Traveling Simply and Cheaply

It blows me away how many people still check bags when they travel. This may be the way your parents did it, and how you always have traveled.  This is the type of mindset i'm hoping to change with this blog.  The fees that domestic airlines are charging are already ridiculous, and they are getting worse.  Expedia does a nice job listing the fees here.  It's not just bag fees, but drinks and meals as well.  I know the Southwest claims that bags fly free (or maybe you haven't seen one of their increasingly annoying commercials), but the cost is just built into their ticket prices.  Here are a few ideas I suggest when traveling.

Keep it simple

Travel light.  Don't take more than you need.  Whether traveling for business or pleasure, you should have an idea of what you will need before you leave.  Pack accordingly.  Make your decisions on what to wear before you leave.  There is no reason that you can't fit a weeks worth of travel items in one carry-on, women included.  Get creative, challenge yourself.  Here's a great guide on how to pack a carry-on.

You'll save yourself the hassle of carrying extra bags, save time not waiting for baggage claim, and not risk losing your luggage.

Save your money

Obviously, you can save at least $25 each way by not checking a bag, but there are other ways to save as well.  Not only is it expensive to eat and drink on the plane, prices inside the terminal are high as well.  Eating meals before you leave for the airport will keep you from giving in and paying the inflated prices at the  airport.  Bring snacks to eat on the flight, as the same snacks can cost $5-$8 in the air.  If you really want to go the extra mile, you can bring an extra water bottle to fill after you get through security, or just avoid buying water until you get the free water on board.  Most flight attendants will give you as much free water as you want, so you don't need to pay $3-$5 a bottle in the terminal. If you know you want an alcoholic drink or two while on the flight, bring your own mini bottles and mix your own drinks. On a round trip flight, you can save yourself over $100 with a little planning ahead.

Pack according to security lines

Most of you already know what to expect in security lines.  Shoes and belts come off, pockets emptied, liquids removed, etc.  Knowing what to expect, you can dress and pack accordingly.  Wear slip-off shoes and pants that don't need a belt.  Put your wallet, keys and other metal items in your bag so that you don't need to take them out and back in your pockets in line.  Make your toiletry bag easily accessible so you aren't digging for them while in line. A little planning ahead can help make the security line a breeze.

Enjoy traveling again

Traveling doesn't need to be such a hassle, or as expensive as it is.  When you aren't worried about bags, fees, or security lines, flights can actually be very relaxing.  It's one of the few places left where you can't be reached on your phone (I wish there were more places).  It's a great time to catch up on reading, watch a movie, get some work done, all without the stress, expenses, and buyer's guilt that usually comes with airline travel.