Flying Discount Air
Those of you that know me, understand I love to follow rules. To my husbands dismay, it doesn't matter how ridiculous the rule is I am going to research it, know it, and follow it. After that, I'm most likely going to argue with him about how he's not following it. With that said, there are a few hacks to the rules of flying with companies like Ryanair and Easy Jet that can save a lot of time, headache, and money!
Note: There are several discount air travel companies in Europe, this is just the main one we have used. Prices and restrictions are estimates and based on our experience!
Rule #1: Check in online AT LEAST 2hrs before flight
Seriously, just follow the rule. No hack on this one, you will be charged $50 to check in at the airport. Not worth the 5 minutes it will take for you to log in via laptop or smartphone app. I know, $50 if you don't pre-check? There is a reason the flights are so cheap!
Rule #2: Printing boarding pass and Visa Check
When you travel as an American through Ryanair you must check in AND print your boarding pass so they can check your passport and stamp your boarding pass to get through security. You will pay $15 for not printing and you won't get on the plane without your visa check!
Bending the rule: Can't print? Short on time?
So I've been in the situation where I had carry on only and there was way too long of a line for checked bags/visa check. All I needed was a little stamp saying I was allowed to be in the country. Ask the person standing directing traffic and sometimes they will sign it. Some smaller airports will make you go to a separate counter where there tends to be no line at all. My point is ASK someone who is directing the flow of things. They will usually either sign it there, or direct you to a quicker option! Don't have access to a printer when you check in? Check in anyway, you will save yourself the $50 fee. Save it as a PDF and if you have an iPhone put it in your "wallet." When you get to the counter, be kind. State that you had an issue and could not print out your boarding pass, despite checking in early (keep it simple.) Ask if they are willing to print it out, as you need the visa check. I've done this several times and avoided the normal $15 fee for printing the boarding pass, always in instances where I did not have access to a printer. There were times where just being nice went a really long way and saved me some extra cash. Hey, that's breakfast and a coffee right there!
Rule #3: Purchase your second carry on and checked bag ahead of time
Buy too much wine at that vineyard in Italy? Plan ahead and pay for your bag in advance or even get the business plus (free second cabin bag, free checked bag plus extra benefits like early boarding, fast pass security) You can purchase 15-20kg (33-44lbs) but sometimes it's worth it! If you know you are going to check a bag you will pay less purchasing ahead of time.
Bending the rule: One way checked bag or carry on only
With a lot of airlines you get charged per flight for checked bag. So why not do carry-on only the way out, and pay to check a bag on the way back? With many airlines, you can take one personal item for free and one carry on 55cm x 40cm x 20cm in size and 10kg (22in x 16in x 8in and 22lbs) in weight, for a small price, less than a checked bag. It may not be as convenient going through the airport, but you never risk being without your stuff. Let's face it, even with just a carry on I still usually over pack for a week trip. I've invested in a light weight hard shell rolling suitcase that is verified to fit within the parameters of a carry on. I never have to guess if it's going to fit.
So here is the thing, invest in a bag that is the approved size and a hard case, and never carry it like it's heavy. You will never stretch the sides and guess if it's going to fit in the approved space, and they will never guess that it is overweight. By not checking a bag you can skip the long line at the beginning and time waiting at baggage claim. Just watch your liquids, and separate out electronics. With todays increased security you might have to separate just about everything! Be nice and thank a security agent, it's worth our safety!
Travel Tips: Lessons learned
Verify your checked bag has a tag on it
Make sure that you watch them put the tag on your bag when you check it, pre-paid or not. You wouldn't think that they would let it go through that conveyor belt without that little tag on it, but it's happens. Trust me. You don't want to end up in Croatia without a change of clothes, important work documents, or toothbrush and not have your things arrive until three days later. Not like that has ever happened to us....
Swap gear
When traveling with someone else and checking bags, swap an outfit. This is something Gus and I ALWAYS did and have clearly now gotten complacent. Chances of both of our bags being lost is low, so at least the person who's stuff is missing has an extra set of clothes to wear until the bag is found. If you are traveling alone and checking a bag keep your toothbrush, and at least a change of under garments in your carry on!
Important documents
ALWAYS have copies of your travel documents and don't check any of the originals. Again something we have gotten complacent on. You never know when something is going to get lost or stolen. We previously would have a scanned copy of drivers license, passport and credit cards emailed to immediate family. Then if something gets stolen or lost, it is much easier to have those copies as reference numbers. Later on when Gus needed a separate rental car for work, having a digital copy saved allowed him to rent the car without trouble.
Leave unnecessary things at home
Clearly this is enough of a problem to have to publicly post it...
If you really want to bend the rules...
Find a clever way to hide your second carry on bag you didn't pay for like my friend did on the way back from Berlin. No one will notice, right?
