Shipping Luggage ahead instead of Checking It? Anyone Done This?

[suzimar57]

Curious if anyone has ever shipped their luggage ahead to WDW (thus avoiding the checking luggage fiasco entirely)? Now, I don't mean just the toiletries, I'm asking if you've actually sent your PACKED luggage ahead (via Fedex, UPS, or whatever) - possibly with the intention of having to check the luggage on the return flight home

Does the absence of luggage at the airport make you more likely to be "searched" or detained?

Not concerned about the cost of shipping the luggage, and the convenience of flying without the stress of checking luggage, having it searched, maybe items missing, lost luggage speaks for itself - just wondering if anyone actually DOES ship ahead

 

[goofy4tink]

I've been wondering the same thing myself. Any idea how much the cost is? We're flying from Logan to MCO in three weeks and I would love to not have to worry about it and have it waiting for me. Then I could check it coming home. Thoughts?????

 

[prncess674]

Not checking luggage is NOT a security flag. I travel for work every week with no luggage and have never been flagged for additional security based on that reason alone. Checking luggage does take a little extra time but IMHO opinion is not worth the cost. Besides UPS and FedEx can lose packages as well.

 

[NotUrsula]

There are several services that specialize in shipping luggage and sports equipment for vacations. For the most part, they charge less per lb. than a parcel service such as UPS or FedEX. The usual charge is about $80 each way, per bag (up to 50 lbs.) That includes about $100 insurance.

 

[safetymom]

I wouldn't depend on UPS and FedEx to get your suitcases there in time for check in. I can't tell you how many times lately my items have been "lost" for days. Most of the times they were found after I returned home. I need to ship equipment for demonstrations around the country.

This was with next day or second day air. They do issue credits but especially if you want your clothes for vacation don't depend on the fact that UPS or FedEx will get them there in time. My experience with them is much worse than the airlines!!!!!!

 

[mcnuss]

The issue of checked luggage has really been overplayed. It is really not that much of a hassle. The only thing that has really changed is that you shouldn't lock your bags. I usually don't need to check my bag since I mostly do 2-3 night trips with my 18 inch rollie, but I have done it occasionally and it is just no big deal. I think that it would be way more of a hassle getting my luggage ready days in advance, taking it to the shipping location, and then worrying that the hotel does not lose it while it is waiting there for you. I think you add a lot more risk to the process this way, and like safetymom, I have had both FedEx and UPS "misplace" overnight packages, whereas only once has an airline misplaced my luggage, and it came in on the very next flight.

 

[packy]

I would never ship luggage in advance. Aside from the cost, it may not get there when you get there. Unless you arrive real late for check-in, your luggage will at least be on the plane with you. One thing I have learned is to pack a bag with toiletries, and if not a complete change of clothes for everyone at least underwear and maybe socks and a top, and carry it on with you along with cameras and other valuables. This is particularly important if you have connecting flights. If your first flight arrives late, you bags may not make the swithch to the second flight, meaning you may not have anything until the next day depending on what time you fly.

 

[CarolMN]

IMHO, shipping luggage ahead of time just plain costs too much! It's included in the price of your airline ticket (unless it's overweight) and it really isn't that much of a hassle to check it. In fact, I'd consider it more of a hassle to pack way ahead of time, transport it to the shipping pick up and then worry about whether or not it will be there when I arrive.

I'd rather spend my vacation $$ at Disney.

 

[chamonix]

Well, as someone who had my luggage disappear while in the airlines care--never to be found again!!--(meaning: probably stolen by baggage handlers) I would say send the bags ahead. I have done it, and WDW resorts should be able to help you ship them to return as well. (I have shipped packages home from the Poly)
My advice is, no matter whether you send them by airline, or by USPS/UPS/couriers, etc. never pack anything that you are not prepared to never see again. Bags and packages are lost forever, every day.
I try to travel light, and carry anything that is *personally* valuable. I could have cared less if they took my camera, or my walkman, but there were things in my luggage that were irreplaceable to me for sentimental reasons. (hhmm, how soon can I get back to antarctica to pick up that shell again at the moment dh asked me to marry him?)
Anyway, only you will know if the hassle is worth it if you try it yourself. I know whenever I am able to fly with only a carry on, I feel so wonderful when I can bypass baggage claim, and just stroll right out of the airport.

 

[safetymom]

chamonix, you haven't experienced the thrill then of UPS and FedEX losing your important stuff. The airlines try to do much more than UPS and Fed Ex. All you get from UPS is so sorry for the inconvenience and we will refund the shipping charges.

