Shipping vs. Checking: Which would you rather do?

Posted by George Hobica on Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Airline baggage fees got you down? Afraid your luggage will get lost, stolen or damaged? Then why not discover the joys of shipping luggage ahead using economical ground shipping services?

By shipping your belongings ahead of your arrival by 4 or 5 days, you can save money in some scenarios. But in all cases, you'll enjoy better shipment tracking than the airlines can offer, plus better security. And, of course, you can breeze through the airport without waiting in ever-increasing lines to check in your bags with the airlines.

Below, a chart comparing shipments of varying weights and sizes sent over routes of varying length on the three major shipping companies compared with an airline with relatively high bag fees and one with low or no bag fees. As you can see, shipping charges compare favorably with lugging your own luggage.

Note: these fees are all for one-way travel or shipment. Frequent flyers with status, first and business class customers, and certain other categories of customers may be exempt from some or all of these fees.

Bags shipped or checked	Route	USPS Parcel Post	FedEx Ground	UPS Ground	Delta	Southwest
One 25 pound suitcase, normal size (under 61 linear inches),	Boston to San Francisco	$29.88	$40.53	$36.06	$23 (paid online) or $25 (paid at airport)	Free
	Chicago to Orlando	$19.32	$22.72	$20.67	$23-$25	Free
	Phoenix to Philadelphia	$29.88	$40.53	$36.06	$23-$25	Free
	Los Angeles to Seattle	$19.32	$22.72	$20.67	$23-$25	Free
One 55 lb suitcase, normal size	Boston to San Francisco	$56.09	$61.01	$67.80	$113-$115 ($90 overweight charge + $23-$25 first bag fee)	$50
	Chicago to Orlando	$33.59	$35.50	$39.45	$113-$115 ($90 overweight charge + $23-$25 first bag fee)	$50
	Phoenix to Philadelphia	$56.09	$61.01	$67.80	$113-$115 ($90 overweight charge + $23-$25 first bag fee)	$50
	Los Angeles to Seattle	$33.59	$35.50	$39.45	$113-$115 ($90 overweight charge + $23-$25 first bag fee)	$50
One 25 lb suitcase, one 35 lb suitcase,	Boston to San Francisco	$68.49	$84.49	$84.90	$23+$32 ($55) paid online; $25+$35 ($60) paid at airport	Free
	Chicago to Orlando	$43.40	$47.25	$47.93	$23+$32 ($55) paid online; $25+$35 ($60) paid at airport	Free
	Phoenix to Philadelphia	$68.49	$84.89	$84.90	$23+$32 ($55) paid online; $25+$35 ($60) paid at airport	Free
	Los Angeles to Seattle	$43.40	$47.25	$47.93	$23+$32 ($55) paid online; $25+$35 ($60) paid at airport	Free
One 60 pound suitcase measuring 70 linear inches (40 by 30 by 10)	Boston to San Francisco	$107.16	$67.64	$71.27	$288-$290 ($265 + $23 online or $25 airport)	$50
	Chicago to Orlando	$67.89	$42.15	$41.70	$288-$290 ($265 + $23 online or $25 airport)	$50
	Phoenix to Philadelphia	$107.16	$67.64	$71.27	$288-$290 ($265 + $23 online or $25 airport)	$50
	Los Angeles to Seattle	$67.89	$42.15	$41.70	$288-$290 ($265 + $23 online or $25 airport)	$50

Categories: Airfare Tips

What about rates to Asia [Thailand]

by chas on Monday, January 30, 2012

What about shipping to other countries? Or shipping within other countries. For instance, Iceland Air allows two bags up to 50 pounds each for trips starting in the US and going to Europe. But continuing on Lufthansa the limit is one bag with $70 charged to go on. Would it make sense to find a shipper to send one bag on from Frankfurt to Portugal? Is there a web site to find out this sort of info?

by Ess on Thursday, November 10, 2011

I have thought about this since I have a health conditon that requires alot of meds / nebulizers, etc. And spouse has cpap machine too. I have carried them on only to get questioned by security if I really needed all those meds ? Going on a cruise, left no option for going to pharmacy either. I wanted to respond that if airlines didn't have a reputation for losing them I would check them through . Leaves me with no room though to carry anything else on. I don't worry much about the coming home part ( i have meds at home) , it's the going part. If my meds are lost when going on vacation, I have nothing. Do most hotels accept luggage, shipments etc without a major hassle or complications ?

