Checking luggage
Price: This varies by airline. On domestic flights, most airlines have begun charging passengers to check a single bag. These airlines include American, AirTran, Continental, Delta/Northwest, United and US Airways, all of whom charge $15 for the first bag you wish to check. Spirit charges passengers $15 if they reserve their first checked bag in advance online (the fee will jump to $19 in April) and $25 at the airport. Southwest continues to allow passengers to check one bag free of charge. Beyond that first bag, you'll have to pay on nearly every airline except Southwest. On JetBlue, it's $20, and on AirTran, American, Continental, Delta/Northwest, Spirit, United and US Airways, you'll pay $25. In most cases these fees do not apply to elite fliers, first or business class passengers, passengers who have paid full fare on a particular route, and travelers flying internationally beyond the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. Policies change, my suggestion is to check with your airline prior to flying.
Pros: Despite the new fees, checking your bags is usually still the cheapest option for travelers bringing only one or two pieces of luggage.
Checking bags is convenient if you are a last-minute packer, since you don't need to make advance arrangements for dropping off your bag or having it picked up.
When the system works properly, your luggage departs and arrives at the same time you do, no matter what time or day of the week it is.
Cons: Even if you pay a fee to check a bag, there's no guarantee that the airline won't lose or mishandle your luggage. You'll have to wait in line to check your bags before your flight, and then wait again at the baggage carousel after you arrive. (Got a stopover? You may even have to do this more than once!)
Schlepping your own bags to and from the airport can be tiring, and it's less convenient than having a shipping service do all the work for you.
If your bags are overweight or you're checking more than two items, you could pay dearly in airline penalties -- making shipping a more economical option.
Standard Delivery Services
Who: FedEx, UPS, DHL, the United States Postal Service and other all-purpose shipping companiesPrice: The cost varies widely based on the size and weight of your bag, the distance it needs to travel, and the speed of service that you select. To send a 40-pound suitcase from New York to San Francisco in five days, UPS quoted us a fee of $49.72. Want it there in three days? The price skyrockets to $105.Raise the weight of the bag to 60 pounds, and UPS charges $66.21 for five-day delivery -- which could be less than the penalties you'll pay for exceeding your airline's weight limit. (For example, Delta charges $90 for bags weighing between 51 and 70 pounds.)
Pros: These services are quite reliable and will generally give you a tracking number so that you can keep tabs on the whereabouts of your bag. They're less expensive than specialized luggage services, and (as in the example above) could be more economical than checking a bag with your airline under certain circumstances.
Shipping your bags ahead of time allows you to skip check-in lines and waiting around at baggage claim.
Cons: UPS, FedEx and the like do not offer as much personal service as the smaller luggage shipping companies. You may need to drop your bag off at a designated shipping location or arrange for a special pickup several days before your trip. Service may only be available on business days.
In most cases, shipping your bags will be pricier than checking them on your airline.
Luggage Shipping Companies
Who: Luggage Forward, Luggage Concierge, Luggage Free, Luggage Club, Sports Express and many others
Price: To send a 40-pound bag between New York and San Francisco, the lowest price we found on Luggage Forward was $103 each way (for delivery within four to seven days). Luggage Free, which charges per pound, gave us a quote of $66 for five-day delivery of a 40-pound bag, plus a fuel charge that varies by market and a standard pickup fee of $40.
Pros: Because these companies are fairly small, you'll get a lot of personal attention. If your itinerary changes, an agent will handle all the details of rerouting your luggage.
These companies are experienced at dealing with luggage in all shapes and sizes, including skis, surf boards, golf clubs, bicycles and monster-sized bags.
The luggage shipping services generally guarantee that your bags will arrive on time and unscathed -- which is more than you can expect from an airline!
As with the standard shipping companies, using these luggage shipping companies will allow you to bypass check-in lines and baggage carousels. Instead, your luggage will be waiting for you at your hotel when you arrive.
Cons: Personalized service comes at a price. These companies will almost always be your most expensive option.
Like the standard delivery companies, these agencies typically do not deliver on weekends (though some Saturday services may be available).
You'll need to plan ahead enough to pack early and arrange for a pickup time before you leave for your trip.
