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Packing image via Shutterstock

10 tips for avoiding those excess baggage fees

A new survey has revealed that Irish people paid over €17 million in fees in the last year.

MOST OF US have experienced the fear when watching the numbers climb on the scales at the check-in desk, silently praying that you won’t have to take that fifth pair of shoes out of your suitcase.

A new study has shown that a total of €17.5 million in excess baggage fees was paid out by Irish people who struggle to pack lightly in the past year. The survey, conducted by lastminute.com, shows that an an average of €46 per person was paid for those heavy cases.

The survey was carried out to remind people that charges for your regular check-in bags have now increased for Aer Lingus and Ryanair flights, as of 1 June up until September with costs varying depending on the weight of the bag, the destination and the time of year you fly.

Despite the large number of people already paying the fees, over half are unaware of the charge increase for the summer period, with only 12 per cent knowing the exact increase.

Not surprisingly, busy families with children are caught out by excess fees the most.

To help with this, lastminute.com has these ten handy tips for avoiding paying extra on top of the now increased baggage fees.

  1. Invest in new lightweight luggage: modern luggage is made from lightweight material and is significantly lighter than its older counterparts. The initial investment will pay itself back after a few trips.
  2. Increase the space in your case with vacuum packing bags – these clever bags shrink your clothes to allow more space for bulkier items.
  3. Use mini travel bottles for all your toiletries rather than taking up valuable space with bulky packaging. Or even better, buy them at your destination.
  4. Whenever there is no size or weight restriction on hand luggage (some airlines do offer this, so check) pack all heavy items in your carry-on bag. Cameras, books, and shoes are ideal to carry with you and to lighten up your hold luggage.
  5. Wear your jewellery – if you are bringing your finest jewels for fabulous evenings out, wear the heaviest items on the plane.
  6. Do your research – you don’t need to pack a hair dryer and towel if the hotel supplies them.
  7. Buy an e-reader: Holidays can provide a great time to catch up on reading. An e-reader can store thousands of books as opposed to squashing in two or three heavy paperbacks into a case.
  8. Think about shipping any bulky souvenirs or large purchases back home – you won’t need them immediately and waiting a week or two can save a lot of money.
  9. When packing is complete and the suitcase is full, remove a few items that will no doubt be superfluous on holiday. You can always wash a few T-shirts when abroad. Check last year’s photos and check what you wore compared to what you took – you’ll be surprised.
  10. Err on the side of caution when weighing your bags at home or in the hotel as sometimes theses weight checks can differ from those in the airport.

Check-in baggage fees for Aer Lingus have now increased by €5 for all flights and Ryanair have added another €10 for most flights so make sure you bear this in mind when booking.

Read: This is everything* you need to know about bringing your pet on holidays>
Read: 53% drop in rate of mishandled luggage in last six years>

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61 Comments
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    Mute David Grey
    Favourite David Grey
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    Nov 9th 2017, 6:49 AM

    Families with children were hit harder than any other group and still are!
    Anyone on low to low middle incomes with kids were plunged into poverty by FF/Green and FG/Lab governments – this is shown by statistics and data, the same statistics show that the wealthy in Ireland got progressively more wealthy as we got poorer – the obvious agenda is to redistribute wealth to the top!
    People need to get out on the streets – child poverty is at record levels and this awful government has done NOTHING to improve the situation – they’ve made it far worse!

    193
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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Nov 9th 2017, 7:31 AM

    @David Grey: what do you class as the top, you know where you state there is an obvious agenda to redistribute wealth to? What income do you think families stop having financial pressures and suffering?

    23
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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Nov 9th 2017, 7:32 AM

    @David Grey: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/08/07/opinion/leonhardt-income-inequality.html I thought this graph is an excellent display of how things have changed. It’s US focused but it’s going to be similar here.

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Nov 9th 2017, 7:39 AM

    @Bilbo Baggins: @Bilbo Baggins: do you are totally ignoring the article, which is about the middle class, and instead want to focus on the 0.001%. I ask you the same question, at which level of income do you think financial pressures and worries end?

    16
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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Nov 9th 2017, 9:13 AM

    @Paul Fahey: about the top 1-3% I’d say Paul. I share your view though that this angle will be used to punish the top 60% instead. (Not ignoring it at all).

