Have you thought about ways you can save money on baggage fees? Intrigued by those Space Bags commercials? This year, the inflated price of airline tickets had travelers figuring out ways to cut costs and save on air travel. The last thing a traveling family wants to hear after purchasing several high-priced tickets is that they have to pay extra for checked luggage. Space Bags help you fit more clothes in your luggage and could help you save money on extra luggage fees.
My husband and I strategized for two days on which bags to take on a six-day trip for our family of four to the Cayman Islands. Our strategy was focused on getting the most bang for our buck:
- We didn’t want to be saddled with carrying and keeping track of multiple pieces of luggage, AND
- We weren’t interested (at all) in paying extra baggage fees for each piece we checked in.
In the nick of time, a package from Space Bag to Go arrived at my doorstep for review. Talk about perfect timing and an eager reviewer – I was more than ready to put their product to the test.
Here’s the story – in pictures:
This is the kids’ suitcase before using Space Bag to Go.
These are some of the contents that are in the suitcase – I took them out for illustration purposes (shoes, toiletries, pampers, clothes for 2 boys):
All of my three year old’s clothes fit into the smaller of the two bags. The bags were easy to use with illustrations printed directly on them. Just fill the bag to a certain line with clothing; seal it up like a sandwich baggy sliding the plastic fastener across the top; then roll the bag up and expel the air from it, effectively creating air-sealed clothes. No silly vacuum needed!
These were the end results:
And here you go – the final packed suitcase with extra room for some of mommy’s stuff!
Something else you may want to know:
All the major airlines except Southwest and Jet Blue charge a checked baggage fee. Using Space Bag to Go doesn’t make your bags lighter, just more densely packed. They are definitely the way to go if you’re trying to get as much as possible in your carry-on and still legally get it on a flight.
However, if you choose to use Space Bags for your checked baggage, be careful – they will condense items and provide you with tons of extra space but you may be tempted to fill that space past the 50-pound baggage limitation. We sure did. Luckily, we had extra space in our carry-on AND American doesn’t charge for checked baggage for flights from the United States to the Caribbean (so, we scored all around) .
If you’re bags are over 50 pounds, you’ll have to pay an overweight baggage fee, which is usually more than twice the regular fee! Even Southwest and JetBlue can’t give you a pass on this one. Additionally, if your bag weighs more than 70 pounds, according to airfarewatchdog.com, many airlines won’t even let you check it – you may have to ship your luggage as cargo. Yikes!
Moral: Pack light and use Space Bags To Go in your carry-on. [I did not get paid to say that – I really like this product.] You can also check out my video tips for Packing a Suitcase for another way to help you maximize your baggage space.
For your chance to win a set of Space Bags To Go, share your packing tips in the Comments section. One lucky winner will be chosen at random. Contest runs from August 4, 2011 to August 11, 2011. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. Happy Packing!
I would suggest not packing some items like a toothbrush, body care items that can be bought once you land. Also, take a pair of shoes that are versatile and low weight. Roll the clothes as tight as possible. Only take what’s absolutely needed.
littleangel_mw at yahoo dot com
I always pack using a list….that way I keep myself organized and don’t over pack.
I try to pack two or three outfits that can be worn many different ways. So your clothes look different but you are not having to pack so many clothes. I like for example to take a suit with pants, skirt and jacket and then 2 or 3 different shirts to mix and match.
Kimmie Barnes
shawnandkim@suddenlink.net
If the place where we are going has laundry facilities, we pack less and plan to do our laundry at least once.
hschonrock at yahoo dot com
I always pack very little and things that can be interchanged so I have room for souviners!! I love shopping and with the one bag or pay for more rule I like haveing the room for gifts!
If you can buy things like diapers or swim diapers when you get there you will save a lot of space.
I tend to pack very loosely on the way out (folding my clothes loosely), knowing that I’ll have room for souvenirs on the way back if I pack tightly (rolling up my clothes, really using every inch of space). I also pack a trash bag for dirty clothes, and roll up my dirty clothes and put them into it every day.
avroradavidovna at gmail dot com
For packing with babies in tow:
Organize an outfit for each day: socks, undershirt, skirt, shirt, etc. Then, put each outfit into a gallon size ziplock bag. That way all you have to do is pull out a bag for each day. You then also have bags for soiled clothes to bring home. I also found that it all fits so neatly and compactly into the suitcase…which is nice.
I always roll our clothes instead of folding them because there seem to be less wrinkles.
I always pack and then take things out. You just never need as much as you pack the first time.
Try to think about setting together 1 outfit per use per day that way your not overpacked.
I always try to pack as light as possible. I wrap my acessories & put them in the pockets of my pants, I roll what can be …and bring at least two of my fave. day to evening outfit.
Great giveaway!
mtdewgirlie at gmail dot com
I always set out my clothes in outfits, then roll them together for ease when I get to my destination. I also don’t pack large toiletries when I know the hotel will have some or I am near a Target and can pick up some cheap supplies there.
I like to make lists. That way I know what I need & what I have then I go over it a couple times & try to cut back some. I usually have access to a laundry facility so I know we can rewear some outfits.
Also when my children go for long trips during the summer to visit family I have found it is cheaper to mail things ahead or back home then to pay for them on flights.
farrah_jo@yahoo.com
I stuff socks and jewelery into shoes so every little space is packed.
