reimbursement. This does not actually assist in the second when it is taking place and you are like, “The place’s my bag?” Nevertheless it might assist you get reimbursement for something new you had to purchase. If they really did lose your baggage, you would possibly have the ability to get reimbursed for any valuables in your bag. One thing to remember is that you need to attempt to e-book your journey with a travel credit card that has these sorts of protections when you’ve got one.

Yeah. That is a extremely good one to remember.

Jessie Beck, thanks a lot for serving to us out at the moment.

Yeah, after all. Thanks for having me. It was nice talking with you.

Jessie’s expertise of downsizing her packing is one thing that I can actually relate to. I’ll admit that I’m a recovering over-packer. Traditionally, I’ve tried to cram as a lot as attainable into my suitcase. However over the previous 12 months or two, I’ve gotten significantly better at choosing simply a few staples that I can mix-and-match. I could have fewer choices on the entire, but it surely helps me get artistic. I am principally doing a much less intentional model of that entire capsule wardrobe factor that you simply and Jessie talked about. I discovered that my suitcase is lighter, which makes touring simpler. And I additionally simply have extra room for souvenirs from my travels.

I feel the true lesson right here is that you simply do have choices. You’ll be able to take little child steps to turn out to be somebody who travels gentle. Generally, you simply should make these choices primarily based on who you might be. Some individuals are tremendous sporting the identical garments day in and time out for a week-long vacation keep. Others need a new outfit day by day plus room for procuring. We are saying you do you. However positively look into among the methods to chop down on these baggage charges by way of bank card advantages or different means.

Agreed. So long as you are ready for the likelihood that your baggage might find yourself hanging out someplace in an airport, and even out of the country with out you, properly, then it is as much as you to take that threat. Me? No large suitcases, no issues. After which I’ve more cash to spend on margaritas.

Baggage charges versus margaritas, is that what this has come to? I am going to be a part of you.

Meghan, inform us what’s arising in episode 4 of the sequence.

Subsequent time, we’ll concentrate on folks touring internationally, both for holidays or any upcoming journey overseas, and what you need to find out about traveling with your debit and credit cards. Plus, the best way to save on getting native foreign money.

So long as there is a cell sign, now you can use a card in a number of conditions the place you beforehand could not. Which means you do not have to hold as a lot money, which is clearly safer, and bank card buy protections cowl you from fraud, in case you swipe the cardboard within the flawed place.

For now, that is all we’ve for this episode. Do you’ve gotten a cash query of your individual? Flip to the Nerds and name or textual content us at 901-730-6373. That is 901-730-NERD. You may as well electronic mail us at [email protected]. And bear in mind, you’ll be able to observe the present in your favourite podcast app, together with Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeart Radio, to routinely obtain new episodes.

This episode was produced by Tess Vigeland. I helped with enhancing. Claire Tsosie helped with truth checking. And an enormous thanks to NerdWallet’s editors for all their assist.

This is our temporary disclaimer. We aren’t monetary or funding advisors. This nerdy data is supplied for basic academic and leisure functions and will not apply to your particular circumstances.