Three Hub Circus

Imagine arriving at the airport, unburdened by heavy suitcases. You get your boarding passes and are asked about bags to check. “It’s all taken care of,”  you say in a slightly bored voice as you adjust your sunglasses. You head to security with the kids in tow, each carrying just a small bag.  After getting off the plane at your destination, you and your family bypass the baggage carousel and head straight to the hotel. Your bags are waiting for you when you check in. Does this sound like a dream? No, it’s luggage shipping.

Luggage shipping services are gaining popularity. Sure, it’s mostly for luxury and leisure travelers, but the average family could sure build this into the cost of a vacation for all of it’s benefits. A parent quickly learns that one of the biggest hassles of adding kids to your life is that you gain more stuff. Their stuff.  And you’re in charge of that stuff, for at least a good decade, maybe more. Taking a family vacation is wonderful, but stressful. Parents are no longer just in charge of their own packing and handling of suitcases; they must also track their kids’ bags. Why not reduce the stress and just ship it?

Letting Go of Your Bags at the Airport is Full of Risks

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation data , there were 366,000 reports of lost, damaged, pilfered or delayed luggage made in February 2007 for U.S. airlines. That amazing number accounts for just one month and is 100,000 more complaints than for February 2006.Not all of that is the airline’s fault. Due to increasing security concerns, many more people are touching your baggage than ever before.  Another factor is that airlines are now charging for bags over fifty pounds, down from the previous limit of seventy-five pounds. Fitting all that family gear into a bag that weight can be trying.

Using a luggage shipping service makes it less likely that your bag will be lost. In an article by Rosemary McClure for the Chicago Tribune, Luggage Express, a shipping service out of New York and Florida, stated that has delivered over 31 million bags without a single loss.

How it Works

To use a luggage shipping service, you simply call their (800) number or visit their Web site to schedule a pick-up time for your bags. They will come right to your home and you need not even be there.  You give a few basic details about your bags, choose how fast you want to ship your bags, and pay. Bags are shipped domestically in one to three days, depending on the price you are willing to pay.

Shipping to a hotel is not a problem. If the customer has a reservation, hotels are very amenable to receiving luggage from shipping services because they are more likely to have a room occupied. You can then leave your luggage at the front desk for the return by the shipping service.

Some luggage services, such as First Luggage, a UK-based company, guarantees that the luggage arrives at the destination before the customer, or shipping is free.

Peace of mind is a big factor in using luggage shipping services. Most companies track your bags each step of the way and assign a concierge to quickly take care of any of your concerns.

The Drawbacks

Shipping luggage is pricey. Most companies listed below give easy online estimates and you can see if this service fits into your travel budget.

You also have to plan to be packed up to three days before your flight. This may be too much in certain circumstances, but can also be a relief. With the knowledge that all your bags are already on their way, you can relax and just be concerned about carry-ons.

The Return Trip

You can use the luggage service to return your luggage to your home.  The flight home from a vacation seems to be the most tiring and least exciting part of a trip. Waiting at baggage claim for your bags with cranky kids can often be very unpleasant. With a luggage service, you can just step off the plane and head home.  Who knows, with this lifestyle, maybe a chauffeur will be waiting for you at the airport.

Top Shipping Companies to Try:

Luggage Free (800) 361-6871
Luggage Express (866) 744-7224
Luggage Forward (866) 416-7447
Luggage Concierge (800) 288-9818
Sports Express - specializes in shipping sports equipment (800) 357-4174
First Luggage  - based in the UK (800) 224 5781

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