Fees weighing you down? Lighten up

If you’re the kind of traveler who tends to take too much stuff with you, now’s the time to pack it in.

The news that American Airlines will begin charging $15 for a checked bag on domestic flights reserved on or after June 15 comes on the heels of announcements that carriers will charge for a second bag, which come on the heels of announcements about fuel surcharges. You may not have control over the cost of gasoline, but you can keep the fees down by remembering this:

Less is less.

If you can fit it into a carry-on bag, you won’t pay the extra fee. Further, you’ll free yourself from the hassle of lugging a bloated bag that comes home with unworn clothes.

As the author of a book on packing and someone who spends about a third of my time on the road, I’ve had to say goodbye to bad packing habits and develop a whole new bag of tricks.

Here are some that can help you cope:

Size does matter. The liquids/gels restriction for air travelers means you must fit your shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, makeup and perfume into a clear, one-quart zip-top bag that you carry on. Those items may be no larger than 3 ounces.

This is not the time to lug the ultra-economy size shampoo. Instead, buy sample sizes or purchase travel-size bottles of 3 ounces or less (I find mine through www.magellans.com) and transfer liquids into those. While you’re looking to economize on size, use products that do double duty: shampoo that’s also conditioner, sunscreen that’s also moisturizer.

If you believe good things come in small packages, check out www.minimus.biz, which specializes in travel-size products, including those used for personal care as well as foods (such as soy and barbecue sauces) and small packets of laundry products.

Makeup -- those cream blushes and liquid makeup base -- can be difficult to jam into that quart-size bag, so those hot-selling mineral-based cosmetics may be an attractive alternative.

Finally, if you can’t find what you want, buy it at your destination and leave it behind.

Shoes are the bad boys of travel. It’s not their weight; it’s their profile. Shoes take up a lot of space, so consider them part of the real estate of your suitcase and use the “cavities” for stowing socks and underwear.

Those cute high heels may be winking at you from the closet, but traveling means making the hard choices. For women who’ll be gone a week, I suggest packing two pairs besides what you’re wearing. Because men’s shoes tend to be bigger, guys may need to limit themselves to the pair they’re wearing and the pair they pack. The shoes that are packed should be the smaller of the two pairs.

Because flip-flops are space efficient, they don’t count against your total and you can make them double as beach wear and slippers.

The word of the wise traveler is “wicking.” Undergarments that wick moisture away from your body are a traveler’s new best friend because they can be washed in the sink and will dry quickly, even in the most humid climates. Instead of seven pairs of underwear, you can get by with two, as long as you’re willing to wash them each night. Look in the athletic wear clothing section, look for garments labeled “microfiber.”

Don’t even think about a different colored outfit for each day you’re gone. Instead, choose a basic color scheme -- mine usually is black -- and make sure every piece you’re putting in that bag works with every other piece. It’s a suitcase, not your closet, so you don’t need everything.

People sometimes say, “But how do I know what I’m going to feel like wearing on Tuesday?” Alas, it’s about covering your nakedness, not about feelings, but with luck, you’ll feel like wearing something you put in the bag if you’ve chosen well.

Take more tops than bottoms. If you wear black pants today, few people will know if you wear the same ones tomorrow or the next day. Change the tops instead. (I always take a couple of pairs of black pants because I know I’m going to spill.) Use the same strategy if you’re a guy. Take a suit and a second pair of pants and change the shirts and ties. For more casual situations, think sweater and sport coat instead of a jacket.

But what if the queen calls to invite you to lunch? Were you invited to lunch with the queen last time you were in London? Probably not. If she calls this time, you can always buy something there. Otherwise, you need to pack for the logical possibilities.

Make sense?

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Susan Foster is the author of “Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler.”