My friend Katherine recently flew to Los Angeles for a conference—and discovered the magic of outlet malls! She managed to refresh her entire wardrobe for less than $1,000 but faced a new challenge: getting all her new purchases home without paying hefty excess baggage fees.
Here are the five tricks she used to bring her haul back without extra costs.
1. Wear Your Heaviest Items on Board
Before you start packing, set aside your heaviest clothes to wear on the plane. If you have extra space in your suitcase later, you can always repack some of them. Here’s how to maximise this trick:
- Wear your heaviest shoes and carry your largest handbag.
- Layer up—wear multiple clothing items and remove them once seated.
- Put small but heavy items, like torches or gadgets, in your pockets.
- Wear bulky jewellery instead of packing it.
Don't forget to wear The Travel Bra during travel. This will allow you to store your cards, passport and jewellery, saving more weight and room in your bags.
Since airlines don’t count what you’re wearing as part of your baggage allowance, this simple trick can save you up to 5 kilos in checked luggage weight.
2. Carry a Heavy Jacket Over Your Arm
A coat or cardigan carried over your arm doesn’t count toward your carry-on weight limit, even if it weighs 5 kilos or more. If it has deep pockets, you can store a few small, heavy items inside as well. Once on board, simply place it in the overhead locker.
3. Pack Heavy, Low-Value Items Last
When packing, identify heavy but low-value items that you can part with if necessary. These might include:
- Old running shoes that are near the end of their life.
- Worn-out T-shirts or jumpers.
- Cheap, bulky souvenirs.
- Full-sized toiletries that you can replace at home.
Pack these at the top of your suitcase. If your bag is overweight at check-in, you can easily remove and discard them instead of paying excess baggage fees.
4. Be Willing to Remove Items at Check-In
Airline staff often appreciate passengers who are proactive about managing their baggage weight. If you’re willing to take a few things out of your bag at check-in, they may let you slide with an extra 1 or 2 kilos over the limit.
5. Learn to Estimate Your Bag’s Weight by Lifting It
Over time, you can develop an instinct for estimating luggage weight just by lifting it. Pay attention to how heavy your bag feels at home and compare it to the weight shown at the airport. This skill will help you pack smarter in the future and avoid any surprises at check-in.
By following these simple strategies, you can shop to your heart’s content without worrying about excess baggage fees. Safe travels and happy shopping!