Get Started

Learn more about Credit Cards, Travel Programs, Deals, and more.

Smell Ya Later! How to Move Beyond Domestic Airlines’ Nickel and Diming

This post may contain affiliate links - Advertiser Disclosure. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Avoid Domestic Airline Fees

Avoid Domestic Airline Fees

In my experience, domestic airlines are far inferior to their foreign counterparts.  Due to our current life season and the pandemic, we primarily travel within the States and are unfortunately stuck with domestic airline options.  The myriad variety of fees for what was once included in airfare is one reason I don’t care for domestic carriers.  One of my family’s primary travel goals is to travel for free (or close to it) for the rest of our lives, and not giving a cent out of our pockets to domestic carriers is a huge part of our strategy.  We use several methods to avoid domestic airline fees, and I’m sharing the primary ones today.

Pack Light and Carry On

I enjoy packing light now more than ever.  During solo travel, I avoid baggage fees and, just as important, the stress related to boarding a plane by using a simple underseat carry-on bag, or sometimes a backpack.  I don’t need more than that since I pack minimally and reuse certain outerwear and other items during short trips.

Avoid Domestic Airline Fees
Photo credit Stephen M. Keller / Southwest Airlines.

Fly Southwest

When I do fly with my family, we primarily fly Southwest Airlines.  Southwest is a polarizing airline to many out there, but my family and I are big fans.  One of the several Southwest benefits we enjoy is free checked baggage.  This feature, which was normal for domestic airlines not too long ago, is now relatively unique to Southwest.  Inevitably, though, if we need to fly another carrier where checked baggage normally comes with a fee, we have options.

Leverage Credit Card Benefits

Fees Melt Away

Most domestic airlines, such as United, American, Delta, and JetBlue, offer certain credit card options which come with complimentary checked baggage benefits.  Also, various banks’ ultra-premium cards often provide airline fee credits which can be used to offset a variety of expenses, such as baggage, priority boarding, and preferred seat selection.  Amex’s airline fee credits on the Platinum cards are probably my favorite here.

Premium Experiences

Another reason I prefer the Amex Platinum is that it grants access to their superior Centurion Lounges.  Yes, they’ve tightened access a bit, but that’s an improvement for how I most often use this benefit.  I can also access Delta lounges when flying on their metal, in addition to Priority Pass lounges that Amex Platinum card membership provides.  Other banks’ ultra-premium cards are trying to catch up to Amex.

Ignore Elite Status

In my view, elite status, especially from airlines, is the travel industry’s grand deception.  Many self-select into terrible expenses and experiences simply due to their elite status, essentially blind allegiance to a given airline.  Many may end up disappointed but go back for more slop, anyway.  Rinse and repeat.  By getting over elite status, you can take back more control from domestic airlines and fully realize true travel freedom.

Avoid Domestic Airline Fees
Brand new American Airlines 787 aircraft.

Redeem Your Miles, Already!

I shake my head most often when I hear stories of people opting to spend cash money on flights because they wouldn’t be getting what they perceive to be optimal value from their airline miles.  But do you know what is the lowest possible value?  Not redeeming your airline miles.  Indeed, points and miles are worth nothing until you redeem them.

You may be flying in a long tin can, but don’t kick the can down the road.  Use your miles for flights first and your dollars for something much more deserving.

Don’t Fly

This may seem like an obvious method, but I don’t think it’s considered enough.  From a money or time perspective, sometimes flying isn’t the optimal option, anyway.  For instance, travelers between Washington, DC and the Northeast (Philly, NYC, etc) can use Amtrak points on the Acela and commit the same or less time to travel than flying in certain circumstances.  Short road trips can sometimes efficiently replace a flight.  Or, gasp, a longer road trip may deliver joy in a way plane travel can’t.

American Express Business Platinum Benefits Guide - Over 30 Perks
Just my opinion, but we’d all be better off with more of this than airline miles.

Select Your Rewards Currencies Carefully

Similar to the “Don’t Fly” method, thoughtfully collect rewards currencies that address your primary goals (which may not even involve travel).  Why collect a bunch of airline miles that may force you to do something you don’t really want to (fly a domestic airline), which could possibly lead to unnecessary expenses with that airline?  Use cards where you can obtain cash back (directly or indirectly), pick a card with your favorite hotel chain instead, etc.  In my view, airline miles are the least flexible rewards currency to earn, and diving into those programs and cards should only be done after careful consideration.

Conclusion

These are my favorite strategies to avoid domestic airline fees.  I’m always on the lookout for more, but I find myself primarily relying on these ones.  I do value the service that domestic airlines provide, primarily Southwest.  But on principle, I don’t want to pay domestic airlines for services that were previously included.   I don’t have control over much when I need to fly, so I guard the few areas where I do have control.  Resisting fees is one of those areas.  What methods do you use to avoid domestic airline fees?

Disclosure: Miles to Memories has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Miles to Memories and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Lower Spend - Chase Ink Business Preferred® 100K!

Chase Ink Business Preferred® is a powerful card that earns 3X Ultimate Rewards points in a broad range of business categories on the first $150K in spend per year. Right now earn 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points after $15K $8K spend in the first 3 months with a $95 annual fee.

Learn more about this card and its features!


Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Benjy Harmon
Benjy Harmon
Benjy focuses on the intersection of points, travel, and financial independence (FI). An experienced world traveler, husband, and father, he currently roams throughout the USA close to expense-free. Benjy enjoys helping others achieve their FI and travel goals.

Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

4 COMMENTS

  1. I’m a big fan of SWA for domestic travel, due to the Companion Pass. But I would not object to the low-cost carriers like Spirit, Frontier, etc., that separate out charges for things that are bundled on the mainline carriers…you just have to pick and choose what you value and what you don’t.

  2. ooh strongly disagree: “travel industry’s grand deception.” If you feel thats the case – you are playing the game wrong…

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related

7,703FansLike
9,903FollowersFollow
16,444FollowersFollow