I like to leave my underwear till last and fill every little tight space with it!
dont pack 20 outfits for a 5 day trip, and always look at the weather for where your going!
promisesxunbrokn@aim.com
I roll my clothes up instead of folding them. You can fit many more items, plus your clothes won’t be really wrinkled.
I don’t pack anything that I can buy once I get there, like toiletries, etc. The kids each bring a small carry-on backpack with crayons and coloring books to keep them entertained, and I try to squeeze small necessities in there as well.
We take as little as we can.I pack for a family of 6 and we can fit everything we need into 3 suitcases.I buy toiletries while there.I roll my clothes as well stuff very nook and cranny.Thanks!
lstanziani(at)yahoo(dot)com
I roll my clothes instead of folding; it really does make a difference in saving space! I also try to stick with packing clothes that are co-ordinated and can be worn in different combinations and/or layered – and nothing I have to iron! 😉
G_Patton@hotmail.com
Packing has always been an overwhelming process for me. We have three children, one of which has major medical problems and needs alot of extra supplies. I have found that I do better if I make a list of whats needed ahead of time and divide it up into individual lists for each kid. I also try to never pack in a rush. That way, I can be sure I have not forgotten anything.
I roll my clothes as well as put my shoes in a plastic shower cap help keep the other clothes clean.
My husband has always folded his shirts in squares (something he learned from the military) and it takes a lot less space
I roll my clothes – they really don’t wrinkle as much!
kcoud33 at gmail dot com
Wear one pair of shoes and pack no more than two. One dressy, one sandal/flip flop, and one sensible pair.
plan ahead so you can bring the least amount stuff necessary.
I try not to over pack. Then I try to wear the larger things like my tennis shoes, and pack my sandals.
My packing tip is to pack enough outfits for half the days you will be gone. Then you have to mix and match to come up with new outfits while you are at your destination and you don’t feel guilty about buying a few new things, since you packed so light to begin with. 😉
alanasbod@yahoo.com
I always travel light. I also have learned to roll clothing items instead of folding them. They hold shape without wrinkling for a lot longer when they are rolled, and take up less room.
I pack as much as I want/need, then see how it all will fit. If something won’t fit well, I consider how badly I will need that item or items and decide whether to leave it or stuff it in there anyway! LOL I love space bags for storing things so this would be great for traveling!!
jalyssa982003 at yahoo dot com
I roll my clothes instead of folding them. For instance, I’ll fold a shirt in half lengthwise, then roll it from top to bottom. It keeps the wrinkles at a minimum and allows me to easily move the clothes around in my suitcase without having to re-fold everything.
ohmiss14 at yahoo dot com ☮
I plan for the trip and see what clothes I can mix and match! Roll socks and put them into my shoes! I also check the weather, so I don’t take clothes that won’t be used!
Here are some of my packing tips: Make a checklist of what you will need and select clothing items that can be used in different ways. Once you have what you think you need, put about half of it back in your closet. A world traveler once told me: The reason they call it luggage is that you have to lug it around, so pack very lightly. If you plan to buy t-shirts at your destination, pack mostly bottoms (pants, skirts, shorts) and wear your destination t-shirts as you buy them. Finally, save your old underwear all year. Pack them and wear them once and throw them away. You’ll have more room on the way home for travel mementos and less dirty laundry to wash!
Pack things that can be worn with several other things (versitile)
my best advisein packing is to travel sizeeverythingand toroll total outfits and pack tight incases
I lay everything out that I plan to take. I take a second look at everything to see if I really need it all or if some of it can stay home. I roll socks and put them inside of shoes. I roll the larger clothing items to save on space.
gavagana@yahoo.com
anything that can or will spill i put into zip lock bags and put in a special case.
We just went through all that. And then we got to CA and bought souvenirs and had no room to bring them home. Lol. Luckily we hadn’t used up all our carry on bag allowances so I found a great bag at Macy’s. We put our extra stuff in it and carried it on on the way home. The bag I bought was great.It folds up and stores in a makeup bag it came with. We will definitely be packing it on future trips.
lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com
I try to pack as little as possible but it seems more kids = more stuff – my boys can share clothes, so I pack things they can both wear and I frequently plan on wearing a pair of pants more than once. It helps with space!
I try to roll up anything I can – saves lots of space and helps prevent fold wrinkles.
I roll everything and put rubber bands around the diapers. I also find it useful to pack outfits for the kids in individual gallon size zip lock bags so each outfit is ready to go first thing in the morning.
My packing tips would be to place things inside of other things, and pack travel size things that you can just throw away the wrapper and use all the product leaving room for souvenirs!
jadavis42@tntech.edu
I say try to pack light and pack things clothes that can be mixed and matched.
I suggest packing the most versatile clothing. Pack interchangeable pieces and wear your bulkiest items to the airport as a oppose to packing them (so you’ll have more space on your carry on). I often find that I overpack when I travel- even when I think that I’ve packed the bare minimum- so before putting any item in your actual suitcase look at it and honestly assess whether or not you’ll actually wear it, where you’ll wear it, and if you’ll want to wear it multiple times.
These were all excellent packing suggestions to save space, time and money when traveling with the family. Seems like rolling clothes was a common denominator amongst many of you. Thank you for commenting and participating.
And the winner of a set of Space Bag To Go bags is Debbie Kennedy! Congratulations!!!