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 The Airfarewatchdog Blog
Don't pay airline baggage fees. There's a better way
Posted by George on Tuesday, July 15, 2008
By DAVID LANDSEL
After Northwest’s announcement this week that they’ll be jumping on the first-checked-bag charge bandwagon, it seems as if increased luggage fees are here to stay. Finally, after all these years of reading about shipping your luggage in advance (and shrugging it off as too involved and possibly too expensive), you’re ready to play.
But is sending your worldly possessions ahead cost-effective? It all depends.
However, you can generally expect shipping ahead to be more secure, not to mention convenient, considering the long lines at the counters this summer. Also not to mention: You’re far less likely to have your bag “mishandled” (that’s the fun word the Department of Transportation uses) by your airline or the TSA. And if any of these shippers lose your bags, which is unlikely, at least they'll be sorry. Furthermore, airlines won't insure many types of articles, such as electronics, business items (such as samples), and other valuables.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
If you opt to send your luggage separately, you’ve got options. Many options.
First of all, you can treat your bags as if they were any other package, dropping them off with FedEx, UPS or your friendly neighborhood post office. In fact, you don't need a bag or suitcase at all (see tip below).
Should it feel odd to you, shipping your personal effects across the country as if they were an unwanted sweater or pair of shoes heading back for the warehouse, there are multiple luggage shipping services for you to choose from, with names like Luggage Free, Luggage Concierge, Sports Express, The Luggage Club. (You are sensing a trend, here, yes?). They are very expensive (see chart), but they do provide door to door service and packaging.
We’ve chosen two services – Luggage Free and Luggage Concierge – pitting them against traditional shipping methods and, of course, what it would cost to put your bags on board two very different airlines – Delta and Southwest.
As you can see from the chart, Southwest has moderate luggage fees compared to older legacy carriers such as Delta. And FedEx Ground is your best bet if you don't want to schelp your belongings yourself.
| Rates based on round-trip shipping |
45 lb bag Hartford
to Tampa |
55 lb bag Philadelphia to Los Angeles |
75 lb bag
Salt Lake City to Washington |
1 oversize bag (65 linear inches) at 75 lb
Las Vegas
to Fort Lauderdale |
| Delta |
$15 |
$180 |
$300 |
$650 |
| Southwest |
$0 |
$50 |
$100 |
$100 |
| UPS Ground |
$83.50 |
$133.84 |
$165.76 |
$165.76 |
| FedEx Ground |
$71.06 |
$106.30 |
$132.84 |
$132.84 |
| US Postal Service (Parcel Post) |
$69.60 |
$92.08 |
N/A |
N/A |
| Luggage Free 5-day |
$228.50 |
$261.50 |
$327.50 |
$327.50 |
Luggage Concierge
Ground |
$200 |
$248.84 |
$280.76 |
$280.76 |
HELPFUL HINTS
1) Whether it’s overpaying for cheap boxes at the post office or paying your luggage concierge to pack it in feathers (or whatever), remember to protect your belongings.
2) If you can’t ensure that you’re going to be at your destination when your luggage arrives, make sure someone is there to sign for it (such as the bell desk at your hotel, or the receptionist at the branch office).
3) Staying in one place at the other end? Ditch the suitcase – it is added weight you don’t need to be paying for. At the end of your trip, just repack in the original boxes and ship home.
4) One of the benefits of using a dedicated luggage service is that where necessary, packaging tends to be included in the charge – not generally the case when shipping via usual methods. 5) Some hotels do charge a fee for storing your luggage, but chances are your parents and office receptionist won't. It's a good idea to call your hotel ahead of time and let them know you're expecting something.
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Great tips. But what about international travel? Is there a service that beats the airline charges?
by Marge on
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
You describe shipping luggage ahead by freight or by courier as less likely to result in "mishandling" - essentially your luggage being lost, and then you mention that shipping your luggage to a hotel, the front desk will receive it for you.
