Avoid airline baggage fees

If you've flown anywhere this summer -- or plan to in the coming weeks -- you probably know that baggage fees are now permanent at most major airlines.

Unfortunately, those fees can add $50 or more to the price of your ticket. But a new report finds some ways to get around those fees.

Cheap Flights Not so Cheap

Proud of yourself for the cheap airfare you found? If you're checking bags, it may not be so cheap.

Brian Ranade of Cincinnati recently paid $25 to check his bag. He told me, "it doesn't really make me that happy, since everyone has luggage and things like that."

Others try to find ways to get around the fee. Ashley Parks of Northern Kentucky recently doubled up on her suitcases to avoid fee. "I put my and my daughter's stuff in one suitcase, which for a girl is hard to do!"

Most major airlines -- including Delta/Northwest, American, and Continental -- now charge $25 for the first checked bag, and $ 35 for a second. An oversized bag or overweight can be another $75 to $150, depending on the airline.

So What Can You Do?

MSNBC.com has recently listed some ways to avoid the fees. Among them:

• Fly Southwest or JetBlue: No checked bag fees.
• Sign up for a Delta American Express card: with it,  your first checked bag is free.
• Become an Elite frequent flier, to get one free checked bag (though you need to fly many miles a year).
• Ship a bag in advance by UPS or the Postal Service

It may sound crazy, but the UPS Store's Kevin Wetherington last Christmas showed me how shipping a bag is roughly the same cost as checking it.

Kevin explained, "in many cases, you can actually send that package cheaper through the UPS store that paying to check it." And if the bag weighs more than 50 pounds, shipping can be much cheaper.

We were able to price a 55 pound bag at $41 for shipping.  Many airlines would charge $75 ($25 plus a $50 overweight surcharge).

One last tip from MSNBC.com: Get a good bathroom scale.

If you weigh your bag as you load it, you can make sure you get close to the 50 pound limit, but not exceed it. That way you wont get a rude surprise at the ticket counter if your bag tips the scales.

So don't waste your money.

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