According to the Bureau of Transportation, US airlines made $2,566,695 in revenue from baggage fees in 2010 alone. But get this: most passengers are paying hundreds of dollars in fees that they could avoid altogether with some advance preparation.

Want to avoid paying an extra $30 to $50 in checked baggage fees, or worse, the exorbitant fees charged for overweight luggage? Follow these 10 tips for avoiding checked baggage fees so you can buy a nice steak dinner with that cash instead.

1. Travel light – and then take only half of what you pack

The best possible way to beat checked baggage fees is to travel light and avoid checking baggage altogether. Use compression bags or packing cubes so that all of your belongings fit into a carry-on suitcase. If you’re an avid reader and tend to travel with several books, you can lighten the load by switching to a digital reader.

2. Fly on airlines that don’t charge for checked luggage

The majority of airlines now charge for checked luggage, but Southwest allows two checked pieces of baggage per passenger and jetBlue allows one checked piece of baggage per passenger. Fly Southwest or jetBlue when possible to avoid paying hefty checked luggage fees.

3. Become a frequent flyer program member and earn as many miles as possible

If you become an elite member of some frequent flyer programs, your checked baggage fees will be waived. For example, US Airways waives luggage fees for preferred members of its Dividend Miles program, as well as for Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members. To earn more miles and reach elite status faster, sign up for credit cards/debit cards that award miles every time you use them and shop with airline partners.

4. Take a digital scale with you on your travels

Using a digital scale will help you avoid overweight luggage fees when you travel. The Balanzza Mini is light, compact, and easy to use, and you can easily store it in your bag.

5. Ship your belongings in advance

Shipping belongings in advance is another way to avoid paying checked baggage fees, although you should only do it if your luggage is relatively light and you’re traveling within the country. For example, if you’re only taking some clothes and other basic items with you, stuff them into a Priority Mail Flat Rate box and ship it to your destination ahead of time.

6. Find out if you qualify for a discount or fee waiver

Many airlines waive checked luggage fees for first class passengers, active duty military members, unaccompanied minors, and certain credit card holders. Find out what your airline’s policies are because you may qualify for a discount or waiver, too.

7. Rent sporting equipment at your destination

Going on a golfing, ski, snowboarding, or surfing trip? To avoid paying exorbitant fees for oversized items, leave the bulky sporting equipment at home and rent equipment at your destination instead.

8. Wear your luggage

You probably don’t want to wear five layers of clothing on the plane because it would be excruciatingly hot, but you can wear your belongings if you use travel clothing, such as the SCOTTeVEST travel jacket, which features 37 pockets and is compatible with the Macbook Air and iPad.

9. Find a hotel that’ll cover the fees

Several hotel chains offer their guests room credits to offset the cost of checked baggage fees. For example, if you show proof of an airline checked baggage charge when you check in at any Kimpton Hotel, you’ll receive a room credit for one bag (up to $25).

10. Choose a lightweight suitcase

Lightweight suitcases are an essential item for anyone who travels frequently, not only because they’re easier to carry, but also because they’ll allow you to fit more in your luggage while avoiding overweight baggage fees. Suitcases made with state-of-the-art materials, like polycarbonate and ballistic nylon, aren’t cheap but they’ll help you avoid overweight luggage fees for years to come.

via Jannisri

Airport lounges are seemingly out of reach for economy class flyers.  These road warriors usually opt for the least worn out chair at their connecting flight’s gate or perhaps a table at the nearest food court.  Without a corporate expense account or trust fund, they think, there is little hope of sitting in a plush chair in a quiet lounge surfing the internet and munching on complimentary snacks.

But there are several ways to access these lounges without springing for a first-class ticket.  In fact, with credit cards, club memberships and a variety of pay-in lounges throughout the world, it is now easier than ever to spend your layover in a lounge.

Here are some ideas for getting both economy class airfares and a first-class layover experience.

Priority Pass

Priority Pass is a service that offers access to 600 lounges worldwide for an annual membership fee.  Most major airports around the world have at least one lounge that is part of the Priority Pass network.

The company has several membership levels.  For $99 annually, members earn the right to access the lounges in the Priority Pass network for $27 per visit.  For $399, members receive free unlimited access to any of the 600 clubs.  There is also a $249 level where members get 10 free visits per year and additional visits at the $27 per entry rate.  Though $399 is a bit pricey, frequent flyers can take advantage of the access regularly and the membership fee is still less than the cost of most first-class upgrades.  The value of the lower membership levels is debatable, especially since the number of public pay-in lounges (see below) is growing.