More than half the time that I've shipped something ahead to a hotel, when I arrive they have no idea where my items are. Often the front desk is unhelpful, just saying "we haven't received anything for you" and then leaving me to track down proof of delivery and come back to them to insist that they do indeed have my items. More than once, I've gone into the bowels of a building with security to a package room where I had to sort by myself through dozens of brown cardboard boxes to find the one with the shipping label with my name on it.
Arriving in the evening to find a hotel had misplaced my meeting supplies is a pain -- to find they had lost my clothes on a vacation would be truly upsetting. Maybe hotels will get better at this if more people start shipping things in advance, but I think it's unlikely -- even when I notify the hotel in advance to watch for something for me, they don't seem to care.
by Brian on
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Where did you get $50 for the Southwest charge? I just checked their policies today and the overweight bag would cost $25, not $50. Or am I missing something?
"Southwest will allow two (2) checked pieces of baggage per ticketed Customer....
Weight and Size Allowance: Maximum weight is 50 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage. Effective March 1, 2005, overweight items from 51 to 70 pounds will be accepted for a charge of $25.00"
Thanks for the great article!
by Harold on
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
We have been shipping our things home from Colorado for years! For about $50, Master Shipping in Estes Park ships a huge box filled with our hiking gear, Colorado clothes, gifts, etc. We think it is a great deal, and it is also nice to have it come a few days after we get home, so we aren't overwhelmed by unpacking after a tiring flight. This fall we will ship our things out there too. Airline shipping is obnoxious.
by Donna on
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
i shipped a large samsonite hardside via ups to my sister's office (regular deliveries) for about $35. it weighd about 30lbs. it was well worth the cash, to avoid the aggravation of possibly losing or getting late delivery, because i was leaving for beijing the next day. i would absolutely do this again!
by cheryl on
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Great advice and this may indeed be the way to go, but be warned of incurring hotel fees for receiving guest packages. On a recent trip to Chicago, a major international hotel charged $15 before we had even checked in. At least they knew where most of our packages were (note: I say most), and cared when we checked out only to discover our third package had been there the entire time.
by Keith on
Thursday, July 17, 2008
International travel is some what risky. Who and why would the hotel take on the responsiblity of storing and securing luggage. There is a huge responsiblity and liability for securing luggage. I highly doubt the hotel industry is set up to perform such a service when traveling internationally. If the hotel is commiting to such a service it will most likely come a price, but make sure you get a written commitment and what they aren'e going to insure.
So in the end you have a charge to pre-ship by the cartage agent of your choice and a charge at the other end to store and secure you luggage at the hotel.
by Edward on
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Like the idea of shipping luggage. I think it's the royal way to travel free. When I go for a week, I can have the personal things I always miss. If you have a great travel backpack purse to use as a carry-on, you can be hands free to have a Latte, or even hold a grandchild's hand. Something has to be easy these days.
by Myrna Marofsky on
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Your fares and tips seem to be basd solely on domestic travel. WEhat about international travel. Shipping bags ahead would be exhorbbitant to say the least. I've just booked my trip to Spain and I've seen no reduced fares from your service, Even if the fare is lowered, will the airline honor the reduction after the fact?
by Anne on
Thursday, July 17, 2008
And international? Let's have some figures and methods on that.
by mabel on
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The e-mail heading was:
Save Money on Luggage Fees!
I cannot find any information in the article that tells me how to "save money on luggage fees". Where is this information?
by Delaney on
Thursday, July 17, 2008
To the reader who notes that Southwest charges $25 for a bag over 50 pounds, you're right, but this chart is round-trip, as it states. So it's $50 round-trip. For those looking for international fees, these are all over the map, and there are hundreds of international carriers, but you should definitely inquire before you fly, because these fees can sometimes cost way more than your fare! As for shipping fees internationally, this too is expensive and may require customs clearance and documentation, so we don't really recommend it.
