You have determined your budget. You have done some research on your destination and now you are ready to book your flight! The airfare looks like a steal and you want to jump on that low fare! Unfortunately, there are several ancillary travel fees you are required to pay. Airlines have traditionally enticed travelers with low airfares, only to heavily charge ancillary fees at a later date. When improperly managed, these ancillary costs can greatly add to the cost of your trip. Luckily, there are a number of travel hacking tips to lower your vacation costs.
Airfare Ancillary & Travel Bank Fees
The airlines are going to do everything in their power to keep you on the website to get more dollars from you. Remember, they need to make back all the money they are losing on that attractive fare. They need to make back all that lost revenue from 2020 and this strategy has increased their bottom line dramatically year after year since it took off in 2007.
What they are doing is selling you ancillaries. It is a term used to offer additional products after you purchase a core component (the base airfare). They want you to purchase some of the add-ons to your airfare. They load all of this on the back end of your sale. If you don’t purchase these options at this point, you may even get a follow up offer by E Mail a few weeks before your flight date where they try again!
Added Seat Costs
All that airfare purchase does is get you to walk on the plane. Now they want to have you select a seat. The majority of the seats cost extra. Front half of the plane, aisle or window cost more money. This can really add up, especially when you do it round trip or on connecting flights. If you find there are no “free” seats to select that you like, they have to give you one for free when you check-in online 24 hours before the flight.
If you are still not happy with the seat selection they give you, you can request a change at the boarding counter an hour before the flight. If they can, they will. If the flight is not full you may end up with those attractive choices anyway. It has happened to me many times where I received my aisle or window seat. If you cannot, for any reason, handle a middle seat because you are claustrophobic or a larger person, maybe this strategy is not for you.
If the flight is only a couple of hours it should not matter otherwise. If you MUST sit next to the person you are traveling with, this strategy may not work for you either. You will be with them the entire vacation. Bring a book, take a nap and sit alone for a few hours and save the money!
Additional Luggage Expenses
Airlines love to charge extra for luggage. When you are flying in large groups or on a family vacation, luggage can be a major expense. Don’t pay for bag check-in when you get to the airport. It costs more that way. When you check-in online the day before, pay at a discount. Even better, charge the flight on the airline credit card (if you have one). You will get no charges at all for the bags. That is a huge savings round trip. If you fly a particular airline often, get their credit card months in advance of your flight and save on baggage fees. Check the small print on annual fees. Sometimes they waive the first year.
If you can avoid paying for checked luggage all together it is best to do so. Pack light, and only bring essentials whenever possible. To maximize your space, purchase storage efficient carry-on luggage from reputable bag provider. Companies eBags offers high-quality carry on luggage options like value travel backpacks, duffel bags, hardside suitcases, spinner bags, and underseaters. These carry on options help you save space, maximize storage, and reduce your luggage expenses.
Overweight Baggage Costs
Overweight baggage costs are an incredibly bothersome hidden air travel fee you can easily avoid. Many domestic and foreign airlines impose overweight baggage fees on unsuspecting travelers. Commonly, baggage weight limits are 50 pounds. For bags weighing more than this, you could be charged more than $75 on a one-way ticket.
To avoid this happening, always keep some extra room in your carry-on bag. This way, if your bag is overweight, you can easily pull out items to meet the requirements. Even better, you can purchase a cheap luggage scale online beforehand to get an accurate estimate of your suitcase weight.
Even though these costs mainly apply to airlines, you will additionally see them on cruises and trains as well. Therefore, light packing may even serve as an excellent cruise travel hack to reduce expenses before you set sail.
Outrageous Priority Boarding Fees
They want to sell you priority boarding. Why would you want to get on a plane early just to sit there an extra 30 minutes waiting for everyone to board? Won’t you be sitting long enough? I try to be one of the last ones on so the flight leaves shortly after. Travelers are afraid their carry-on won’t have any spots left in the upper storage area. If there are no spots the airline will take the bag from you and check the bag for free at that point. Just take out what you need for the flight and you just saved more money.
Expensive Lounge Access
They may want to sell you lounge access. Unless you have MANY hours to wait in the airport for your flight that is a total waste. In fact, you should only pay for lounge access if you are able to find cheap flights to anywhere. They want to sell you food and drinks on the flight. Think ahead and bring some good snacks and drinks with you. The selection they offer on the flight is very limited.
If they can’t get you on the items above, they still have more chances! Before you book, make sure the date and the time of the flight work very well for you. There are several ways you can maximize your value travel savings. Changing the flight to a different time or day can be a very costly mistake. Same day changes can be less expensive but still pricey.
Ground Transportation Charges
When you are done booking the flight, they will offer you a rental car, choice of accommodations and possibly ground transportation from the airport. This is called the cross-sell bundle of products. If you are not renting a car for your trip, do your own homework and see if there is public transportation from the airport to the place you are staying.. I cannot tell you how many times I have found a bus or a train right near baggage claim for $ 2 instead of a taxi or UBER for $30-40.
As you prepare for post COVID travel, you need to learn how to mitigate the top hidden travel expenses. Remember, they want you to make emotional decisions. They want you to think “We don’t do this everyday”, “We are only here once”, and “It’s vacation”. Spontaneous buying behavior at it’s best. They make it convenient. A couple of clicks and you have it all. Ease of use.
Rental Car Fees
Plus, you need to be aware of outrageous, expensive rental car fees when traveling. Rental car companies make a lot of money from their hidden fee structure. For example, you can be charged a significant fine if you do not return the car with a full tank of gas. In addition, many rental agencies charge additional penalties when you pass through expensive tolls or cross over state lines. Being aware of these costs will help you save money at the Kentucky Derby or wherever else you may be traveling. Surely, rental car fees are a major ancillary cost to be aware of.
The # 1 revenue producer in extra fees for airlines in the US is seat selection. #1 in Europe are bag fees. Americans love their comfort!
Just when you thought you were home free. Do you want to pay for Wi-Fi at this hotel? Do you want a roof rack, GPS, satellite radio or a car seat in this car rental? Do you want to return the gas tank on empty? Anything left in the tank will not give you a refund for the gallons remaining.
All of these really add up and before you know it, your vacation has cost A LOT more than you thought. Let the tremendous savings pay for a night or two at your destination. Maybe 6 or 7 meals? Maybe a couple of nights at sporting events or concerts?
The good news is that you are in complete control. By remaining aware and avoiding these ancillary fees, you can successfully steer clear of some of the most common travel mishaps that all vacationers fall for. Be prepared and spend that money on your fantastic vacation!
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