MJTR, Flickr

Credit Cards

Premium credit cards can also offer lounge access.  The most famous of these (because of its aggressive advertising campaign) is the American Express Platinum card.  The annual fee of $450 is steep, but it qualifies card-holders for a variety of perks, one of which is entry to clubs operated by American Airlines, Delta and Continental.  The catch: you have to fly one of these airlines in order to enter their lounge.  However, if you usually fly one of these carriers and also plan to use the card to earn airline miles and take advantage of AmEx’s outstanding customer service, this is a reasonable option.

The Visa Black card has similar miles-earning potential and perks.  The $499 annual fee includes a Priority Pass membership.  However, after the first two visits, the admission fee is $27, making it less potent than Platinum when it comes to lounge access.

Plaza Premium Lounge

Pay-in Lounges

For casual travelers who don’t think the above-mentioned options are reasonable, the proliferation of public pay-in lounges is a welcome trend .  Sure, they might not carry the elitist vibe of airline clubs, but they offer many of the same amenities, and, in some cases, more luxury than traditional clubs.  The idea is already successful in East and South Asia, where Plaza Premium lounges can be found in most major airports.  Prices start at about $25 for a two hour stay complete with wi-fi, snacks, a comfortable and quiet atmosphere, and, the kicker, access to private showers.  Plaza Premium also has locations in Toronto and Vancouver, but none in the US as of this writing.

US-based pay-in options include The Lounge at JFK ($40 entry fee, unless you are a Priority Pass member) and Relax Lounge at LAX ($10 for a one hour stay and $25 for three hours.

Capsule Hotels

A company called Yotel recently opened locations in England and the Netherlands.  Their novel approach to airport hospitality is half-inspired by Japanese capsule hotels and a half by first class airline cabins.  The small Yotel rooms include a bed, television and shower and plenty of modern chic.  Rooms can be booked by the hour or for the entire night.  Though no locations are open in the US, Yotel is currently in talks with several airports and industry insiders claim that it will fill a valid niche in between airport hotels and lounges and arguably will offer better value than both.

Annual Airline Club Membership

Airline club membership is quite expensive (Delta from $400, American from $400, for flyers with little or no frequent flyer status).  These legacy airlines also offer one time entry into their clubs for a $50 fee.  If you normally rely on one airline, the annual pass can be a good deal, because you can use airline miles to purchase yearly membership and flyers who gain higher levels of frequent flyer status often receive significant discounts on these yearly passes.  In addition, renewal fees are usually less expensive than the fee for the initial year of membership.

Spas

Space, quiet and the opportunity for some serious relaxation are reasons you would try to gain entry to an airport lounge.  However, lounges are not the only airport venues that offer a chance to relax.  Xpress Spa is a chain of full service spas located in airports around the US.  What could be more relaxing than a massage or facial in the quiet, designer surroundings of a spa?  Locations are in many major airports in the US, including JFK, SFO, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson, Boston Logan, and Orlando International.  A brief, seated massage is in the same price range as a stay in an airport lounge.

Of course, if all else fails, there is always the option of finding a restaurant with booths on your concourse, ordering an appetizer and zoning out with your iPod.

via Flickr: Andres Rueda

Earning frequent flyer miles is one of the perks of traveling regularly.  However, the effort spent to get those miles, through an airline’s loyalty program or by using a credit card with a miles rewards program, is often disproportionate to the reward.  Average airline credit cards give you one mile (sometimes known as a point) per dollar.  You’d have to spend $25,000 in order to earn a free domestic flight.  That is beyond what the casual consumer is wiling to put on their charge card at any one time.

But not all miles-earning credit cards are equal.  Some award multiple miles per dollar, but are restrictive about when the miles can be used.  Others have high annual fees, but offer a higher miles-per-dollar-spent ratio and other perks like airport lounge access and travel insurance.

Which card is the most useful?  It depends on the kind of travel that a person plans to do and on their spending habits.  With that in mind, here are some of the best credit cards for earning airline miles in 2010.

