Avoid additional flight charges - plus Christmas pressie tips

WRabbit

As rampant money savers you're probably all aware of these, but thought I'd put together some stuff we've done over the last years which might help you save money, and also gives you an idea for stocking fillers for friends and family - which might also let them save money! Any links I've put in to show you items are purely to show you the type of thing I mean, and not necessarily recommendations.

Both of the main budget airlines, Ryanair and Easyjet now charge you for hold baggage. So the question is: do you really need to check your bag in? If you're only going away for 3-4 days then probably not.

Plan what you're going to need. Think about what you're going to be doing and wearing. Do you really need 3 pairs of shoes? Remember for Ryanair you've also got a weight restriction, and exceeding that can be costly. Present tip 1: Set of small luggage scales for keeping under those weight limits (remember and pack them after using them - you'll need them for the way back). This also applies for hold luggage. You can also wear your heaviest items, the clumpiest shoes, the jumper etc.

Regular travelers in the family? Present tip 2: a nice bag that meets current hold baggage limits.

Liquids. Yes, the current restrictions are a pain, but thems the rules. The last thing you need is your expensive aftershave/perfume/mosturiser being confiscated at security. Present tip 3: Marks and Spencers last year did nice small clear zipped toiletry bags with 3 small bottles (100ml each), funnels to fill them and screw and pump tops. Not sure if they're doing them this year. This allowed you to decant your expensive lotions and potions into smaller bottles and also gave you a clear sealable bag for security. Other places may be doing to same. Or you could make your own up with branded small bottles - but remember buying smaller bottles of mosturisers etc does work out more expensive. For perfume you could buy smaller bottles (again pricier), or look out for the wee trial size bottles Present tip 4: Perfume atomiser

Duty free/airport lounge 'bargains'. Once through security you buy what you like and take it on the plane. But remember if it's bought on your outbound flight and you're not planning on using it all whilst away it may be either confiscated or mean that you need to check it in on the way back - and that could add another £7 to its price if you're on a budget airline. So think before you buy perfumes and alcohol.

Lots of us get toiletry sets at Christmas. Have a look at what's in it. Any bottles or tubes that are less than 100ml? Then don't use them at home. Put them aside for when you're traveling next.

Present tip 5: Lush do solid shampoos - so they're not liquid! And you can put them in a nice tin. Also remember that aerosols are 'liquids' too. So switch to a solid deoderant perhaps. Present tip 6: Stocking fillers of small cans (100ml or less) of hairspray/mouse/shaving gel.

Other banned items. No tweezers or metal nail files or nail scissors. Present tip 7: a voucher for a pre-holiday pamper at a local beauty salon (but please be diplomatic!). They can get an eyebrow wax/legs/underarms done and not need to take tweezers or shaving implements. Also could get a manicure/pedicure done. Present tip 8: Little manicure set. Be careful here as a lot of them include banned items. It might be easier to DIY.

Present tip 9: another little stocking filler is a small first aid kit. This one contains liquids, but you can get ones that don't.

Present tip 10: don't bother with travel alarms etc or other 'specialist' travel gadgets. Very few end up using them. Mobile phones etc tend to be used instead. So we all end up taking our existing gadgets with us: MP3 players, mobile phones etc. So look at ways of making their use easier eg in car chargers for their mobile phone/mp3 players. Small speakers for their MP3 player. Battery chargers for those things that use standard batteries. Or travel adapters.

Present tip 11: a small waterproof lightweight jacket - can be the only jacket you need to take.

Present tip 12: For squeezing more into that small space have a look at the Pack-Mate roll bags. We used them last year and it made a big difference to what we managed to fit in. Also good for keeping your clean and dirty clothes seperate.

Present tip 13: for security against pickpockets look at the neck pouches and bum bags that are available. Not very glamerous, but very practical.

Hope that gives some inspiration, and would be good to hear what other ideas you have.

bargainbarmy

What a useful post !!!

WRabbit

Thanks Bargainbarmy. I hope it helps others.

Checking in luggage can add significantly to the cost of your flight with the budgets, so avoid it if you can. if you can't then at least try and do so before you fly.

For example:
Easyjet - £2 per item per flight if prebooked. £5 if done at the airport.
Ryanair - £5 per item per flight if prebooked. £10 if done at the airport.

So for a couple using Easyjet the least they will pay on a return flight for 2 bags is £8, and £20 if they decide to check in at the airport.

On Ryanair the least is £20, and could be £40 if you do it at the airport. Depending on what your flights cost you could be doubling what you paid!

The other advantage I forgot to mention is that if you're carrying hand luggage only you can save a lot of time too. If it's available do the online check in - this means you can head straight for security and not queue at the check in desk, so can arrive at the airport later (remember to still get there in plenty of time). For Easyjet you'll be in boarding group A - so on the plane after the speedy boarders.

You can also walk straight off the plane and not wait for the baggage to be offloaded.