Shipping instead of checking luggage

[vettechick99]

I haven't flown since they started charging for checking luggage. I'll be going from GA to CA and figure it's cheaper to UPS a box of clothes instead of checking two bags and getting charged 4 times for the RT. Am I right in this assumption?

 

[ilovemk76]

I haven't flown since they started charging for checking luggage. I'll be going from GA to CA and figure it's cheaper to UPS a box of clothes instead of checking two bags and getting charged 4 times for the RT. Am I right in this assumption?

Fly Southwest and pay nothing for two checked bags per ticketed passenger. The weight has to be no more than 50 lbs.

 

[vettechick99]

Already have my ticket and it's Delta.

 

[scrapquitler]

I haven't flown since they started charging for checking luggage. I'll be going from GA to CA and figure it's cheaper to UPS a box of clothes instead of checking two bags and getting charged 4 times for the RT. Am I right in this assumption?

Based on my experience, UPS isnt' going to be any cheaper. You might want to toss your clothes into the box you plan to use, and take it to the UPS store to find out how much it will actually cost. Keep in mind that you'll have to pay to UPS both directions unless you plan to throw your clothes away at the end of your trip.

 

[Poohbug]

Or you can pack up the things you want to ship, weigh it, and go online to see how much it will cost to ship.

Sometimes the prices are very similar and not having to schlep your luggage through the airport(especially if you have small children) is well worth the extra $5-$10 to have a box shipped.

I have been watching the baggage fees. If they keep going up, I think it will be cheaper to just buy stuff when you get there.

 

[drcmk]

I don't know about the price, but make sure to have some basics with you in case your flight is delayed or rerouted or your box is delayed. We once had a 9:00 pm connecting flight delayed until 8:00 the next morning and there were some families on the plane that didn't have diapers (and no place to buy then within walking distance when the announcement was made at nearly midnight that we weren't leaving after all).

 

[MrsPete]

We've done it. A couple hints:

- I packed up a "sample box" of clothes and took it to UPS for an estimate. It was cheaper, though not much, but it made traveling a little easier -- no suitcase to wheel on/off the plane, no need to fight for overhead space. It'd be especially nice for a person who had a layover/need to change planes.
- I mailed the package a good week in advance, and I called the hotel to verify they'd received it. This won't do for a last-minute packer.
- We chose carefully: We wore our boots and mailed our flip-flops.
- No problems with liquids. I did encase everything in ziplocks.
- I packed a half-used roll of packing tape with my clothes so I'd be able to re-package the box at the end of the trip.
- Obviously, you can't mail the suitcase (or even a duffle bag) if you want to save money -- you have to mail just the clothes in a box.
- It was cheaper going home because our toiletries, sunscreen, etc. didn't make the return trip.

- Yeah, Southwest doesn't charge for bags, but we don't have Southwest here.

 

[crisi]

Some of the Disney resort charge for packages received. I'm not sure which ones, but you'll want to make sure there isn't a charge at the other end.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Based on my experience, UPS isnt' going to be any cheaper. You might want to toss your clothes into the box you plan to use, and take it to the UPS store to find out how much it will actually cost. Keep in mind that you'll have to pay to UPS both directions unless you plan to throw your clothes away at the end of your trip.

I completely agree. It will probably be cheaper (and a lot less hassle) to just pay to check a bag.

 

[englishteacha]

After our trip last February, where we each checked a bag, I won't be bringing THAT much stuff on vacation again! We'd gotten a credit because our airfare dropped, so we applied that to our checked luggage. I certainly wouldn't have paid to check 2 bags each way on top of our original airfare. We weren't sure if it would be warm or cold so we brought plenty of clothes for either. It would have been so much easier to just do a load of laundry midweek than to have to sort through jeans and sweaters to find my shorts and t-shirts!

Could you check one bag and do a load of laundry on your trip? Just pack in carry-ons? Or just pack essentials in carry-ons and mail/ship a box? Maybe you could do one of those flat rate boxes from the post office.

 

[DawnM]

Get a Delta American Express card. Free fees the first year, 25,000 miles to sign up, and free bags for you and your family (one each.)