by medtravel on Sunday, April 10, 2011

The comparison between USPS, Fedex and UPS is somewhat misleading. The latter two include $100 of insurance and more importantly, a shipment tracking number. The USPS amounts include neither.

by cowboy on Thursday, April 07, 2011

baggage tips

by Janet on Thursday, April 07, 2011

I highly recommend shipping your luggage and golf clubs through The UPS Store. They pack, ship and track it for a reasonable price. Best part, you can even pre-pay for a return label to have your bags shipped back.

by behappy on Tuesday, March 22, 2011

What about adding to the chart the companies that specialize in shipping luggage plus those that ship skis?

by jbelkin on Wednesday, February 16, 2011

nice

by barney on Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Makes sense however round trip shipping to/from hawaii is ridiculously expensive...the $25 airline charge is the way to go in this case

by kkalei on Wednesday, April 21, 2010

I agree with lawgeek77 and that shipping companies are the way to go. I do want to point out though most of these companies (not UPS/FedEx) do all the leg work for you, aside from packing your clothes that is. This is a big part of why your paying them the premium you are compared to the major shippers. What i have realized is this...the Airlines are good at shipping people, but these companies make their livelyhood out of shipping bags...They know how to get it done and its well worth it. Two companies I have heard of are Luggage Forward and Luggage 'somthing', will update if I can remember.

by luvinsunluvinsand on Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Since I only have to come back, I don't bother going anywhere, anymore. Hassle solved.

by borwitt on Saturday, February 20, 2010

I agree w/TG63, most luggage is about 50lbs since that is the limit w/o charge. I have a friend who swears by this and everyone thinks he is crazy, but it makes sense. I will look into it.

by nycmoe on Thursday, January 28, 2010

How about golf clubs??? Will a shipper take these in a carry case? This is the reason why my husband doesn't want to fly anything except Southwest when is takes a golf trip.

by dunnettreader on Thursday, January 28, 2010

If you are shipping round trip why ship your bag? Just ship your clothing...save some weight, depending on the bag.

by Cardinal on Thursday, January 28, 2010

good idea

by mary on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

A very important advantage of advance shipping has been omitted: security. Shipped bags can be locked with much less fear of theft.

by indydealmaker on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

I have been shipping my luggage for domestic flights with forwarding companies or with domestic shipping companies ever since they started charging fees. It really does work well if you have the foresight to plan ahead. Just be sure if you're staying at a hotel, you call ahead and ask them to receive the shipment. You can send it to a pack and ship, but many hotels will receive it if you let them know that it is arriving.

by lawgeek77 on Wednesday, January 27, 2010

american eagle (AA) is the only service from my small town. so i ship my clothes/electronics in a box, don't need the suitcase. just fyi, parcel post can take 2 weeks to go cross-country. call a local pack&ship store to learn what day you need to ship for your box to arrive the same day you arrive.

by HecVille on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

SHIP DON'T CHECK

by OTTO on Tuesday, January 26, 2010

@airdog and Koba1966. We are comparing apples to apples. Have NO idea what you're on about! Yeah, we're really working for Fedex and UPS... geesh! You don't work for the airlines do you? Just FYI, lots of people are doing this these days as an option. We're only presenting it as an option, not as a dictate that you must do.

by George Hobica on Friday, January 22, 2010

@katerinasmommy: You must've skipped over the first line of the second paragraph ('By shipping your belongings AHEAD of your arrival by 4 or 5 days...').

by hakka3 on Friday, January 22, 2010

do you have a similar analisis for overseas traveling? Ex. Miami-Madrid or Miami - Paris

by dondaro on Friday, January 22, 2010

i don't see a under 55# suitcase but over 25#. Most travelers suitcases are closer to 40 - 50#. What is this scenario?

by travelgirl63 on Friday, January 22, 2010

I think the real point is...how much is shipping for 48 pound bags? not 25 versus 55 which is overweight on most airlines. The real travelers have bags slightly under the max of 50, so the actual shipping charges to compare the airlines and shippers who charge by that pound need to be on this chart to really be of assistance. It's good but not really on point as much as it needs to be.