    6
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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Nov 9th 2017, 9:51 AM

    @David Mc Nally: really? If you believe families with a salary income of 100k have ordinarily more than one source of income you are wrong and have believed too many of the rhetorical platitudes and falsehoods spewed out with ease and no evidence.

    11
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    Mute Sean Conway
    Favourite Sean Conway
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    Nov 9th 2017, 12:22 PM

    @David Grey: Very well said.

    2
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    Mute Phil Keenan
    Favourite Phil Keenan
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    Nov 9th 2017, 7:07 AM

    Us families won’t be found on those paradise papers! If mega rich people and companies paid their taxes it might just help!

    95
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    Mute Jay Lane
    Favourite Jay Lane
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    Nov 9th 2017, 8:18 AM

    @Phil Keenan: Labour shamefully and FG only cut from the poorest in their 5 regressive budgets as ERSI already proved. Remember Leo telling families in 2012 to “take a holidayas they were not cut, but Leo and Labour took 9-12 euro a week of rent allowance,electricity units to the elderly and fuel allowance cuts in 2012 whilst only taking 2 euro a week off the wealthiest for the household charge in 2012. Joan & FG slyly cut the pensions of many men and women who took time off to rear their children in 2012 too.

    31
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    Mute Richie Curry
    Favourite Richie Curry
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    Nov 9th 2017, 6:48 AM

    Oh yes….we did not complete three or four mortgage repayments fully, paid over half each month for a few months, built up arrears….both working bit incomes reduced…..jaysus PTSB hounded us…..all paid up now…..but so pushy….and not for the people….to see the credit union do mortgages would be great for us all.

    101
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    Mute Isthatright
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    Nov 9th 2017, 7:15 AM

    @Richie Curry:
    Ulster Bank in my case, knowingly trying to rip customers off. Bet the executives didn’t loose sleep, weight, feel inadequate/suicidal or grind their teeth away !

    78
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    Mute Jay Lane
    Favourite Jay Lane
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    Nov 9th 2017, 8:20 AM

    Middle class had it the easiest from 2011-16 as ERSI has proved.

    5
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    Mute Jay Lane
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    Nov 9th 2017, 8:10 AM

    Latest housing bubble is well under way as anyone trying to buy or even rent the most basic of dives.

    27
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    Mute Jay Lane
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    Nov 9th 2017, 8:11 AM

    The latest housing bubble well under way. Anyone trying to buy or rent even the basic of dives off a a greedy & uncaring of basic habitation standards, only knows too well of housing crisis & don’t need last Thursdays Prime Time to tell them. What’s Leo and FG doing to help tenants by tax evading landlords & vulture funds?

    16
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    Mute Cram Wood
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    Nov 9th 2017, 7:26 AM

    Wealth re-distribution is the State plan.
    Also know as having an inclusive society where all the people (especially the the top brass) can have an equal income and quality of life.
    What they don’t say is that they need to fleece-tax everyone in the country to achieve it.
    They just scutter on with communist babble like comrad Higgins.

    25
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    Mute paulganly
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    Nov 9th 2017, 9:02 AM

    @Cram Wood: What are you trying to say?

    8
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    Mute Seán O'Connor
    Favourite Seán O'Connor
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    Nov 9th 2017, 7:29 AM

    Excellent stock photo of ‘middle class worry’

    18
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    Mute Nigel Mcatamney
    Favourite Nigel Mcatamney
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    Nov 9th 2017, 7:40 AM

    I find the poor middle income landlords affected the most….. When the greed for rent increases kicks in, you have to be prepared for the extra tax that follows. Boo hoo!!!

    12
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    Mute Horace
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    Nov 9th 2017, 7:59 AM

    Keep voting FG/FF/Labour and expect different results? The definition of stupidity.

    They DON’T care about you. Wake up.

    37
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    Mute Stephen Hughes
    Favourite Stephen Hughes
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    Nov 9th 2017, 7:42 AM

    Hopefully there’re ready for the next one

    5
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    Mute David Stapleton
    Favourite David Stapleton
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    Nov 9th 2017, 10:08 AM

    What is “middle class” anyway? How does one define it, especially against such other classes as professional and managerial???

    4
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    Mute Kevin Slater
    Favourite Kevin Slater
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    Nov 9th 2017, 10:55 AM

    Aw

    1
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