Baggage Fees

Baggage fees vary, depending on the airline. For the most part if you're traveling internationally you will not get charged for the first bag (you may get charged on a second). You will have to pay the airline a baggage fee each time you check a bag in.

Each airline has different baggage fee policies, some charge for every single baggage, some allow 1 or 2 pieces free depending on whether it's a domestic flight or what the destination is for international. A few airlines give a little discount if you prepay baggage fee online instead of paying at the airport counter. For most airlines, the fees are waived if you are an elite member of their frequent flier program, or if you've bought a full fare ticket, and flying first class. For example Air Canada allows one checked bag free between US and Canada, but not with American and United. The best way to find out exact baggage fee is to go the the website of your airline and find out its baggage policy.

Depending on what you are shipping and how urgent it is, you may want to see if you can arrange your items in such a way and think about shipping some items beforehand by something like UPS or FedEx ground.

Sometimes it's less expensive to buy things at your destination than to pack them. Most airlines will waive the bag fee for active duty military traveling on official orders. In reality, most airlines and airports waive the fee when you show them a military ID. If you are not sure, visit the specific airline's website and look up their baggage policy.