Wearing All Of Your Clothing To Avoid Checked Bag Fees Is A Bad Idea

A man trying to fly from Iceland to England was recently denied boarding for wearing all of his clothing at once in an attempt to avoid a checked bag fee. This is a terrible attempt at a travel hack. He claims that the gate personnel said it would be OK beforehand, but even if they had let him board, he would have been miserable. Please don’t try to do this, people.

There are a number of reasons why this wouldn’t be ideal, besides the fact that it’s sitcom-level ridiculous. For one, it makes sense why you wouldn’t be allowed on the plane. You think staff is going to let you board an aeroplane when it looks like you’re smuggling several kilos of god knows what on your person? Come on, you couldn’t look more suspicious if you tried.

On top of that, you’d be incredibly uncomfortable during the flight. Wearing five layers of clothing is going to get pretty toasty. Not even cranking your air blower to max will be enough to keep you from roasting in your own garments. Lastly, you’ll look stupid.

If checking a bag really is going to be such a massive issue during your travels, you’re better off doing these thigs:

• Have some emergency funds at the ready: Ryan Carney Williams, the man denied boarding, says he couldn’t afford the extra fee and would have to live homeless in Iceland if he couldn’t board. If you’re travelling it pays to be prepared for anything. That could mean budgeting for extra nights in a hotel, surprise transportation costs, or paying an unexpected checked bag fee on your way home.
• Pack less when you travel: Do you really need all that stuff you’re carrying in your checked bag? Before you answer, no, you don’t. You can easily get away with just a carry-on and personal item if you pack a smaller, always-matching wardrobe, plan to do laundry on your trip, and pack things nice and tight.
• Wear your bulkier items on the plane: If you’ve got bulky coats, shoes, or other items, wear them on the plane so more of your smaller, less voluminous stuff can fit in your carry-on.

When it comes down to it, a little planning goes a long way. Remember, travel hacks should make your trip easier or better in some way, and wearing all of your clothes at once does neither. Safe travels.