If you don’t have time to pack your own food, most domestic terminals have food courts behind the security gates, and you should be able to buy a wider variety of food for less money than what your airline holds you captive with at 35,000 feet.
Luggage
If ever there was a reason to pack light, baggage fees are it. Carry-on luggage is restricted to two bags that will fit under your seat or in the overhead bins, and we all know seats are smaller than they used to be.
On United Airlines and American Airlines, one checked bag is $15 and two are $40. Don’t think your checked baggage can be huge, either. Depending on your class of service, bags can be no more than sixty-two to 115 inches and weight is restricted to fifty to 100 pounds. The fee for overweight or oversize baggage is $125 per bag for domestic travel. Fees for international baggage vary by destination, so make sure to check with your carrier.
Seating
One of the worst things that can happen is to be seated in the “back of the bus” by the galley, or wedged in the middle of the aisle for six hours. Short of buying a more expensive seat, there are several ways to try and get a better seat.
Don’t wait until the last minute to buy your ticket or book your seat. If you’re booking through your airline’s Web site, you can choose your seat when you book. If you try to pick your seat less than twenty-four hours before your flight, you’ll end up wherever the gate agent is able to seat you. See if you can sign up for alerts on your mobile or by email, and don’t forget to check the airline’s Web site periodically. People do change seats and plans, and you may be able to snag a better seat if you’re vigilant. If you’re wondering what the best and worse seats on the plane are, you can find out at Seat Guru. It even lets you know if your seat won’t recline!
