News‘Genius’ airport packing hack saves money, travel influencer claims — and security...

‘Genius’ airport packing hack saves money, travel influencer claims — and security doesn’t care

They’re making a baggage claim that might actually save travelers some money. 

Shelling out an extra $40 or more to check an overstuffed suitcase at the airport can be a real pain in the pocket. 

But this cash-conscious hack is said to “work like a dream” for trippers with a penchant for overpacking but an aversion to overpaying. 

A blond serious woman with luggage sitting in waiting room at the international airport.

Online, travelers agree with Woodhall, saying her duty-free packing hack works like magic. stock.adobe.com

“Travel tip,” fashion influencer Faith Woodhall wrote in the closed caption of her trending how-to. “Bring a second plastic bag full of stuff and buy a boots/duty-free bag at the airport so they think you’ve just bought stuff at the airport.”

In the clip, the brunette, a rising reality TV star from the UK, shared visuals of herself and a friend hiding their belongings in tote bags from a duty-free shop — airport stores that sell tax-exempt merchandise — to avoid luggage fees. 

Woodhall went on to tell her over 309,000 TikTok viewers, “[This hack] always works [like] a dream — never been charged for a second bag.”

And it seems Woodhall and many other thrifty vacationers have enjoyed similar success thanks to her duty-free flimflam. 

“This is genius,” cheered a commenter beneath the content creator’s post.

“Been doing this for years,” said another. “Works every time! Never had a problem.”

Woman trying to lock heavy suitcase on bed.

This TikTok hack may help travelers avoid airport baggage fees. Africa Studio – stock.adobe.com

Duty Free shop storefront with a sign at Istanbul Airport, Turkey, taken on March 31, 2023.

Duty-free shops sell tax-exempt merchandise in airports. Erman Gunes – stock.adobe.com

“I did this for Ibiza last week!!” a separate supporter chimed. 

“Please don’t expose our secrets like that,” joked a cheeky jet-setter. 

“This is ULTIMATE girl math,” another added, to which a giddy Woodhall wrote: “YESSSSS.”

It’s one of the many fast-ones frequent flyers try pulling in an effort to keep costs low. 

However, these silly saving stunts can sometimes backfire. 

A penny-pinching guy recently attempted to bypass baggage fees by jamming his clothes inside a pillowcase. Apparently, he’d hoped to pass the sack off as a pillow, but the tightwad trickster was caught and ultimately banned from a Frontier Airlines flight out of Orlando International Airport. 

Dylan Springer, 23, a professional dancer, shimmied into his excess clothes at the airport, transforming himself into a human suitcase to sidestep the $60 demand an airline was leveling against passengers hauling large luggage. 

“I put my Birkenstock sandals in my socks and my jeans over the top,” he said in a statement. “I put two books in each of the little side pockets I had on my legs which somehow perfectly fit in there.

“Then I had some snacks which I just put inside one of my pockets, and I had a portable charger inside my hood.

 » …

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Subscribe Today

GET EXCLUSIVE FULL ACCESS TO PREMIUM CONTENT

SUPPORT NONPROFIT JOURNALISM

EXPERT ANALYSIS OF AND EMERGING TRENDS IN CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE

TOPICAL VIDEO WEBINARS

Get unlimited access to our EXCLUSIVE Content and our archive of subscriber stories.

Exclusive content

Latest article

More article