Basic Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

Miles by Discover Card matches the industry standard of 1 mile for every $1 spent.  But the extra perks offered by Discover, especially during the first year of use, make it a worthwhile choice for casual miles-collectors.  By making a purchase at least once during the month, users qualify to receive an additional 1,000 miles.  That’s a total of 12,000 additional miles during the first year (you are about half-way to a free round-trip flight).  Like many other Discover Cards, qualified cardholders get a 0% APR for the first six months that their account is open.

Blue Sky from American Express is another basic credit card with no annual fee.  New Blue Sky cardholders will enjoy six months of 0% interest.  The AmEx points system works slightly differently than Discover’s, with the first 7,500 points qualifying card-holders for $100 in credit with an airline, hotel, resort, or car rental agency.  Features like ATM access, a global customer service hotline and hotel room guarantees give the Blue Sky an impressive list of extras, especially considering that it is a no-fee card.

Premium Frequent Flyer Cards – These cards have high annual fees but also high dollars-to-miles ratios and extra perks like airport club access.

The American Express Platinum Charge Card is the most heavily promoted card in this market.  Its $450 annual fee seems quite steep, but for card-holders who actually take advantage of all the perks and miles earning potential, it can still be considered a good deal.  The card has a standard $1 for 1 point ratio, but that climbs to 4 points-per-dollar when shopping with American Express “Bonus Points Mall” affiliates.  Industry-leading extras include access to select premium class airport lounges around the world (for the cardholder plus up to two guests).  This access is even available to cardholders who are flying economy class.  American Express also offers concierge service to Platinum members who need help with travel plans or reservations at hotels and restaurants.

The American Express Gold Card ($125 per year fee is waived for the first year) tones down the extras compared the Platinum option, but still offers double points for certain online purchases, a global customer service hotline and worldwide ATM access.

Visa’s exclusive Black Card is their answer AmEx’s high-end cards.  Black has a $495 annual fee and essentially offers the same perks as its platinum counterpart: lounge access (via Priority Pass) and great miles-earning potential.  The Black also offers travel accident insurance coverage up to $250,000, $1,500 for trip cancellation insurance and lost baggage insurance up to $300.

Miles Cards for Specific Airlines – These cards can be the most useful option, especially if you are already a member of a specific airline’s loyalty program.

Delta SkyMiles Credit Card by American Express comes in two varieties.  The Platinum SkyMiles card costs $150 per year, while its Gold counterpart is $95 (with the first year’s fee waived).  Users earn an impressive 20,000 miles with their first purchase using either card (that’s $200 off the price of a flight on Delta or on one of the allied airlines that accept Delta frequent flyer miles).  Card-holders also receive an annual certificate good towards a companion ticket on any flight they book using their SkyMiles card.  The Gold Card awards a $99 discount, while the Platinum bestows one free companion ticket.

The JetBlue American Express Card has the lowest fee of any airline miles credit card at only $40 per year.  Card holders earn the standard 1 point-per-dollar, but that is bumped up to 8 points per dollar when making purchases using the card on jetblue.com.  Also, the card allows members to take advantage of JetBlue’s low prices by trading in miles once they reach the 10,000 mile mark.  Most other cards require users to have at least 25,000 miles before redeeming.

The Virgin Atlantic Black Card stands out by offering 1.5 miles for every dollar spent, as opposed to the usual 1-to-1 ratio offered by other cards.  In addition, flyers are awarded 20,000 bonus points with their first purchase and 3 points per dollar spent on Virgin Atlantic flights, services or merchandise.

The Citi AAdvantage Card is a reasonable option for people who fly the large legacy carrier frequently.  Citi awards cardholders who spend $750 in their first four months of membership with 25,000 free miles (enough for a round-trip ticket).  Miles are always good on flights to anywhere that AA flies.  The annual membership fee is $85 per year, which is slightly lower than similar cards offered by other legacy carriers.

The Chase Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Card is priced even lower than the AAdvanatge, with an annual fee of $59.  Chase offers double miles (2 miles per dollar) for all Southwest purchases.

It is imperative that cardholders read the fine print of both the frequent flyer program of their favorite airline and their miles-earning credit cards.  Also, the miles are not really a money-saver if you carry a balance from month to month on a card that does not offer a 0% introductory APR.  The money paid to interest will far exceed the money saved by earning frequent flyer miles since cards general have at least a 9% APR, with most around 13%-19%.  However, for frequent flyers who are disciplined enough and also belong to a specific airline’s frequent flyer (or loyalty) program, an airline credit card can lead to significant savings.