Dawn

 

[DOREEN1779]

I shippied 3 boxes from NJ and the most expensive one was under $30.00. I think the prices are close and if you apply a AAA at UPS, you get a bit more off. I would not hesitate to do this again. With small children, it made such a difference in the airport. Quicker and easier. No waiting for your luggage to arrive with Magical Express. Just tell the CM at check in and bell services brings it right up. You can arrange for shipping labels for the return at UPS so on your day of departure, you call Bell Services and they call UPS to p/u. We had no problems, just allow enough time for 5 day ground services, otherwise the rates get a lot higher.

 

[vettechick99]

Thanks for all the advice. It's DH and I going, so we'd probably have to check 2 bags. We could easily do laundry while we are there since we're staying at my sister's. We can possibly consolidate into one bag. However, we are going to San Francisco, where the weather is cooler, so lots of sweaters and jeans to take. So many factors to consider.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Depending on how many people you have and how much you like to bargain hunt, you could always pull a Helen Mirren.

Apparently when she travels she brings her toiletries and underwear and such and nothing else. When she gets to her destination she find the name of a good thrift store and takes a cab there. She buys whatever clothes she will need for her time in XYZ.

At the end of her trip, she donates it all back to charity.

I've wanted to do this ever since I heard about it, but haven't yet had the opportunity. (And I have the CC for the airline I mostly travel with, so no baggage fees for me.)

 

[lmbcdb]

We've done it. A couple hints:

- I packed up a "sample box" of clothes and took it to UPS for an estimate. It was cheaper, though not much, but it made traveling a little easier -- no suitcase to wheel on/off the plane, no need to fight for overhead space. It'd be especially nice for a person who had a layover/need to change planes.
- I mailed the package a good week in advance, and I called the hotel to verify they'd received it. This won't do for a last-minute packer.
- We chose carefully: We wore our boots and mailed our flip-flops.
- No problems with liquids. I did encase everything in ziplocks.
- I packed a half-used roll of packing tape with my clothes so I'd be able to re-package the box at the end of the trip.
- Obviously, you can't mail the suitcase (or even a duffle bag) if you want to save money -- you have to mail just the clothes in a box.
- It was cheaper going home because our toiletries, sunscreen, etc. didn't make the return trip.

- Yeah, Southwest doesn't charge for bags, but we don't have Southwest here.

Did you mail it back home again, or did you tape the box back up and check it on the way home?

 

[DISdreamin']

You might consider the AmEx Skymiles card. I think you might be able to get the first year fee-free, and I believe gold and platinum cardholders get the first bag free for themselves and some number (can't recall if it's 7 or something like that) of other passengers on the same reservation.

We've done this on three trips now, and the card basically has paid for itself that way. With our upcoming trip in January, we'll be ahead by having the card. Not great, but

Oh, and SW? Unfortunately they don't fly out of our city and they don't fly into the one where we travel to the most. We'd have a 4-1/2 hour round trip on this end and a 7-8 hour round trip on the other to make them work. Honestly, I'd pay the baggage fee before doing that.

 

[MrsPete]

Did you mail it back home again, or did you tape the box back up and check it on the way home?

I brought along a small roll of duct tape, and I prepared a shipping label at home. I packed the box back up and had UPS pick it up from the hotel. It did arrive a few days after we did.

Given that we had to change planes, this was easier than carrying our own luggage. No luggage in/out of taxis, no going to the check-in desk, no waiting for luggage to be unloaded. And slightly less money than checking.

 

[ChiCat]

Sorry if you said this already but how long are you staying. DH and I never check bags (except when we got married and had to because of the dress and whatnot) but we usually take shorter trips (so we can take many trips ) so I can easily get by for 6 days with just packing my stuff in my carryon without doing laundry.

 

[si-am]

We recently flew ATL to LAX on Delta and we had three bags to check because we were heading, from there, overseas. It wasn't cheap. (I can't remember how much, $80-$90 I think) But to me it's worth it to not stress about clothes on vacation. I like being able to pack what I want and not have to wear the same stuff over and over.

I just include it in the vacation budget. (Just be careful they are under the weight limit! It's far cheaper to check an extra bag than to pay a fee for a heavy bag!)

 

[beansmom]

we fly Jetblue and one bag free but this trip we need two large bags for costumes, etc. In my mind, it's cheaper and less hassle to just pay the $25 fee each way. I don't want to spend my vacation time shopping for clothes and I don't want to have worry if the package never shows up.