by George Hobica on
Thursday, July 17, 2008
I sense a new industry here. One that not only ships your luggage, but then holds it at a conveniently located locker or small cage, of which you have a key (car rental offices?, private shuttle offices?) outside the airport. The padlock combination could be sent e-mail to you before you leave home. Verified receiving of the luggage, luggage insurance, etc. would also all have to be worked out.
by Terry L. Moses on
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Do you think this will make people think TWICE before packing that extra pair or (whatever -shoes?) to keep costs down? I've shipped dirty clothes home from Alaska before to make room for items I've purchased there. I think most posters are correct about hotels NOT wanting the responsibilites of "watching your suitcases" & storage of them until you arrive.
by caroleena jones on
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thiis BAGGAGE issue & ALL the endless variety of fees/surcharges/fuel adds/taxes etc. that airlines have managed to dump on passengers is disgusting PERIOD.
Please keep posting specific info on these charges & policies of the WORST, so that passengers can pick airlines/$ accordingly.
Some of us have been around long enough to recall how many times Congress & the airlines have forced TAXPAYERS as well as PASSENGERS to fund every airline stupid they commit -- endlessly. Think about it. How many times do we bail out these idiots who have no clue how to run their business? And every time we travel they tell us their fares "must" be higher + addl surcharges + lousy, surly "service." When any safety or "on-time" issues arise, public & Congress are told "Airlines can't afford that!" Seems to me, all of us have already paid many times over to end this, but NO.
HOW is it that the traveling public have no rights or recourse in tihis at all? Where is our gov't? FAA?
Noting exceptions for some of Southwest, Virgin, JetBlue, I still ask: "Who's got this gov't bail-out money & why are WE paying all over again @ ticketing now?
by Nancy on
Thursday, July 17, 2008
i just returned from 3 months in Italy and shipped many of the items i needed for my Italian apartment ahead by DHL.
I paid about $145 for a hugh box of clothes, books, etc.
i flew into Pisa and was traveling to Sorrento. Anyone who travels by train in Italy knows the platfor is 2 feet lower than the train entrance and if you can not lift your 50 pound bag you should consider shipping your bag ahead.
I discovered mail box etc office in Florence to be incredible. I shipped my luggage ahead to the MBE office in sorrento so that i could travel with a overnight bag to small towns in Umbria without dragging my larger bag.
I used this service to ship my bag from sorento back to Florence at the end of my trip.
i will say that shipping my bag back to the usa by MBE was more expensive than DHL but they did everything: packed it, paperwork, insurance and it was delivered to my door in the USA as scheduled.
next year i will drag all my bags with me and SHIP when i arrive in Italy. MBE is located in most cities.
by lee on
Friday, July 18, 2008
We will be traveling back to the states from Prague and wanted to know how to ship back to USA; is this possible?
by Terry on
Friday, July 18, 2008
What about cruise lines, with all the different clothing you need, a large suitcase or hanger bag is needed, and mine are usually right at 60lbs. each
Do you know if any cruise lines will accept shipped luggage?
by Lynda on
Friday, July 18, 2008
This is an interesting concept. Fortunately, for us crazy liberal Canucks the baggage nonsense hasn't hit us YET.
That aside, how does this help us Canucks who fly out of neighbouring border airports?
by Mark on
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Packages can be mailed to the local UPS office for a $5 pick up charge plus the postage if someone there will sign a release for them to do this.
by Su on
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
How about shipping luggage from Florida to Argentina? Do Fed Ex or HDL do that? And how much? Is it safe?
by L. Levin on
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
And then there's Greyhound. I just checked and for a 30 lb , 22" bag from NYC to LA it's under $40. Caveats; it will take 3 days and they only insure up to $300 and, you have to pick it up at the bus station. But, you can't beat the price.
by Thomas Lelsie on
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Just remember that when you're comparing UPS/FedEx ground with the airlines, you're comparing your bag traveling with you and arriving when you do (most of the time :- ) with five days west to east coast (or vice versa).
