Pay more or pack less? As more airlines charge more for checked luggage, summer travelers can consider some options.

Airlines cite soaring fuel prices as they tack on fees in an attempt to stem financial losses. Most major airlines now charge on domestic flights for a second checked bag. Some now charge for even one checked bag.

Packing light works for many. You can go with whatever can fit in a carry-on bag and one personal item — a purse, briefcase, backpack or laptop bag. So, you can use some of that space for your necessities.

You can choose one or two colors for your travel wardrobe so that all pieces of clothing can be worn in different combinations. Black and gray. Or blue and white. You can layer some clothing if you'll be in different temperatures rather than taking two sets of clothes.

Roll clothes so they fit into small spaces. Take advantage of unused spaces: Roll socks or underwear and put them into shoes.

Some travelers bring underwear that's starting to fade, old shirts and other clothes reaching the end of their stylish day. You throw them out and create some space for souvenirs or new clothes.

Many hotels routinely provide hair dryers, irons, in-room coffee makers and other items that travelers used to have to provide themselves.

Some travelers invest in lightweight garments that can be washed out in a sink, dried quickly and worn again.

And remember that airlines usually don't count carrying a coat onboard as luggage. So, carry a bulky coat or sweatshirt and wear your heavier shoes to help pack light.

There are a variety of private companies that will pick up your luggage at your home or the office and deliver it to your destination. But so far these seem pretty expensive for Hawai'i residents, costing hundreds of dollars for a round trip to the Mainland for three or four pieces of luggage.

Some people opt to ship through UPS or FedEx, where the price depends on destination and size, as it does for normal shipping.

The U.S. Postal Service offers some cheap options if you want to mail some of your stuff to or from your destination. Standard flat-rate boxes allow you to pay one price — no matter what you stuff in them, up to 70 pounds — and cost $9.80 to mail. (You can get a discount to $9.30 online, which includes free delivery confirmation, a 65-cent value.) A larger flat-rate box can hold 50 percent more by volume and costs $12.95 to mail or $12.50 online.

The loyalty reward program for Marriott International is offering some luggage help to members through a partnership with The Luggage Club.

Members can skip the hassle of checking their bags at the airport and dealing with increasing restrictions and fees by having their luggage shipped door-to-door. They can use their reward points to pay for the delivery service and will have no limits on size, weight or number of pieces shipped.

One company even offers up a stain-resistant treatment as a way to pack lighter by wearing your clothes more often. It's called BLOX and goes for $9.99 for an 8 oz.-bottle.

You would wash your clothes with the product, adding it to the fabric softener dispenser, and the clothes are supposed to repel hundreds of stains including red wine, coffee, blood and ink.

It's available at www.PreventStains.com and the company figures travelers can keep clothes clean so they can be worn multiple times during a trip and therefore pack fewer clothes. We haven't tried it — and don't know if it should come with extra deodorant — but would welcome hearing from folks who have.

If you have other suggestions for traveling light or tips for travel, please let us know. What makes your plane ride better? Is it favorite pillows, socks or headphones? We can share tips in a future column.

Are You Buying This? is a weekly consumer column. Reach Robbie Dingeman at 535-2429 or rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.