TripHip - Travel Tips and Advice for Traveling on a Budget

After you purchase your plane ticket and before you buy any luggage, read the fine print to find out what size your luggage is allowed to be. Baggage size requirements are usually slightly different from airline to airline. You really don't want to get stuck at the airport when you find out that your baggage is too big, and the airline asks you to pay exorbitant "excess baggage" fees!

Also, measure your luggage again when you are finished packing. Sometimes the extra bulk can make the bag bulge out to a bigger size than you expected it to be. (This is especially true if you stuff things into front pockets, etc.)

With that said, some airlines don't even notice if your bag is an inch or two too big here or there. So it's up to you whether you want to take the risk or not. Just be aware that excess baggage fees can range from $15 to over $100, depending on the airline and where you are flying.