by Carol Brown on
Thursday, July 24, 2008
american airlines is the worst have had nothing but bad experiences with them
by patrick donahue on
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Because we have small children, we always send a box to our hotel. It's much easier to travel with young children, without having to deal with luggage too. Recently when we went to Disney World, we shipped three boxes with all of our clothes in them. I went down a few days earlier for a conference and was already at the hotel. When my husband and children arrived, the boxes were already there. All he had to travel with were the kids and one little carry on bag for coloring books, crayons etc... We always travel this way now. It makes it much easier and the cost was nominal because we shipped from his work at a reduced rate for FedEx. About $30 for three boxes. Well worth it.
by trinity on
Thursday, July 24, 2008
There is a service in the Orlando area, called Owner's Locker. For an annual fee, they store a locker for you with whatever you want to store - toiletries, clothes, etc. They will deliver to and pick up from virtually any area hotel or timeshare. It makes traveling to the Orlando area quite convenient, and depending upon the plan selected, the annual fee is less than or about equal to shipping your bag. It is well worth considering if you are a regular traveler there. IMO, it's a great concept, one I would expect to see duplicated in other resort areas with many return visitors (eg, Las Vegas). To my knowledge, they do not yet accept bag shipments but then, I have never asked. Apparently most Orlando hotels accept shipments quite routinely, though.
by Laurie on
Friday, August 15, 2008
Don't forget, if you are shipping items internationally (not as luggage accompanying you) then this would be treated as any other international package shipment and may be subject to customs declarations, which would mean you would have to know the harmonized tariff code for personal effects and declare them upon export and possibly upon import in the importing country. I work in international cargo shipping, and personally, I don't think it would be worth the hassle and possible risk of getting hung up in a foreign customs office.
by Edie Folta on
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
We send our things ahead via USPS. It's inexpensive. We have no worries as to whether or not our things will be there when we get there. Makes traveling ever so easy!
We send everything to GENERAL DELIVERY and simply pick up at the post office where GENERAL DELIVERY is located. Make sure your indentification matches the addressee (passport or driver's license). When it's time to come home, we ship it back. I include shipping labels for the return trip in one of the boxes.
by Anne Ryan on
Sunday, October 12, 2008
I would also like to find out the cheapest way of shipping boxes home to Australia. By air cargo it's going to cost me an arm & leg. I've looked into Sea Freight....this can take up to 35 days+, before mt personal items arrive on the West Coast of Aussie..
by Merrel on
Thursday, October 23, 2008
I am moving back to Argentina. I am currently leving in the US. I was trying to find the cheapest and most trustworthy way to send some luggage over there. I am just trying to save money. Airlines charge around $125 per extra suitcase....I think that it is a little expensive...so I was wondering if anyone had to ship luggage before and what was your experience. Can anyone help me??? maggie01ar@hotmail.com
by Maggie on
Monday, November 17, 2008
I am moving back to Argentina. I am currently leving in the US. I was trying to find the cheapest and most trustworthy way to send some luggage over there. I am just trying to save money. Airlines charge around $125 per extra suitcase....I think that it is a little expensive...so I was wondering if anyone had to ship luggage before and what was your experience. Can anyone help me??? maggie01ar@hotmail.com
by Maggie on
Monday, November 17, 2008
What about greyhound shipping (goes on the bus)? It is many times faster than fedex or UPS ground and costs less. For example to ship a 45 lb bag from Cleveland to Seattle would cost $53
by Scott E on
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I have learned to take much less with me....my excuse at the formal nights on the cruise...formal wear is too much to bring. I only cruise or stay at hotels where there are self-service laundries. I found that on the QM2 ( I did 2 transAtlantic crossing) not only are the laundries self service, they are free AND the cruiseline provides the soap! We travel with a carryon each. Really, in these days of being provided with toiletries, do we need to carry all that?
