Airlines are raising luggage fees, but these 5 packing hacks might help you avoid extra costs

The cost of air travel is quickly rising, but packing light can help offset some of the expense.

The conflict in Iran is a key driver of recent price hikes, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz sending jet fuel costs soaring, and airlines are looking for ways to ease the pressure.

The result has been a wave of route cancellations, surcharges and increased luggage fees.

In Canada, WestJet and Air Canada have raised the price of checked bags, both adding $10 to first and second checked bags and $50 to excess, overweight, and oversized bags.

So, with airline CEOs suggesting higher fares might be here to stay , it pays to pack light.

Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner travel trends expert, told National Post in an email: “It’s worth checking your airline’s hand luggage policy ahead of time, especially when flying with a new carrier, as size and item limits can vary. A bit of planning goes a long way and can help avoid last-minute surprises at the airport.”

And if you’re worried about the cost of your next vacation creeping up, here are five clever packing tips that could help you dodge extra fees. Lindsay, however, warned travellers to be cautious. “While some viral packing hacks can seem clever, they’re not always as reliable as they appear. Approaches like concealing extra items can depend heavily on the airline and airport staff, and in some cases may lead to delays or additional fees at the gate,” she told National Post.

Duty-free bags are often treated as separate from standard carry-on allowances, and some savvy travellers say they use them to bring extra items on board.

Travel expert Chelsea Dickenson, also known as @cheapholidayexpert , shared a TikTok that showed her putting extra items into a duty-free bag she’d taken from a self-checkout in the terminal. She then reportedly walked onto her flight without anyone questioning her.

Travellers should check airline policies before attempting this. Air Transat and WestJet both note on their websites that duty-free items must fit inside cabin baggage.

Porter Airlines, meanwhile, on its website says: “Duty-free items in reasonable quantities do not count towards your carry-on baggage allowance for your next flight.”

Another travel hack that’s been shared widely online for allowing travellers to take a few extra items on board involves repurposing a neck pillow.

TikTokers the world over have shared videos of themselves removing the stuffing and swapping it with items of clothing that they would otherwise be unable to fit in their carry-on bag.

Be careful with this one, though. In 2024, a TikTok surfaced appearing to show a man being denied boarding after staff discovered a pillowcase filled with personal items.

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Possibly the oldest trick in the book is wearing a big coat, or your bulkiest item of clothing, on the plane, to free up room in your luggage — you might even be able to fit a couple of extra layers underneath it.

Some travellers have even had success concealing a small bag under oversized clothing.

TikToker @travelingwithtals took this to the extreme in a video that showed her cutting down a large backpack by wearing as many of her clothes as she could and keeping a smaller backpack hidden under a poncho, before walking onto the plane.

If you’d rather avoid the risk of extra fees or delays, compression bags and packing cubes are your best friends.

Lindsay told National Post: “What tends to work more consistently is making the most of the space you’re already allowed. Using packing cubes or compression bags, rolling clothes, and wearing your bulkiest items on the plane can significantly increase what fits in a carry-on without added stress.”

Compression bags save space by using a second zipper to squash down bulky items to a fraction of their original size. They also fit neatly into suitcases and help organize items, making unpacking easier at the destination, too.

If your accommodation has a washing machine, you can save plenty of space by packing fewer clothes and doing laundry while you’re away.

Most rental homes, like those listed on Airbnb, offer a washing machine or communal laundry room, and some may even supply detergent.

Many hotels have laundry available for a fee, or, if you’re really trying to save your pennies, you can wash smaller items in a sink with a little laundry detergent.

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