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If you subscribe to my free newsletter, then you know I’m a huge proponent of not checking bags. There are many reasons to travel with carry-on only, including saving money but it has more to do with saving time. If you’re a seasoned traveler, then you can skip over the next two paragraphs and head right to the meat of this story down below, since you already know the benefits. RELATED: 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees
 For those who don’t travel frequently, here’s why I highly recommend not checking a bag:

1. You can show up to the airport late and you don’t need to stand in any long check-in lines.
2. If your flight gets delayed, you can switch to an earlier one much more easily.
3. If your flight gets cancelled, you don’t need to sit around waiting for your bag so you can leave.
4. You don’t need to wait around what feels like an eternity for your bag to come out … 
5. … or worry about your bag not coming out at all.
6. You won’t need to worry about a baggage handler stealing from your bag (although you still need to worry about in-flight theft).
7. You can more easily take public transportation, which is much cheaper and usually much quicker than getting a car service, taxi or Uber.
8. And of course, you don’t have to pay for baggage fees.

I often wear a Scottevest jacket since it acts as a secret third carry-on. Here’s more about it. You can buy Scottevest products on Scottevest.com or on Amazon.com. And of course, if you must check luggage, be sure to pop an Apple AirTag, Samsung SmartTag or similar tracking device in your bag so you can always track it. 


Well, here’s an even more unique (and sneaky) way to save on baggage fees. There’s a company making headlines thanks to its ingenious Tube Travel Pillow. That’s right … the Tube Travel Pillow is a versatile pillow that can be stuffed with clothes and then acts as a neck pillow on the plane.


According to the company, you can pack the tube with up to three days of clothing, to help you pack more stuff and avoid extra luggage fees.

Once at your destination, you can easily stow the pillow in your luggage, backpack or purse, as it folds into its own pocket for compact storage.

This hack might be especially ideal when flying a low-fare carrier like Frontier Airlines, whose executives were recently busted for incentivizing gate agents to enforce outrageous baggage fees.

KEEP READING:
Flying Spirit, Frontier or Allegiant Airlines? This is the Bag You Need So You Don’t Get Charged Extra – JohnnyJet.com
Round-Up: Travel Neck Pillows For Better Sleep and a More Comfortable Flight
Are You Wearing Your Travel Pillow Wrong?
The Best Sleep Masks for Travel 2023

Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to Johnny Jet’s free newsletter and check out these popular posts: The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees. Follow Johnny Jet on MSNFacebook, InstagramPinterest, and YouTube for all of my travel posts.

3 Comments On "A Clever But Effective Way to Save Money on Baggage Fees"
  1. Guy C.|

    The idea of a packable dual function travel item is very useful. For several years now Tumi has offered the TumiPax puffer jacket that packs into itself as a neck pillow and conveniently has snaps to attach it to luggage handles or straps. Besides fashionable colors they even offer a reflective silver grey safety version.

  2. Bette Munley|

    FYI – Suggestion
    In this article heading a better choice of wording would be “unique” instead of “sneaky”- since the latter has a rather negative connotation. It implies something “underhanded” which your message certainly does not want to imply.

  3. Frank|

    Can anyone say, do you just wear the tube travel pillow around your neck when checking in, or, if you have your boarding pass, when boarding the plane? And they don’t just automatically consider it hand carry? Like they’re not stupid. Or are you saying you’re allowed to have this “travel tube pillow” and they just consider it a pillow, and you’re allowed to bring pillows and they don’t count as luggage? Something just isn’t making sense. Seems like they’d be onto this!

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