As of late, I am seeing a lot of people being surprised with oversized/overweight carry-on fees; as well as car rental companies that charge or take your deposit for minor things happening to the car. Although this is not the rule, what happens is that a few negative experiences can sometimes be louder than the good ones that the majority of people have.
I will give you bits of advice to avoid some unpleasant situations.
First, let me state the obvious: rules exist to protect both the customer as well as the company providing a service. Companies are obliged to disclose their terms and conditions, and as a customer, you are also obliged to read them. If you’re signing documents without reading them first, you cannot claim you didn’t know.
Airline Luggage Policies
If you are traveling with checked luggage, reserve 1/4 of the weight to bring back souvenirs. We all bring back souvenirs, so it’s best to prepare for that when you are packing. Do you really need that many pants, t-shirts, dresses, shoes? Are you staying at an Airbnb where you have the opportunity to do your laundry? These are some things to consider.
Regarding carry-ons:
• If this is your only luggage, the same “under packing” rule applies. Fill it up to just 3/4 of its weight. Weigh your luggage once you are done packing and confer with the rules of the airline companies you flying with – both inbound and outbound.
• If you also have checked luggage, then the things that go into your carry-on should always be the same. No adding or removing items for the outbound trip. In this case, I use the carry-on for my electronics, personal hygiene, and a change of clothes – just the essentials.
The allowed carry-on dimensions and weights vary slightly from one airline company to another. Always check the ones you will be using during your trip, and account for some tolerances in those measures (meaning that if it’s stated that the width of allowed luggage is 20in, don’t trust your bag that is 19.9in).
Personal opinion – unless you have specific requirements for clothing – it’s better to under-pack, buy local clothes, and bring them back home with you – they will serve as souvenirs.
Car Rental Companies
Sure, there are some car rental companies better than others – but as a Portuguese, I’m always suspicious of all of them.
First – get full insurance. It may seem like a scam, but it’s not (I’ll get to that in a second). You can either get it through your credit card company or through the rental car company. Those might be a couple hundred euros, but there is no better feeling than knowing you are covered, should anything happen to the rental car.
Second – document everything. Before signing car hire documents, perform a thorough inspection of the car (paint damages, wheel, lights…) – everything you can think of. Make sure it is noted as pre-existing damage to the car, on the document you are about to sign. Also, take pictures – they can later serve as evidence. No matter how small it seems, ask to have these defects put in writing.
The reason for this is car rental companies can only buy new vehicles. Usually, after a couple thousand miles, they will resell the car and they want to get the best possible value. A dinged-up car gets them less money, so they repair them. However, they will have the user pay for those repairs – hence the deposits, insurance(s), and other fees. Having full coverage means one less concern so you can enjoy your holidays.
Bonus tip: make sure to have the Via Verde transponder when you rent a car to simplify paying tolls.
Best to all & safe travels!
Sérgio Costa
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