Kip Tips
Save Money by Shipping Your Luggage
You may spend less by using a shipping company -- rather than the airlines -- to get your bags to your destination.
By Cameron Huddleston, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger.com
January 26, 2010
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You may be able to save money by shipping your luggage rather than checking it in the next time you fly. The idea might sound absurd. But if you do the math – as Airfarewatchdog.com has done for you in this chart -- you’ll see that it would cost you less in some cases to send your bags to your destination by FedEx, UPS or U.S. Postal Service ground shipping.
Passengers who have luggage that exceeds airlines’ size and weight limits will score the biggest savings. They’ll spend about $50 less by shipping one overweight suitcase than checking it in -- and up to $200 by shipping two overweight bags.
Even if the cost is the same for shipping and checking bags, you get so much more from FedEx and UPS, says Airfarewatchdog.com founder George Hobica, who ships his luggage. They have better delivery records than the airlines, they provide tracking numbers so you can follow your shipment online and they let you insure items that the airlines don’t, he says. Plus, you’re more likely to get a refund from a shipping company than an airline if your luggage is damaged or lost.
Another benefit: You won’t have to wait in long lines at the airport to check your bags. And if you have small children, you’ll be a lot less stressed if you don’t have to lug your kids and luggage from the parking lot to the terminal.
The key is to ship your luggage a few days BEFORE your flight so that it arrives at your destination when you do. If you’re visiting a relative, the shipping logistics are easy. But if you’re going to be staying in a hotel or condo, you should consider having the shipping company hold your items so you can pick them up. Otherwise, you might have to pay a fee to have the hotel or rental office hold your luggage until you arrive.
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Reader Comments (8)
Posted by: Bob at 01/27/2010 05:51:32 PM
Using a shipping company sounds good on the surface BUT if you use the cheapest ground delivery, the shipping times can vary from 1-6 days. You also must take the luggage to them in most cases and have someone on the other end hold it for you if it is not delivered when expected. I find this much more inconvenient than checking a bag at the airport. With a little careful planning most people should be able to pack everything into a carry-on and never check a bag. Many airlines will allow one carry-on plus a purse or small backpack or a computer case. A lot can be stuffed into a large purse or small backpack including extra clothes, reading material and enough snack food or granola bars for several flights. At Christmas time or on trips where we expect to buy larger items, we will check a large suitcase with a heavy duty duffel bag inside. On the way home we will split the weight between the two bags and check one for each of us. We also try to fly the one airline without any bags fees for under 50 pounds.
Posted by: Walter at 02/02/2010 09:35:07 AM
Using a shipper is easy. Past holiday season we used UPS for the second year with no problems. Dropped off bags,cabled zippers, paid round trip for bags, took five minutes. UPS picked up bags at famil"ys home on return for no extra charge. Used UPS Groundtrak. Only drawback is getting your bags back four days after you return home. Considerable time saved lugging bags thru airport, waiting for baggage etc,etc. I highly recommend it for the extra money.
Posted by: diver at 02/18/2010 08:57:19 PM
If you really can't do most reasonable trips (1-7 days) without checking luggage, then you are just inviting all of the consequences.
Posted by: JobConcierge at 02/19/2010 09:42:53 AM
Can someone please explain how this works? It doesn't make sense to me with if you're sending your personal belongings but don't report the items on the customs form. Usually customs will bill you for whatever value your belongings have. Thanks.
Posted by: Sumschmoe... at 02/19/2010 03:34:46 PM
That's BS... Airline fees are far cheaper than the Fedex or UPS, specially traveling overseas... If you're going to a local site than yeah, you can have someone drive it up for ya... lol
Posted by: mobycat at 02/20/2010 11:35:08 AM
They are talking about overweight items. Almost all airlines charge $50+ for a bag weighing over 50 pounds. And unless you are flying Virgin, you are going to pay a minimum $50 for a third bag. I can ship a 70# bag from DC to LA for about $45 via Fedex Ground. I have done this many times - and I have NEVER had a problem with shipping it to my hotel. I've even had items arrive at the hotel a full 5 days before I do. All I did was call them and make sure they knew I was coming. No charges, no hassle. Yes, you usually have to take it to the shipping location when you send it to your destination. But there are Kinko/Fedex locations everywhere. And you can easily send it directly from your hotel on the return.
Posted by: sumschmoe at 02/20/2010 04:55:20 PM
try that with 70# to Salamanca, Spain and you quickly see all that nonsense is just that nonsense... going from LA to DC with 3 suitcases of 70# must be a "special" person. An Avg joe does no such thing so this article may be relevant to less than 1% of fliers.
Posted by: Vicky at 04/07/2010 03:04:27 PM
Forget charging for extra baggage, I think they should charge for overweight people. There's nothing worse than sitting next to someone who takes up two seats and has an attitude. I paid many pennies extra to fly Premium Pacific Economy to New Zealand, and the massive guy next to me readily admitted that while his family was flying regular economy, because he was so large he upgraded himself. It was impossible to get out of my seat. Why should I have to pay anything extra for baggage when many passengers weigh a hundred pounds more than I.