Packing while keeping baggage fees to a minimum

Lesley Kennedy, Rocky Mountain News and Tobie Orr, Special to the Rocky

Published July 6, 2008 at 7:13 p.m.

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Photo by Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky

Sporty traveler John Damian, owner of a sales agency representing gear, apparel and accessories companies including Burton, Anon Optics and Gravis footwear, packs one wheelie carry- on bag and a backpack that holds a laptop bag and is electronics-friendly.

Photo by Ellen Jaskol © The Rocky

Fashion editor and fund-raiser Holly Kylberg packs two checked bags, a carry-on and a purse.

Photo by Ellen Jaskol © The Rocky

Moet Hennessy sales manager Rachel Hager packs one carry-on bag and a computer bag.

Photo by Ellen Jaskol © The Rocky

We asked four Denver frequent fliers to empty their bags and lend a few travel tips. Survivor contestant Ami Cusack says she normally packs one carry-on bag and a purse.

An extra $15 here. Another $25 there. And the possibility of a $75 fee on top of it all? The new baggage fees at most major airlines have many already-cash-strapped travelers begrudgingly downsizing the amount they pack.

We asked four Denver frequent fliers to empty their bags and lend a few travel tips. From setting aside time to plan all your outfits to making everything fit in just one carry-on suitcase to simply saying "To heck with it!" and ponying up for the extra bag fees, here's a look at what your fellow travelers are packing. Bon voyage!

Rachel Hager

* Age: 31

* Occupation: Sales manager for Moet Hennessy

* How often I travel: 15 to 20 trips per year. I'm on the road every week.

* Number of bags I normally pack: One carry-on bag and a computer bag

* Luggage brand: Calvin Klein suitcase

* Recent trips: Last trip was Hawaii for fun and the last three business trips were Dallas, New York and Chicago

* Next trip: Dallas . . . again

* Packing tips: Always, always try to carry on when possible ... Just don't do it when you're on my flights, please!

Ami Cusack

* Age: 35

* Occupation: Barista at Common Grounds and Survivor contestant

* How often I travel: All the time

* Number of bags I normally pack: 1 carry-on bag, purse

* Luggage brand: A light canvas woven bag my parents bought in Ecuador

* Recent trips: In the last 10 months, I've been to Micronesia, Australia, Thailand, Los Angeles, New York and Kentucky.

* Next trip: Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs

* Packing tips: Less is more!

Holly Kylberg

* Age: Not if I can help it!

* Occupation: Fashion Editor at Colorado Expressions, fund-raiser and co-owner of the top floors of the D&F Tower, which I rent out for events and nonprofits

* How often I travel: Somewhere every month

* Number of bags I normally pack: two checked, carry- on bag and a purse

* Luggage brand: Hartman - it's guaranteed for life and there's a repair center downtown.

* Recent trips: Sonoma, Calif., for a party at a friend's vineyard.

* Next trip: My annual family reunion in Illinois - wish it was more exotic!

* Packing tips: I've come a long way since my 20s. I cringe when I think about that bright red raincoat I brought to somber Edinburgh and the miniskirts I packed for Egypt! (I ended up wearing the same sweat shirt that whole trip!) I've learned to pack for the culture and that a neutral palette works best worldwide.

* My roomy carry-on is key. I carry on a complete day and evening outfit in case my luggage doesn't arrive with me, which happens to all of us eventually. Nothing gets a vacation off to a bad start like having to spend time desperately looking for an outfit that you don't really want or need, especially in a foreign country.

John Damiano

* Age: 39

* Occupation: owner of a sales agency representing gear, apparel and accessories companies including Burton, Anon Optics and Gravis footwear

* How often I travel: about 25 percent of the year - 93 days this past year

* Number of bags I normally pack: one wheelie carry- on bag and one backpack that holds a laptop bag and is electronics-friendly

* Luggage brand: Burton Wheelie Flight Deck (the largest allowable carry-on bag) and the Burton Shaun White Backpack. Burton travel bags come in unique colors, so you don't have to worry about some other dude who might have grabbed your black one.