As far as trying to carry everything on that is a little hard. Also some people try to bring way too much on board slowing everyone down. I am glad that I am preferred now and can board ahead of these people and I usually get off before they hold up the back end of the plane because they are saving time.

I think that everyone should check their luggage and only carry on personal items. It is getting out of hand with carryons.

I am not saying you do this chamonix but many do. I have heard the excuses about how the airline can lose their luggage and they need to save time.

In all my flights my luggage was only lost once and I had it back hours later. I don't think a 10-15 min. wait for suitcases is that bad.

Just my opinion. Also I think eventually Disney will start charging to receive these packages that more and more people are shipping ahead. That is a lot of work for Disney to handle when the facilities were not built with this in mind.

 

[chamonix]

I have had the USPS lose my packages as well. (and their overnight service has yet to get a package on time for me) As for the airline, well, if they had found my luggage eventually, it would have been OK, but it never showed up--never. It wasn't just late, it was gone.
Oh, and I so agree with you about people who carry on tons of stuff. It makes me very mad. They should mail their stuff OR check it. I just think that is their choice--mail or check--not carry on more, LOL. All of that stuff crammed into the overhead bins is a real safety issue. We always fly first class, and we prefer to be the last ones to board....but since we are seated in the first six rows or less, we don't have to struggle by all those people trying to cram their stuff into the bins, etc. We are then the first ones off, of course. We only carry on personally important things, like medications, etc. and stuff to entertain dd on the flight. Anything else I can buy there if they lose our luggage.
SHeesh. Why can't the airlines AND the shipping companies do a better job?! Then we wouldn't have to ponder which way is more likely to lose our stuff. I'm sure there are stats on that! I just wanted to say to the OP that if they were so inclined, and it wasn't too inconvenient to do so--mailing some items might be a good idea. The less people with luggage on the plane the better, right? We do check our luggage though, and mainly just try to travel light. You're right, it's not really a hassle to check your luggage, but it is nice to travel light, no matter what the reason!

 

[suzimar57]

thank you to everyone who responded to my original question (and with such honesty!)

i have had my luggage lost in the past (returned 2 days later in both cases, while still on vacation) but won't be shipping our luggage ahead - we'll check it & hope it shows up intact! (i always enclose several identifying tags, both inside and outside, in case it does "go astray", plus lots of fluorescent tape on the outside, to make it more noticeable on the luggage carousel)

only bringing 2 small rollaboards, but will check them anyway (and just carry on a small tote with the "valuables") - we never understand those people who bring SO MUCH stuff onboard & then struggle to shove their bags in the overhead bins - i've personally been "bopped" on the head by unrestrained bags above when the bin is opened! ouch!

we've shipped ahead to wdw (in the past) a very small box including toiletries (lots of aerosols), and will do so again on this next trip - nothing inside that we can't live without

 

[addie]

Why I am shipping my luggage ahead UPS:

Our flight leaves at 2:30PM, and we don't arrive in Tampa until 11:00 that night, then we have to pick up our rental car, and drive to beach club.

American Airlines told us we could try stand by for any of the flights that morning and there are three. If we catch the 6:00 AM we will be in Tampa at 4:00PM, a huge difference for us.

So it is going to cost us $80 to ship our luggage, but then we don't have to worry about them pulling our luggage and then putting it on the wrong flight.

Can you imagine, if we caught the 6AM flight and our luggage did not make it on until later? We would have to wait in Tampa, because we would not want to drive back down for our luggage.

I know that UPS can misplace it as well, but hopefully it will work out.

Anyone tried standby with luggage? Did they pull it and put it on the right flight?

Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

I have flown standby with luggage several times. I held on to my luggage until I was confirmed on the standby flight. Then I had them tag the luggage and it was waiting for me at the other end.

I would still pack some clothes in case your suitcases don't get there by UPS. Allow yourself several extra days for them to make it WDW, don't believe that they will be delivered when they say they will.

 

[prncess674]

This comment is off topic but you are taking a big gamble that you will be able to get on the 6AM flight. I would call the night before and see if the flight even looks like a possibility. Flights into and out of Florida are generally very full. I don't know how many are in your party but standing by is sometimes quite difficult with larger parties. Also understand that if you standby your seats will be almost guaranteed to be scattered through out the plane. Standbys are cleared just before departure and they are not going to want to bother rearranging people for your family to sit together. If you cause too much of a stink they will just give the free seats to the next person on the standby list. If you don't get on you will be sitting at the airport for 8.5 hours. That is a LONG time to kill time at the airport.