KCRA 3’S ANDREA FLORES HAS TIPS FROM CONSUMER REPORTS AS MANY OF US KNOW, NAVIGATING AIRLINE LUGGAGE RULES CAN SOMETIMES TURN THAT EXCITEMENT INTO A CHALLENGE. I HAVE TO PAY AN EXTRA CHARGE WITH MY LUGGAGE FOR EACH LUGGAGE. SO WAS REALLY EXPENSIVE. A CONSUMER REPORTS SURVEY FOUND THAT 40% OF PEOPLE WHO FLEW IN THE PAST YEAR CHOSE A HIGHER FARE, JUST TO AVOID BAGGAGE FEES AND WE’RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT CHECKED BAGS. IN CR’S SURVEY, 30% OF THE AMERICANS WHO HAD FLOWN IN THE PAST YEAR PAID FOR A CARRY ON BAG. CONSUMER REPORTS SAYS CAREFUL PLANNING WHEN YOU BOOK YOUR TICKET MAY SAVE YOU MONEY, NOT TO MENTION A HEADACHE. LATER AT THE AIRPORT. IT’S ALWAYS SMART WHEN BOOKING A FLIGHT TO CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR AIRLINE OFFERS A DISCOUNT FOR PREPAYING BAGGAGE FEES ONLINE. AND KEEP IN MIND THAT LUGGAGE MARKED AS CARRY ON SIZE CAN BE BIGGER THAN THOSE STANDARD DIMENSIONS. CR FOUND THAT DURING ITS RECENT LUGGAGE TESTING, A BAG THAT SHOULD FIT IN MOST OVERHEAD BINS AND NOT BREAK THE BANK IS THE AMAZONBASICS 21 INCH HARDSIDE SPINNER FOR ABOUT $80, AND FOR NOW, MOST AIRLINES WILL STILL LET YOU BRING A PERSONAL ITEM FOR FREE, SO MAKE THE MOST OF IT A GREAT CHOICE FOR THAT PERSONAL ITEM WILL BE A TRAVEL BACKPACK. A GOOD ONE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF COMPARTMENTS THAT ARE EASY TO ACCESS IN FLIGHT, BUT STILL FIT UNDER THE SEAT IN FRONT OF YOU. THE PATAGONIA BLACK HOLE MINI MLC FOR $199, WAS A STAFF FAVORITE ALONG WITH THESE EBAGS PRO SLIM FOR 75. ANDREA FLORES KCRA THREE NEWS. ALL RIGHT, AND TWO MORE TIPS. BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR THE AIRLINE’S FREQUENT FLIER PROGRAM AND IF YOU DO TRAVEL OFTEN WITH THE SAME AIRLINE, YOU MAY CONSIDER GETTING THEIR CO-BRANDED CREDIT CARD. YOU CAN GET SOME PERKS