I save money on checked bag fees with these packing cubes

Packing cubes aren’t just for organizing luggage; they can be money savers, too. If you use them correctly, of course.

I admit, I got my first set of packing cubes with the idea of putting shirts in one, pants in another, etc. I still do use them that way, but I’ve amped up my strategy after years of use.

Personally, I’ve used the Well Traveled Compression Packing Cubes for over three years, and they’re my go-to brand. 

Compression Packing Cubes

I’ve had these Well Traveled Packing cubes for 3+ years, and they’ve held up very well. They come in multiple sizes to accommodate different-sized bags. Plus, they’re water-resistant and come with tags for labeling. For more, see my full review of these packing cubes here.

Here are 3 ways you can save money on checked bag fees using these cubes:

Compression features save space so you can travel carry-on only

If your packing cubes don’t have compression features, then you’re missing out on a huge use case, in my opinion.

The Well Traveled cubes have compression built right into their name and their function. These cubes compress down significantly, so you can fit the same amount of clothing in much less space.

On many occasions, this meant that I’ve switched my flight luggage from a full-sized checked bag to a cabin-friendly carry-on. This immediately saves me money on checked baggage fees without having to significantly cut the amount of clothing I bring.

Cubes make it easy to share a checked bag with a friend

These days, many airlines make you pay for both checked bags and carry-on items. So, when I travel with friends and family on shorter trips, I pitch them on sharing a checked bag with me.

Splitting luggage fees saves a significant amount of money on something that doesn’t really “add” to your trip, anyway. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of dragging a ton of stuff around.

Of course, things can get disorganized pretty quickly when sharing luggage. So, to keep everything separate, I use my set of white Well Traveled Packing Cubes, and I lend my colorful “vista” set to my travel buddy.

This way, I just take my cubes out of the bag when I get to my destination, and I’m still as organized as when I first packed.

Cubes help save you from overpacking

One of my favorite features of using packing cubes is that they make it easy not to overpack. Your allotted space is designated by your cubes, and once they’re full, you can compress them down. 

This gives you more room in your bag for, I dunno, souvenirs and other tchotchkes you find while traveling. Just be cognizant of overweight baggage fees; just because your stuff takes up less space doesn’t mean it weighs less.

I’ll never forget the time I backpacked Europe for 5 months with a +50lb suitcase in tow (this was in my pre-packing cube days). It was highly impractical, but it did give me more muscle tone in my arms. 

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Thanks for reading! Next, check out my article on how you’re probably using packing cubes wrong; I go into more detail about how I use packing cubes on every trip.

Happy packing!