* Recent trips: Vermont, Japan and California in April, Costa Rica in May, California in June

* Next trip: Cape Cod, Mass., for vacation and surfing

* Less is better. Pack for function and make the fashion work. If you feel the need, bring extra accessories to expand your kit (outfit). Bring a couple of watches and sunglasses to rock a different look and spice up the jeans you're wearing for the third time. Beanies (winter hats) are also a great option.

* Plan your days and what you need. Spending some extra time to plan your kit for each day will save you from bringing too much stuff.

* Plan for security checkpoints - don't be the Chad who's fumbling and holding up the line. Go pro - be ready for the conveyor belt. Put your shoes and backpack on the belt first, and your computer last. That makes for a quick pack-up on the other side.

* Plan for your plane ride. Keep everything you need for the ride easy to access: music; computer; books and magazines; Burton Sleeper hoodies in case it gets cold and you want to hide or sleep; snacks and water (buy in the terminal). Plane food is awful.

* Plan on doing laundry while traveling. It's best to find an actual laundromat vs. using the hotel to save money. The hotel's service will be two to three times more expensive.

Liquid carry-on rules

According to tsa.gov:

* Think 3-1-1 for carry-ons: 3-ounce bottles or less (by volume), one quart- size clear plastic zip-top bag, one bag per passenger placed in the screening bin. The one-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler may bring. The 3-ounce size is a security measure.

* Keep bottles in one bag and X-ray separately to speed screening.

* 3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.

Baggage fees

Check with your airline for details. Some fees are waived depending on your flight status, and weight fees and restrictions apply, but here are some general costs for domestic flights. Most allow one carry-on bag and one personal item free of charge:

* American: If you bought tickets on or after June 15, it's $15 each way for the first checked bag and $25 each way for the second checked bag. (aa.com)

* Delta: One checked bag free of charge, $25 for second bag. (delta.com)

* Northwest: One checked bag free, $25 for the second bag. (nwa.com)

* United: If you bought tickets on or after June 13 and are traveling on or after Aug. 18, it's $15 for the first checked bag, $25 for the second. (united.com/baggage)

* Southwest: Two items checked for free; a third bag costs $25. (southwest.com)

* Frontier: Effective June 10, one piece of checked baggage is free of charge, $25 for second bag. (frontierairlines.com)

* Continental: First checked bag is free, $25 for second bag. (continental.com)

• July 6, 2008

  8:44 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  pj writes:

  I have a question for the frequent flyers out there...how do you feel about the security check points? Is it generally pretty efficient and timely? Also: What if you suddenly find out you're on a "no fly" list, what do you do? --OR--How can you find out IF you are on a no fly list? (eg: it's actually someone else with the same name, different city)...discuss.

• July 7, 2008

  2:43 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  whitecat writes:

  Security checkpoints are hoops you have to jump through. They are efficient if you are efficient - but don't kid yourself, they aren't making us safer.

  This "article" is almost completely devoid of actual advice. "Less is more"? "Try to carry on if possible"? Who doesn't already know these "tips"?

  Here are some real tips: don't take anything you can't live without - whether you check or carry on, it could be stolen. That's what happens when people are allowed to go through your bags.

  Remember, you can usually buy what you need at your destination. Buying shampoo (or whatever) in Europe or Asia can be part of the fun of experiencing another country.

  You don't need to pack a different outfit for every day. You don't need more than three pairs of shoes (including the ones you wear on the plane, which should be flat and easily slipped on and off) - dress, walking and flip flops. Jeans are heavy and bulky - you could wear them, but don't pack them. Travel knits are your friends. Roll, don't fold, your clothes. If you can't fit everything you need for three weeks in one rollaboard plus one backback/large purse, you're taking too much. Lay out everything you think you'll need and then leave half of it at home.

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