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This is good, but you risk not being able to board your plane if it’s nearly full or full and your seat being lost too. So be careful.

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In those situations they will usually announce free bag check well before boarding.

Assuming you have a carry-on sized bag

Exactly, in which case, why on earth would you want to check it anyway? It'll cost you extra time after arrival waiting for your checked bag.

What I've learned from LPT is that there are some cheap ass motherfuckers in this world.

Feels kinda like an unethical life pro tip, although fuck the airlines so yeah

This your first flight? Bad tip.

Just walk to the gate counter and ask to gate check your bag. It’s free. The fee you pay is to check your bag pre security. Sometimes they would even upgrade boarding zone knowing you aren’t using a overhead bin.

I may be wrong for some airlines I guess but I normally fly southwest or American.

Eh however cheap the individual is, the corporation is always that but more and ruthlessly so. Shouldn't be looked down upon on one side and excused or even applauded on the other. (not that you're doing that, I'm speaking generally).

Edit: also some people really need to be frugal to survive.

My credit card gives me one free checked bag, and I always check my bag now. It’s so much easier to move around an airport during transfers when all I’ve got is my small carry-on with me. In addition, it means I can take my Swiss Army knife with me, and larger bottles of shampoo etc.

As for delays at my destination? The longest I’ve had to wait for my bag is a few minutes. The airlines I use, anyway, are hyper focused on getting bags to the conveyor belt before most passengers have deplaned. YMMD, but that’s my experience.

Edit: I should also add that the United app lets me track my bag from drop off to destination, but I also have an AirTag hidden in my locked (TSA approved) suitcase. The only time TSA has opened my suitcase was when I’d put my iPad in it, so now I just carry it onboard.