As Smart Senior Daily readers know all too well, airlines keep tightening baggage rules and stacking on fees, and most Americans are adjusting how they pack and travel because of it. Most Americans, but not most Seniors/Boomers.
A new survey of 1,000 U.S. adult travelers from international luggage-shipping company Send My Bag found a gaping generational split in how people are responding to rising airline costs and restrictions.
While the youngsters in our lives – 85.1% of Gen Z travelers say the fees and rules have changed how they pack or travel – only 58.1% of Baby Boomers agree, a 27-point gap that makes Boomers the generation least likely to change their habits.
That's not necessarily good news. A few more numbers from the survey make the case:
It doesn't take much to see that Boomers are unaffected by rising costs and more like they're set in their ways. Stubborn or not, they're sticking with routines that are a little antiquated, even as they're the most skeptical of what airlines are charging them for.
However... One area in which Boomers are surprisingly open to something new is in shipping luggage.
While that demographic would be a once-in-a-blue-moon rated guess for most analysts, an interesting 67.6% say they’d consider trying a service that ships your bags ahead of you instead of checking them in.
That’s good to know if checked-bag fees, weight limits, or wrestling suitcases through terminals have begun to wear you down to the point of becoming a total frazzled wreck.
Smart Senior Daily Staff
Packing smarter, not harder
That metric begs the question of "how," so Smart Senior Daily pinged Darren Johnston, a travel expert at Send My Bag who has helped ship customers' luggage all over the world, to share his packing wisdom geared specifically toward older travelers navigating today's stricter, pricier airline environment. Here's what he'd tell his mom and dad to do:
Keep medications in your carry-on. "Don't check them. Leave them in their original labeled containers," he said. "Pack a few extra days' supply in case of delays, and check destination restrictions ahead of time."
Load heavy items near the wheels. "It keeps your suitcase balanced and easier to steer through long terminals or hotel hallways," was Johnston's mantra.
Choose luggage built for your body, not just your trip. When's the last time you looked in the mirror? You're not Hercules any longer, and that giant bag you could handle back in your 30s is in serious need of a swap-out.
Johnston: "A lightweight four-wheel spinner cuts down on the lifting and dragging that heavier bags demand.
Need a new suitcase? Here's a highly-rated choice
Expandable, spinner wheels, several color choices, easy to check or put in the overhead
Pack a "first night" bag. Pack one (just one) change of clothes, plus your meds, toiletries, chargers, and important documents in your carry-on, so you're covered if checked or shipped luggage is delayed.
Resist packing for every "just in case." "Planning outfits ahead of time, and doing a load of laundry on longer trips, usually beats hauling an oversized suitcase," Johnston suggests.
If you use a cane, walker, or foldable wheelchair, plan ahead with the airline. Check the carrier's policy before you leave and notify them in advance so mobility aids stay accessible and boarding goes smoother.
Photograph your bag before you close it. One shot of the contents on the inside and one shot of the outside. If it's delayed or damaged, you'll have what you need for a claim.
The bottom line
Airlines aren't getting more generous with fees or clearer with pricing, and the survey suggests older travelers know it; they just haven't changed course as fast as younger generations have.
Small adjustments, like carrying medications on your person and rethinking what actually goes in the suitcase, cost nothing and can save real headaches.
And if checked-bag fees have gotten out of hand, a luggage-shipping service may be worth a look, something two-thirds of Boomers say they'd consider even though few have tried it yet.
