Airline officials create a new fee every time they sneeze. To the flying public, this can turn your “good deal” ticket fare into a credit card busting surprise when all the damage is added up. But if you’re smart, you can make sure your discount travel airfare stays discounted by preparing yourself to ward off ludicrous fees. Here are a few of the biggies:

1. Checked Baggage: It used to be that checking baggage was no big deal. Not any more. These days you’ll pay 25$, $35, or more for the privilege. Avoid the practice at all costs if possible. Most airlines allow two carry on bags without extra charge. You would be wise to cram everything into these and leave checking to the Trumps and Rockefellers.

2. Oversized/Overweight Baggage: Make sure that you don’t run afoul of the #2 suggestion in a headlong rush to avoid #1. Cramming everything into two bags so that you don’t have to check it can expose your luggage to a fee for overweight or oversized case. Trust us, the specifications are buried in the fine print somewhere and they will be used if possible.

3. Go Online: This applies especially to budget airlines. There is normally a fee charged if you book your ticket in person or over the phone (except for Allegiant Air which is completely backwards and does away with a booking fee if you show up at the airport to buy your ticket). These businesses are encouraging you to buy your ticket online so the skeleton crew they hired to run the place don’t spend all their time booking tickets when there is a long line of people to be checked in for a flight.

Pay close attention to these three suggestions and there’s a good chance your discount travel will stay discounted.

The Jetsetter Team

Flickr / sun dazed

Tags: discount travel