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by Octavia on
Friday, June 26, 2009
Nice idea but wil it be safe?
by Home Interior on
Thursday, September 17, 2009
What about cruise lines, with all the different clothing you need, a large suitcase or hanger bag is needed, and mine are usually right at 60lbs. each
Do you know if any cruise lines will accept shipped luggage?
by austria on
Friday, September 18, 2009
I work in international cargo shipping, and personally, I don't think it would be worth the hassle and possible risk of getting hung up in a foreign customs office. card printing cd duplication I am moving back to Argentina. I am currently leving in the US. I was trying to find the cheapest and most trustworthy way to send some luggage over there.LCD Projector stainless steel hose fittings It is many times faster than fedex or UPS ground and costs less.
by Malaysia SEO on
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Next time you fly, especially if you’ve left the kids at home, consider packing separately in a bag that can be gate checked. This seems to be a non-publicized option as there was no mention of it on the US Airways website. I would certainly ask if you have this option as you check in for your flight
by affordable seo on
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Its a great deal,not to pay for the baggage
by Credit Repair Services on
Sunday, September 27, 2009
In every case, Southwest Airlines cost less than any of the other alternatives. Further, the up-charge could have been avoided at Southwest by checking TWO bags, each under the size and weight limits.
by ILUVSWA on
Monday, September 28, 2009
When I carry my laptop in its case, I have to open the case and send it through the X-ray machine. If I pack the laptop in the middle of a carry-on suitcase filled with clothes, can someone tell me if I will get a hassle when they see it through the X-ray viewer?
by flywrite on
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The padlock combination could be sent e-mail to you before you leave home. Verified receiving of the luggage, luggage insurance, etc. would also all have to be worked out in industrial gas.
by Industry Gas on
Friday, October 02, 2009
Thats true..Sometimes its worth to send through parcel post..
So for all the ones out there don worry if u cant take everythin wid u while travelling..
Dentists in Brighton
by dentist brighton on
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Thats true..Sometimes its worth to send through parcel post..
So for all the ones out there don worry if u cant take everythin wid u while travelling..
Dentists in Brighton
Dentists in Brighton
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by Dwight on
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The up-charge could have been avoided at Southwest by checking TWO bags, each under the size and weight limits. Games Download
by Xbox on
Thursday, October 22, 2009
In every case, Southwest Airlines cost less than any of the other alternatives. Further, the up-charge could have been avoided at Southwest by checking TWO bags, each under the size and weight limits. unique pocket watches
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by john2000 on
Friday, October 23, 2009
I cannot pay baggage fee when I have a better option elsewhere. I'm living under a tight budget now.
by baby shower diaper cakes on
Monday, October 26, 2009
Your advice seems to be the best. There's no need to pay for something I can get free of charge.
by Air Transportation on
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sometimes sending my possessions ahead of travels is cost-effective, depending on the location of the travel. I really don't like paying for airline baggage fees, which are expensive excess luggage.
by Rave Clothing Store on
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Southwest will allow two (2) checked pieces of baggage per ticketed Customer....
Weight and Size Allowance: is true.. Dentists in Brighton
by dentistbrighton on
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The challenge and frustration for checked baggage fees is that more than 30 million bags are mishandled, lost or damaged in some way each year (global data). Event planners, business travelers and others are more than willing to pay an extra fee to know that their bag will safely make it to the other side -- and airlines know this. However, many airline bags don't. A Wall Street Journal article just chronicled the story of Andrew Price who heads the Baggage Improvement Program, a five-year global campaign launched by the International Air Transport Association, an airline trade group in Geneva that is trying to help members step up their luggage game...London Escorts | London Escort Agency
by Mike on
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Is that true? I paid 10£ extras this time while comign back from caribean
by Dentist in Birmingham on
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
I always look for better ways to escape paying baggage fees. Thanks for bringing up a good option.
by Traffic School on
Thursday, November 05, 2009
It is amazing how much these baggage fees can add up to the bottom line of your trip.
by wedding cakes on
Saturday, November 07, 2009 Post a Comment
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