Uncommon Cents

Just a few days ago I mentioned a few ways to spend less money while on the go. After my recent (usually annual) trip on the airlines, several beliefs I have are reaffirmed:

Coach class is made for size four women, and no matter how hard I try, I will never be a size four woman;

the airlines have gotten pretty efficient at getting you checked in, particularly if you take advantage of their online or self service options;

the TSA is better, but still not all that great, at getting people through their checks;

airport food and other items are either overpriced or horridly overpriced;

and finally, the airlines are doing anything they can to get more dollars out of their customers.

What are some other ways you can operate in a more frugal and efficient manner?

Use electronic and online services offered by the airlines and others: I’ve been using automated check in kiosks since the first time I encountered one and I consider them to be far more efficient than a human attendant. Printing your own boarding passes can save you precious minutes while scrambling for a flight. Seatguru.com can help you pick out the seats you want on planes from every airline I can think of.

Lose some weight: Both on yourself and in your checked baggage. I used to weigh over 265 pounds; I’m currently around 180. It’s a lot–and I really mean a lot–more comfortable to fly at 180 than it was at 265 plus. While I still believe coach class is made for size four women (see above), it’s easier to fit into a size four outfit if you’re a size eight rather than a size twelve.

Use a scale to calculate the weight of your checked luggage: Many airlines will charge you for bags in excess of fifty pounds (to be fair, I believe they could always do this according to their terms, they’re just now actually enforcing it). I came in with my bag weighing 45 pounds on the way out, 47.5 pounds on the way back.

Pockets, pockets, pockets: One way to reduce the weight of your checked luggage is to carry more things on you in a carry on or on your person. While I’m not a fan of cargo pants I do have a couple pair and the extra pockets are incredibly helpful in stowing away a few more items (think breakfast bars or similar snacks) to eat on the plane (while I don’t own them, I hear that 5.11 Tactical pants are the Geek’s choice for cargo pants). I’m absolutely not a jacket person but I have a windbreaker with lots of pocket space to carry items I definitely want on the plane, such as my cell phone, my iPod touch, and my wallet (a vest like one from Scott Evest can serve the same purpose). Bonus points for the way you use these–put your metallic items into the jacket or vest and take it off when you’re in the TSA line so it can simply be given to the inspector rather than emptying pocket after pocket. Also consider putting a collapsible duffel bag into one of your pockets for more storage space after you make your way through security.

Save time with slippers: What we here in the Aloha State know as slippers are considered “flip flops” or “thongs” by the rest of the world, but they’re certainly a zillion times quicker to get on and off than shoes, and we know how the TSA loves to have us remove our shoes.

Get your luggage VIP treatment with… a firearm?: I’ve not tried this myself as I don’t and don’t really want to own a gun, but I heard it on This Week in Photography–if you carry and declare a firearm with your checked luggage, your luggage will get VIP treatment because it is a gargantuan headache for the airlines if luggage with a firearm is lost. I would check laws both where you are as well as where you’ll be traveling to see what if any permits will be needed.

Have a Starbucks debit card for WiFi access: there appears to be no standard as to whether airports offer free, pay, or any WiFi at all, but there usually is at least one (if not way more than one) Starbucks in any given airport terminal and I’ve yet to see a Starbucks in the last few years without WiFi. If you have a Starbucks debit card a couple hours a day of their AT&T WiFi–and hopefully you won’t be in the terminal more than a couple of hours–is “free” of charge–as long as you’ve spent at least a little money with them recently.

Consider shipping items that are large, heavy, or inconvenient to take with you: Yes, shipping rates have gone up but they are far from ridiculous vs. the fees the airlines sometimes charge. If you’re purchasing items as gifts to take home and you’ll be gone for awhile you may want to mail them home.

Purchase or rent items at your destination rather than take them with you: Basic toiletries might be better purchased when you land, for instance–it’s not like most towns don’t have a store that’s comparable to a WalMart or Walgreens or Longs or CVS. Rather than carry things like toothpaste, a toothbrush, soap, sanitary napkins, and even socks or underwear (well, you probably want to take at least one or two of some of these with you!), buying them there might make sense. In my case I often need things like a video projector which might be better rented or borrowed at my destination.

Old clothes and/or doing laundry can lighten your load: To lighten your load as you travel you may want to consider clothes you were on the verge of tossing anyway. After you wear it, you may be willing to dispose of your old, thin shirts, freeing up space and weight in your bags. Similarly, doing laundry as you go can be a serious help–you may be able to take items for three or four days instead of a week, which can save considerable time.

Have safe travels and I hope you enjoy flying more than I do!

Tags: Budgeting, Frugality

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