| Checked Baggage |
 Checked baggage is also subject to limits. On most domestic and international flights, it's two checked bags (three if you don't have any carry-on luggage). There can be an extra charge if you bring more, or if you exceed the airline's limits on the size of the bags. On some flights between two foreign cities, your allowance may be based on the weight of the bags rather than the number of pieces. The same two bags that cost you nothing to check when you started your trip could result in expensive excess-baggage charges under a weight system.
Ask the airlines about the limit for every segment of your international trip before you leave home, especially if you have a stopover of a day or two or if you are changing carriers.
Here are some tips to help you pack for air travel under increased security and thus making your air travel an enjoyable experience.
- For starters, complete a personal luggage inventory. Examine everything that you normally pack in your suitcase.
- Always put your name, address and phone number on the outside of all baggage. Add the name and address of a person to contact at your destination if it's practical to do so. Almost all of the bags that are misplaced by airlines do turn up sooner or later. With proper labeling, the bag and its owner can usually be reunited within a few hours. Most airlines provide free stick-on tags and also may have "privacy tags" which conceal this information from passersby.
- We recommend placing the same information inside each bag, and add an address and telephone number where you can be reached at your destination city, since outside tags can come off.
- Be sure to remove any old destination tags from your luggage. You certainly don't want your bags to end up in the wrong city!
- Purchase travel size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and other toiletries or place just the amounts you will need of these items in small containers to take with you. Carrying around several big bottles can get awfully heavy; plus, they take up lots of space in your luggage.
- Put cosmetics, shoe polish, nail enamel, liquor, perfume, and anything else that might spill, break, and stain your clothing into re-closable plastic bags or unbreakable containers.
- Pack efficiently, placing smaller items together in a pouch or bag. Placing rolled up socks and other soft clothing items inside shoes will save space and help the shoes keep their shape.
- Hazardous materials are not allowed onboard. Please view the list of items that are considered dangerous when transported by air and should not be packed in checked or carryon baggage.
- Placing garments in plastic bags (such as those that come from a dry cleaners) before folding and packing will help to prevent wrinkling.
- Rolling up pants, t-shirts, etc. like a newspaper will lessen wrinkling.
- Evaluate whether an object could be scrutinized by airport security, based on the expectation that your bag will be opened for an inspection.
- Never pack cash, jewelry, medicine, keys, passport and/or visa, tour vouchers or business papers.
- Never pack business papers or irreplaceable items such as manuscripts.
- Never pack fragile items such as cameras, eyeglasses, glass containers and perishables.
- Don't over-pack a bag so that checked suitcases can be opened and closed with ease. This puts pressure on the latches, making it easier for them to pop open. Don't take the chance of losing items you have packed. If your bag cannot be easily closed, take something out!
- Also, lock your bags. The locks aren't very effective against pilferage, but they help to keep the latches from springing. Be sure to lock your luggage prior to checking it in, and keep the key with you.
- Remove hooks and straps before checking luggage. These are easily caught in baggage handling machinery, which can cause extensive damage to your bag.
- If you plan to check any electrical equipment, glassware, small appliances, pottery, typewriters, musical instruments or other fragile items, they should be packed in a container specifically designed to survive rough handling preferably a factory-sealed carton or a padded hard- shell carrying case.
If you are traveling with an electric wheelchair, you must check in for your flight at least one hour prior to departure to allow for disassembly, when necessary, and proper packaging of batteries. Bringing along assembly instructions will help prevent damage during disassembly and will speed delivery time upon arrival at your destination.
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