Whether you’re boarding in St. Louis, Seattle or somewhere in between, airlines are cracking down on restrictions for carry-on bags. This may sound inconvenient, but it could actually be good news if you can travel light, like those times when your awesome Travel Leaders travel agent finds amazing travel deals from St. Louis. After all, fewer travelers with overstuffed bags translates into faster, easier onboarding for everyone else.
That being said, you may be surprised to find that your relatively small, wheeled luggage is now too big for the overhead bin. In fact, if it doesn’t fit in the size-wise metal frame at the gate, you may have to go back to check-in, where you’ll likely encounter a fee to check your luggage.
Although enforcement varies, the current restriction for carry-on bag dimensions is 22″ x 14″ x 9″ for American, Delta, United and US Airways. AirTran, JetBlue and Southwest are slightly more generous with dimensions set at 24″ x 16″ x 10″. Of course, you can also bring a purse, laptop or small personal item, but it must fit under the seat in front of you. While most major U.S. airlines don’t charge a fee for one carry-on, budget carriers may. Allegiant, Frontier and Spirit Airlines charge anywhere from $25 to $100 per carry-on bag. Nearly all the airlines (except Southwest) are charging fees for checked luggage, starting around $15 and running up to $30 apiece for the first bag or two. After that, fees skyrocket: extra, overweight or oversized luggage can cost up to $200 per bag. Dimension restrictions vary on foreign carriers, so make sure you check out their policies before leaving for an international trip. In addition, while most U.S. airlines don’t have carry-on baggage weight limits, some foreign carriers do (and the weight fees can be hefty, up to and over $150 per overweight bag).
If you want to tighten your belt when it comes to packing your bags, here are a few tips to consider:
- Balance the need for wheels – Wheels and a frame can lighten your load, but they also take up quite a bit of space. To make the most of your carry-on space, consider a soft tote that can expand but still manages to meet size requirements.
- Rethink what you “need” to bring – Be more discriminating when packing. Make decisions before you put everything in your luggage, as we tend to want to throw in a few extras after a bag is packed. And remember, you can always buy as you go.
- Use and lose – Disposable items, like shavers and old clothes, are a great way to lighten the load on your return, especially if you have to bring back paperwork or business tchotchkes.
- Go monotone – Pack one color theme (black or brown) to cut down on the need for more shoes and other accessories.
- Downsize – Travel-sized toiletries can save a lot of space… and don’t forget that most business hotels have good health and beauty products.
And as always, as you’re planning your vacation, call your St. Louis travel agent in Chesterfield, MO at 636.778.1081. Not only can our travel specialists find you the perfect destination in your budget, our St. Louis travel agents can help you avoid baggage surprises by arming you with all the specific information you’ll need to pack and carry on with confidence. That means more memories and less hassles for you!