by Cristop on Thursday, January 21, 2010

I have always wondered exactly where everyone is shipping their bags to??? If traveling to family of friends - of course, yes, that is obvious. But do you really trust a hotel to hold your bags for goodness knows how long? And will the hotel charge for receiving and holding the bags? And how complicated is it if the carton does not arrive as scheduled or if it can't be located once you get to the hotel? I think the person below who suggests that the shipping companies arrnage for baggage drop-off and pick-up and some specified location in large cities has a great idea. I love the automatic return service in the smae box too. Need is the mother of invention!

by ecisme on Thursday, January 21, 2010

I hear this all the time in the media and I find it ridiculous. All the fees shown are GROUND transportation and can take five days to get where you are. If you're going to have to take another bag just for carry on to tide you over until your bag gets there you're schlepping anyway. By the time the bag gets to you you might as well find a laundrymat and wash the clothes you brought in the carryon. Who writes this stuff? Why do they put it online?

by katerinasmommy on Thursday, January 21, 2010

FedEx could destroy airlines using checked-bag fees in hub cities like Indianapolis if they did three things: 1. Have a bag check in booth in the terminal in the same area you check in for flights for last minute checkers. 2. Have a convenient pickup location off site at the airport similar to a car rental location to retrieve premailed luggage if you want to pick it up at the airport if you shipped ahead of time. Optionally, set the package to deliver at your destination address (may be hard with delivery confirmations). 3. Offer and all-in-one price, 'free return shipping' using the same barcodes, at a competitive price so that you just reuse the same shipping box to send everything back home. In addition, the return shipping address would be your house in your origination city, so no lugging luggage home! It's so amazingly simple if you know you have to stow luggage, the resources of FedEx and UPS could be used to make travel much more hassle free in this new world of fees.

by Kumar on Thursday, January 21, 2010

If you are traveling for work check, our company has special rates with UPS and Fedex. Bring the suitcase or box to the office to be shipped and save yourself the hassle of drop off and expense accounting the charge after. However, suggest speaking with the chief bean-counter in advance and having it make 'officially OK'

by Kay on Thursday, January 21, 2010

I agree with airdog. The first part of this chart is very midleading. Great advertisement for USPS/UPS and FedEx. No, I don't lke what the airlines charge, but when doing a comparison use what is the norm when packing....50 lbs.

by Koba1966 on Thursday, January 21, 2010

Please compare apples to apples. 50 pounds with the airline 50 pounds with UPS or Fedex

by airdog on Wednesday, January 20, 2010

If you're staying at a hotel & ship your bags in with UPS/FEDEX/USPS, be sure to check whether the hotel will charge any fees for receiving/holding shipments until you arrive. I recently shipped some boxes in for a conference & had to pay a holding fee for EACH BOX, so be sure to calculate that into your spreadsheet in advance of deciding whether to ship or check!

by Birdgirl 1 on Wednesday, January 20, 2010

I'm actually starting to consider this, with all the increased baggage fees. Has any one ever attempted this for a cruise before? If so, how did you find out where to send it to at the terminal? Thanks !!!

by travellinggirl on Wednesday, January 20, 2010

I've actually done this for YEARS, since I moved from Bar Harbor, Maine to Marina Del Rey, CA. it is SO much more convenient not hassling with luggage and ski crap, and now with the redunkulous baggage charges, smarter than ever! I don't even use a suitcase, I just shove everything I can in the fedex box & ship it right to my family/friends like a week beforehand, and then I can pack light and not worry about it! Also, I send a laundry bag over and use the box as my "hamper" while on my trip, then mail it all back home again, and I've NEVER had a problem or delay! My mom was SO right all those years ago!!!

by jjsteve77 on Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Some hotels do this already, but even so, you can save money and hassle by shipping. You can also send to the branch office, a friend's house, grandma's house.

by George Hobica on Monday, January 18, 2010

I would certainly consider shipping my bags on a longer trip, but here's one additional question - How long before hotels start charging to receive the bags? Sound farfetched? I've actually had it happen to me...

by xcatch on Monday, January 18, 2010

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Shipping vs. Checking: Which would you rather do?

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