HOW TO AIRPORT (part I): Check-in Luggage

Air travel can be daunting for some and hassle-/frustration-prone for many. On a scale of fumbling-with-itineraries-and-oops-forgot-my-passport to frequent-flyer-I-fly-like-a-boss, what are you like? Here are a few tips that can help everyone out, no matter the number of points you have in your mileage bank. Today, we're discussing check-in luggage.

1. Know your limit, pack within it. 

Don't be the person that has to repack in front of the check-in counters muttering pitifully to no one's ears, "I didn't know..." Every airline has different luggage policies, so be sure to check before you start packing. There is usually some mention of check-in luggage limits on your itinerary; if not, you could always check your airline's website. Nowadays, many airlines have become more strict with carry-on luggage, especially low-cost and vacation carriers. Dimensions, or size, are also important, especially for carry-on luggage.

• NOTE: there are two components to luggage limits--WEIGHT and PIECE. For example, if your airline says, "max 2 pieces, 23 kg each; 10 kg carry-on", that means you can check in two pieces for free, but each has to be under 23 kg. Not a combined weight of 46 kg. If you have one piece at 26 kg, fee/repack. If you have two pieces, 1 kg and 25 kg, fee/repack. If you have three pieces, 1 kg, 15 kg and 25 kg, fee/repack into two pieces. 

2. Scales are a passenger's best friend (or worst enemy if you don't read this). 

Invest in a scale at home so you can guesstimate how much weight you're loading into your suitcase. Don't forget to include the weight of the suitcase itself. Cardboard boxes are great for weight flexibility, but are difficult to repack with should you end up overweight, so please be extra sure that you are at or under the limit before grabbing the gumtape. At the airport, the check-in counters have scales against which the agents will be referencing, so please feel free to use any unoccupied scale.

3. Practice safe lock/wrap/cover.

Once again, be completely sure that your luggage meets weight limits BEFORE locking or saran-wrapping or covering it. There's been too many times when passengers pay $10 to get their luggage wrapped, only to find out during check-in that it's overweight, tear the plastic apart, repack, then get it wrapped again ($10 again), find out it's still overweight--'cause they didn't weigh it again, darn it--and cycle through, leaving them $30 short. If you're going to use a single-use lock/wrap/cover, always have a back-up plan or be ready to go without the protection, or pay.

4. DO NOT BEG!!!!

No. Just, no. Limits exist for a reason, and check-in agents must enforce the limits. Please don't EXPECT us to "let things go", or take it for granted when we do. If the limit is 23 kg, we can accept up to 23.8 kg. 24.1, possibly. 24.6 kg, you gotta repack now. And as for the following pleas/excuses/"reasonings":

• "It's just over by a little." Exactly, so you can take out some. 1-2 kg is just a book or two, or a pair of shoes. Please don't dismiss the check-in agents' suggestions, we want to help maximize wiggle room so you don't have to pay $60.
• "Come on, please, this is my first time flying with you guys." And I genuinely welcome you; at the same time, the luggage limit policy applies to everyone. Also, the first-time-flyer card is single-use, you can't use it to bypass luggage and later pull it out again on another agent to beg for an upgrade.
• "I'm the same race/ethnicity/nationality/hometown/I-know-your-grandparents as you." lolwhut what does this have to do with anything. The second you pull out this statement, to the check-in agent, all your further reasoning becomes tainted with irrationality.