Any Suggestions for Avoiding Checked Bag Fees?

[RoyGBiv]

I'm sure many of us have air travel plans for the holidays. Plans that we'd like to include concealed carry at our travel destination. With checked-bag fees routinely running $25 for the first bag, it would be nice to find a way to check a weapon but avoid the extra $50 (round trip) in costs. Obviously if you're already planning to check a bag or two, your trip costs won't change. But for those of us that travel with a carry-on only, checking a gun at the airport will cost you the price of a dinner out.

Airlines make exemptions for their frequent flyers. For example, I'm a "Million Miler" on Delta, and get my bag fees waived when I fly Delta. But that doesn't help me on American. Some credit cards will also get you bag-fee waivers...

Does anyone know of a good way to get checked bag fees waived?
Maybe I should ask the NRA to consider an alliance with airlines to get members bag fees waived when they're checking a bag only because they're transporting a weapon?

Any other helpful suggestions?

[n5wd]

Does anyone know of a good way to get checked bag fees waived?

Fly Southwest. Seriously.

[gigag04]

Does anyone know of a good way to get checked bag fees waived?

Fly Southwest. Seriously.

This

[RoyGBiv]

Does anyone know of a good way to get checked bag fees waived?

Fly Southwest. Seriously.

Maybe after the Wright Amendment is put to rest in 2014.
Flying from Dallas to anywhere other than neighboring states is quite a chore on SWA.
My upcoming flight is a $155 nonstop on AA, vs. ~$325 with 2 stops (1 change) on SWA.
I like SWA, they're just not convenient from the Metro-mess.

[snatchel]

My wife and i were concidering flying to LA to spend the holidays with her family this winter..... But with bag fees, all the other stuff we decided to just drive. This way we can take our dog and avoid TSA..... So we leave on Wednesday. We are gonna be there till January 10, so we will also have our car while we are there. Yeah, its a lng 18 hour drive..... But it still beats doing the airline garbage.

[OldCannon]

Does anyone know of a good way to get checked bag fees waived?

Fly Southwest. Seriously.

Maybe after the Wright Amendment is put to rest in 2014.
Flying from Dallas to anywhere other than neighboring states is quite a chore on SWA.
My upcoming flight is a $155 nonstop on AA, vs. ~$325 with 2 stops (1 change) on SWA.
I like SWA, they're just not convenient from the Metro-mess.

I used to live in DFW and traveled a LOT. I, too, had that opinion, but after getting burned SEVERAL times by American Eagle, I decided the "hassle" was worth the almost-perfect on-time experience I got with SWA. Add in their friendly ticket change/refund policy and you have an airline that's 100% "Win" in my book.

[fickman]

What are checked bag fees? I don't pay those on American or United - neither do any of my companions. (Thanks, elite status!)

[Reloader]

UPS and FED Ex will ship your bags for you cheaper to your destination, if this helps. They have packages and boxes to fit your luggage.

[LittleGun]

Either having elite status or getting an airline credit card. Those are the only ways I know to avoid baggage fees, besides flying Southwest Airlines.

[RoyGBiv]

UPS and FED Ex will ship your bags for you cheaper to your destination, if this helps. They have packages and boxes to fit your luggage.

It's not my bag that's the problem.... I can travel for an indefinite length of time using just a carry-on.
But if I want to bring my carry gun, I have to check it.... $25 each way.

I would consider shipping it, but, the cost would be more than $25 (guns must ship express [air], you can't ship via lower-cost ground service), plus the hassle (must ship via FFL, or risk being a test case for shipping to yourself). The shipping cost is still a deal killer, so no reason to pursue it.

[RoyGBiv]

Does anyone know of a good way to get checked bag fees waived?

Fly Southwest. Seriously.

Maybe after the Wright Amendment is put to rest in 2014.
Flying from Dallas to anywhere other than neighboring states is quite a chore on SWA.
My upcoming flight is a $155 nonstop on AA, vs. ~$325 with 2 stops (1 change) on SWA.
I like SWA, they're just not convenient from the Metro-mess.

I used to live in DFW and traveled a LOT. I, too, had that opinion, but after getting burned SEVERAL times by American Eagle, I decided the "hassle" was worth the almost-perfect on-time experience I got with SWA. Add in their friendly ticket change/refund policy and you have an airline that's 100% "Win" in my book.

I'm not going to disagree with you. SWA is good to fly.
But at more than twice the price for this trip, and more than twice the time, I've got room to swallow a bit of hassle.
I'm just looking to save $50 if there's a way to do so... Might be others that would also benefit from the collective wisdom here.

[Carry-a-Kimber]

What about Jet Blue; they allow 1 free bag on most flights.

[RoyGBiv]

What about Jet Blue; they allow 1 free bag on most flights.

Only if you're heading to or through Boston...

Honestly, I would hoping someone would have some secret password for the ticket agent...
"Tell the agent at the ticket counter ... "When the sky is blue, the wind is restless"
and wait for their coded reply..... "When the wind is restless, the birds take flight"



Or maybe a good place to look for an online coupon or something.

[fishman]

Get a yellow hanky and put a rock in it and wave around. If that doesn't work, throw it on the counter.

[GTRich94]

...
Airlines make exemptions for their frequent flyers. For example, I'm a "Million Miler" on Delta, and get my bag fees waived when I fly Delta. But that doesn't help me on American. Some credit cards will also get you bag-fee waivers...
...

Have you tried calling American and telling them you are a Million Miler on Delta and asking for equal status on American? They don't always do it, but it can't hurt to try.