Whether you are coming or going these days, traveling has become a fee heavy burden. Even if you get that killer deal to your favorite vacation spot, the additional fees to get you and your stuff there could double your costs.
Between baggage fees, soda charges, seat assignment fees and myriad of other fees the airlines are now charging one would think they don't want us to travel at all.
Most airlines have jumped on the "Fees, Fees and More Fees" bandwagon, but there are still some airlines that are providing services for little to no additional cost to you.
To get around the 'Snack/Meal' fees you can now carry on food purchased after the security check point.
- Most of the Food Chains found in airports will accept coupons, just read the fine print to make sure it is a national ad (not address specific)
- Go through all of those restaurant gift cards you have received from your Aunt Bessie, they take those too.
Carry your food onto the plane, if not saving you money, it gives you a choice of what you would like to eat. Many airlines also provide online coupons for in-air services when you check-in online (beverage, ear phones, etc).
A few airlines, hotels and banks are putting together plans that allow for frequent flyer's miles, hotel credits and banking perks to be used towards fees.
There are alternatives to checking your baggage, the Postal Service has flat rate boxes, by sending a box ahead to your destination, you can alleviate the carousel samba or at least keep the number of checked bags to a minimum.
We have pulled together some handing information that should help you plan ahead for your next trip.
If you have any suggestions please and a comment.
TBA Concierge
United States Postal Service
http://www.usps.com/Medium/Regular Flat Rate Boxes
$10.70 (retail)
$10.20 (online)
11" x 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"
13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8"
Large Flat Rate Box
$14.50 (retail)
$13.95 (online)
12" x 12" x 5-1/2
"
Upscale Kimpton Hotels, meanwhile, has been offering an even simpler "We've Got Your Bag" promo for a couple of years now. There's no expiration date on the Kimpton deal, but guests can only be reimbursed for a maximum of $25. Good thing is that when a guest shows a baggage fee receipt, $25 is credited automatically to his or her account, meaning a guest's bill is $25 cheaper at check-out.
Go ahead and overpack. IHG, operator of brands including InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Hotel Indigo says it will reimburse you up to $50 for your airline checked baggage fee. The "Check It Free" promotion is valid for stays (by U.S. residents only) from Sept. 1 to Dec. 30, at any of IHG's 4,500 hotels worldwide.
The hotel company says airline baggage fees are a top consumer complaint and "in these tough economic times, IHG is thanking travelers by reimbursing them" for their checked bags.
The offer applies to weekend stays of two consecutive nights, either Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday. And guests are required to use a Visa card to pay for their stay.
Travelers also need to show a receipt for their baggage fee with dates corresponding to the hotel stay. The offer is one per room, per stay, but you can get the rebate every time you visit a hotel within the promotional period.
The reimbursement comes in the form of a Visa Prepaid Card you can use to purchase anything you want.
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