With several airlines now charging fees to ship your first piece of luggage, and most charging for the second piece of luggage, it pays to think about shipping a bag ahead.

This can be true if you are taking a cruise, attending a convention, or simply taking a vacation.

Think of the advantages:

-Less luggage to fit in your car, taxi, or shuttle on the way to the airport.

-Less baggage to have to pay tips on

-Less wear and tear on your arms and shoulders

Of course, you still want to follow the basic rules and carry medicines, a change of clothes and your bathing suit with you in your small carry-on. But freedom from handling those larger bags can make life so much easier.

The only real consideration is, is it worth it? The price to ship your luggage will decide if it makes sense to ship ahead or take it with you. For more information, check this article on ABC.com and see the comparison their investigative reported made.

DID YOU KNOW….That your choice of airline can make a  difference as to how often your flights are on time?

Think about it, and notice the next time you fly how the airline that you fly boards passengers for their flights.

It makes a difference!  If your airline still books the traditional way, filling the front seats before the back, you end up with the inevitable traffic jam in the aisles as the first passengers to board the plane take valuable time to get settled and place their luggage overhead. The result: your flight departure is delayed, and any connections you have booked are shortened. Throw in a short wait on the tarmac or a little bad weather, and you may miss your connecting flight or business appointment.

Our Recommendation:

-Choose an airline that boards from the back of the plane to the front

-Choose an airline with a flexible boarding policy (Southeast is an example of an airline that does not assign seats, and boards by zones. This flexibility encourages faster seating and on-time take-offs.

In addition,  choose your seat online and print your boarding pass ahead of time. These will save you time and help you board faster, together with a good airline boarding policy.

(Thanks to Trent -frequent traveler, for pointing this out!)

If you have a Frequent Traveler Tip to share, send it to GoPalmTree@hotmail.com. Include a pic or two and we will try to get your tip in our next update!