Luggage shippers picking up on demand for bag handling

[Ned]

For those willing to pay for it, shipping your luggage to and from your travel destination can be a terrific alternative, considering the new baggage rules for flying and the airlines steadily reduced limits on free luggage. I've found that Travel Club (mentioned in the article) costs about $143 to send a 75lbs bag from PHL to LA (5 day service) or $241 (2 day service), while UPS would cost $68 (5 day service) or $215 (2 day service). Either way it adds a lot to the cost of your trip. If you're going to ship often, Travel Club offers memberships will reduce their costs to you. If you're going to be overweight or have too much luggage, shipping can be an option.

Originally posted by Travel Weekly by David Cgoswell - August 28 2006
Luggage shippers picking up on demand for bag handling

The Luggage Club seemed like a better idea after Aug. 10 than ever before.

With the tightening of baggage restrictions, the Oshkosh, Wis.-based baggage-handling service, which does door-to-door luggage pick-up and drop-off, saw a surge in business. It now is reporting double-digit year-over-year growth.

"People were already struggling," said Gene Langenecker, CEO. "Airlines were strictly enforcing the 50-pound limit. People were cramming things into their carry-on bags. Now the latest restrictions are creating confusion. People don't know what to take on or leave off.

"Now you can ship it and be done with it."

Travel agents have said that, after the new security regulations went into effect, some clients began shipping baggage and overnighting essentials to their destinations via shippers like Federal Express and DHL.

Universal Express, a Boca Raton, Fla.-based courier, has been around since 1997, but people are seeing the operation with different eyes now. During the week following Aug. 10, the company claims to have seen a 19% surge in bookings for its Luggage Express and Virtual Bellhop brands of baggage handling.

"It's been a crazy, crazy, crazy couple of weeks," said Cecilia Vesnesky, COO. "We've closed quite a few of our contracts with new partners that we've been asking to sign. Most of them are saying this seems like a perfect time to do this...Go to Luggage shippers picking up... (http://www.travelweekly.com/articles.aspx?articleid=52905) to read the entire article.

[Travel Weekly requires free registration to read their entire articles.]

[amybhole]

Shipping bags is convenient and sometimes necessary, but be aware of one issue.

My parents recently shipped bags to and from Europe using DHL. The bags arrived in Europe on time with no issues. The bags took ages to make it back to America, however, and when they did arrive, the bags were destroyed. Amazingly, the contents (the most important thing, of course) were fine. But the bags were unbelievable. It was as if someone had told the handlers that they had five minutes to see who could inflict the most damage with a hatchet, and that the winner would take home $5000.

Of course, my parents had selected extra insurance before shipping, on top of the protections normally afforded by a shipping company. But, of course, the bags weren't covered -- only the contents.

So it might be wise to choose the cheapest suitcases possible if shipping your luggage. Even if something happens because they're cheap, your contents will be protected, and you won't have lost a good piece of luggage.

[Ned]

Hi Amy,

Here's my tip. Purchase a box from the shipping company and put the fully packed bag in the box. The major world wide shippers; UPS, FedEx and DHL all sell shipping boxes at reasonable prices. If they don't have a box that fits there are plenty places in major cities which do.

By putting your bag in the box, everything is contents, the bag and its contents. I've done this with FedEx and they paid to replace my bag. You've got to insure it for the replacement cost of the bag and everything which is in the bag, of course.

[bodega]

Wow, look at the cost per pound to ship luggage, versus the cost per pound of body weight when you buy your discounted coach ticket :P

Why not ship you clothes without your suitcase and just check in an empty suitcase, packing it on the other end? Wouldn't that provide entertainment for security? :o

[amybhole]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ned @ Sep 1 2006, 11:14 AM) 36183</div>
Hi Amy,

Here's my tip. Purchase a box from the shipping company and put the fully packed bag in the box. The major world wide shippers; UPS, FedEx and DHL all sell shipping boxes at reasonable prices. If they don't have a box that fits there are plenty places in major cities which do.

By putting your bag in the box, everything is contents, the bag and its contents. I've done this with FedEx and they paid to replace my bag. You've got to insure it for the replacement cost of the bag and everything which is in the bag, of course.
[/b]


That's a great idea. I will suggest this for their next trip. As someone who works in travel/hospitality, they have always solicited my advice (but don't always listen!) I have always lectured them about reading fine print, so they're more apt to listen to me now!

[queenbabbers]

There are a few luggage forwarding companies out there for this type of service. I am a frequent traveler, whether it be for business or pleasure and I find that it's much more convenient to have larger items shipped ahead of me. Most of the companies out there provide door-to-door service and have pretty competitive rates but after trying a few different services(the ones mentioned in the article included) I found that Luggge Forward does the best job. They ship internationally and domestically (domestic orders are guaranteed) and each bag is automatically insured for $500 (you can purchase additional insurance for a small fee). If you have bulky items such as golf bags or skis this service is especially helpful.

[Ned]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(queenbabbers @ Oct 8 2006, 02:54 PM) 39067</div>
There are a few luggage forwarding companies out there for this type of service. I am a frequent traveler, whether it be for business or pleasure and I find that it's much more convenient to have larger items shipped ahead of me. Most of the companies out there provide door-to-door service and have pretty competitive rates but after trying a few different services(the ones mentioned in the article included) I found that Luggge Forward does the best job. They ship internationally and domestically (domestic orders are guaranteed) and each bag is automatically insured for $500 (you can purchase additional insurance for a small fee). If you have bulky items such as golf bags or skis this service is especially helpful.
[/b]
QB, welcome to Tripso. Happy to have you aboard.

Thanks for the Luggage Forward tip. I'm going to check them out.

$500 isn't much insurance on a bag, however, when you include the cost of the bag itself. When people decide how much insurance to take, when shipping luggage ahead, I hope they don't forget to include the replacement cost of their luggage, as good luggage is expensive, along with the replacement cost of their contents.