Experienced Travelers Avoid These 4 Airline Purchases To Cut Costs
Spending hours confined on flights without the comforts and conveniences of home is no one's ideal travel situation. As such, many spare no expense to help them make it through.
However, frugal frequent flyers have spent enough time going through the motions to know how to get by without being miserable or spending too much cash. Here are four expenses savvy, money-conscious flyers never waste money on.
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1. Entertainment Accessories
"Avoid wasting money on entertainment accessories, such as headphones, by bringing your own," said Danielle Desir Corbett, an award-winning affordable travel and personal finance expert, and host of The Thought Card Podcast.
"Remember to fully charge your AirPods and other electronics before your flight to ensure an enjoyable flight. [And] take advantage of complimentary in-flight text messaging and Wi-Fi," she added.
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2. In-Flight Meals
Meal options on most planes are rather limited and have exorbitant prices, according to Maya Kapoor-Miller, travel manager at Dreamport.
"Therefore, I have learned to either skip the overpriced meals onboard for shorter flights or bring my own food and snacks for those long-haul flights where meals are not included in the ticket price," she said. "In some cases, I buy food at the airport, but for the most part, I pack some snacks from home in my carry-on luggage to satisfy my cravings while up in the air.
"Sports nutrition bars, ready-made sandwiches, nuts and dried fruit are my go-to choices; however, you can bring pretty much anything onboard as long as it's not liquid. As most travelers are too lazy to care about packing food and snacks beforehand, that is the main thing I see people wasting their money on. I would rather spend it on a delicious meal when abroad."
3. Items From In-Flight Catalogs
Kapoor-Miller said that the same goes for those duty-free in-flight catalogs.
"Many flyers believe they are saving money when shopping on board, but savings aren't as good as they might seem, and you can find the same items online for a lot cheaper," she explained.
4. Checked Bags
"Another thing I always notice many travelers wasting their money on is checked-in luggage," said Kapoor-Miller. "It's easy to overpack when going away for a longer period of time, however, the reality is that most people don't use half of the stuff they pack and pay for in baggage fees."
Kapoor-Miller explained that she's developed a habit of packing light and only traveling with her carry-on luggage.
"Not only is it cheaper and more convenient, but it also stops me from buying unnecessary things or overpriced souvenirs while traveling abroad," she said. "Instead of wasting your money on additional luggage fees, I would advise other flyers to optimize the packing, only bringing things that you actually need and prioritizing lighter items.
Kapoor-Miller also recommended getting a set of compression packing cubes that come in multiple sizes and have double zippers. According to her, they are ideal for overpackers who have limited space in their luggage.
"This type of packing cube is very lightweight, and you will be surprised by how much stuff you can carry with you without spending a fortune on checked-in luggage," she said. "If you ask me, that's one investment that does pay off."
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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