The Best Packing Tips For Fee-Free Air Travel

Airlines such as US Airways (LCC), United (UAUA) and American (AMR) have decided to start charging fliers to check even one bag, which is going to force a lot of people to shell out extra money.

Even carriers such as Continental (CAL), JetBlue (JBLU), Delta (DAL) and Southwest (LUV) will charge if you have too many bags or if the bags are too heavy.

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The good news is there are a lot of ways you can minimize how much stuff you take on trips -- and possibly even avoid the fees.

Airport security won't let you carry on containers bigger than about 3 ounces of liquids or gels, so that's a start. Here are 15 more things you can do to lighten your load.

15) Don't overpack
Yes, this sounds simple. But the reality is that most people do overpack. When you're throwing stuff into your suitcase for that two-day business trip, ask yourself, "Do I really need this, or can I live without it till I get back?"

14) Leave the towels at home
If you're staying at a hotel, your room will be stocked with towels. And those things take up a lot of space.

13) Limit your shoes
Shoes don't just take up a lot of room; they're also heavy. Remember, you're going to have to hoist this suitcase into the overhead container, carry it up airport stairs and the like. Try to limit yourself to a few pairs, and wear your bulkiest pair on the plane.