Travel Smarts

Not-so-friendly skies: Watch out for sneaky baggage fees during holiday travel

Plan ahead by knowing the cost of checking your luggage before you get to theairpot.
Tumi/Facebook
Spirit charges hefty baggage fees, even for carry on.
Spirit Airlines/TerminalU
Southwest Airlines is the only carrier that doesn't charge for carry on orchecked bags.
Southwest/Businessweek

During the busiest travel season of the year, we're always thinking of ways to travel smarter. One of those ways is to know the luggage costs before arriving at the airport.

Forget scrambling and stressing and rearranging your belongings at the check-in counter. We did the work for you with a roundup of the luggage fees on major airlines — carry on and the first two checked bags — for domestic travel.

Among the highlights: Southwest Airlines is still the only carrier with no baggage fees, although you can check one bag free with Jet Blue. At $20 each for first and second checked bags, Frontier's fees are a few bucks less. Most airlines allow one carry on for free and charge $25 for the first and $35 for the second.

Although Spirit brags about its cheap fares, the airline will get your money in the end through baggage fees. Spirit charges $35 even to carry on a bag, and that fee can get as high as $100 if you don't book online.

It's worth noting if your bag is oversized (bigger than 62 linear inches) or overweight (for most airlines, that's more than 50 pounds), you'll pay even more. Fees also vary for international travel.

Here is the breakdown:

American
Carry on: Free
First checked bag: $25
Second checked bag: $35

Delta
Carry on: Free
First checked bag: $25
Second checked bag: $35

Frontier
Carry on: Free
First checked bag: $20
Second checked bag: $20

JetBlue
Carry on: Free
First checked bag: Free
Second checked bag: $40

Southwest
Carry on: Free
First checked bag: Free
Second checked bag: Free

Spirit
Carry on: $35 with online booking; $40 at reservation center; $50 at airport kiosk/counter; $100 at gate
First checked bag: $30 with online booking; $35 at reservation center; $45 at airport kiosk/counter
Second checked bag: $40 with online booking; $45 at reservation center; $55 at airport kiosk/counter

United
Carry on: Free
First checked bag: $25
Second checked bag: $35

US Airways
Carry on: Free
First checked bag: $25
Second checked bag: $35

Virgin America
Carry on: Free
First checked bag: $25
Second checked bag: $25

unspecified

Disappear Into Nature

Crazy mirrored glamping houses near Austin reflect back the trees

Photo courtesy of LCRA Parks

Glamping can still include s'mores with a private outdoor fire pit.

Just in time for unbearable temperatures across Texas, the Lower Colorado River Authority has debuted a cool glamping solution. Opened mid-May, the Ööd Mirror Houses are LCRA Parks' newest accommodations at Lake Bastrop South Shore Park, about 40 minutes outside of Austin.

Hideaway House exterior Both glamping options have floor-to-ceiling windows that look like mirrors from the outside.Photo courtesy of LCRA Parks

Operated by Cameron Ranch Glamping, these two luxury houses are tucked away in the park's Lost Pines region, surrounded by trees and tranquility.

The two homes — The Hideaway and The Bloom — feature floor-to-ceiling mirrored glass walls, so guests can look out into nature with complete privacy, from both passersby and mosquitos.

Both are 221 square feet and are pet-friendly. They're equipped with a queen memory foam bed, bathroom with walk-in shower, dining area, Wi-Fi, kitchenette, record player, and perhaps most importantly for this time of year, air conditioning. In the winter, the structures will be heated.

Hideaway House Interior Both mirror houses include memory foam queen-sized beds, WiFi, A/C, and more. Photo courtesy of LCRA Parks

No matter how glam it gets, guests can still enjoy classic camping fun like roasting marshmallows in their personal outdoor fire pit, or firing up the grill for some burgers. Plus, Lake Bastrop offers paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, areas for fishing, trails for hiking and biking, mini-golf, playgrounds, sand volleyball courts, and a charming camp store.

Interior kitchen area Kitchenettes come equipped with a microwave, refrigerator, and cooking equipment. Photo courtesy of LCRA Parks

Guests can also leave the park and make the 10-minute drive to downtown Bastrop to grab a bite, a drink, some groceries, or catch some music or a movie. (Who can really say what the rules of glamping entail?)

Bloom House The two mirror houses are within walking distance to the swimming areas along the lake. Photo courtesy of LCRA Parks

The Ööd Mirror Houses are now available to book online. Rates vary by day, starting just above $200 per night before fees, and increasing to more than $300 before fees during certain times. Find the campground at 375 S. Shore Rd., Bastrop.

glamping nature parks bastrop luxury