How to Ship Luggage to a Destination
If you want to lighten your travel load, consider shipping luggage rather than taking it with you on your trip. You can either ship something to someone else, or ship your own luggage to your destination in advance and pick it up on arrival. Your shipping method will vary depending on the type of transportation (ground or air), the amount of time you're willing to wait and how much you want to spend. The faster the method, the higher the cost.
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Instructions
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Determine how far in advance you need to send the luggage, which depends on the day you want it to arrive and how long your shipping method will take. The shipment should arrive one day before you do and can take from one to four business days.
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Decide if cost or speed is more important, as faster shipping will cost more. Shipping services like UPS and FedEx will charge from $100 for four days to $600 for overnight. Luggage Forward and Luggage Free charge from $250 to $700. This can vary by distance and bag size.
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Pack all items neatly. Make sure there are no items that you'll need en route, or that are illegal to ship --- illegal items include alcohol, drugs, combustibles and firearms. Make a note on the package if it contains fragile items.
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Take the bags to whatever shipping service you're using; private mailers like UPS or FedEx are common, but you can also use bus service like Greyhound.
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Give the luggage to the mailing service's check-in desk and provide all essential information, including exact address of your destination. You may be asked to pay when you drop off your luggage, though some services accept payment on arrival. Make sure you get a tracking or confirmation number.
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Contact a representative at your destination, such as a concierge at the hotel or a friend/relative if you are sending it to their home, to inform them the luggage is coming. Determine where you will be able to pick up the bag, like the concierge desk or a locker.
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Tips & Warnings
Check the average bag fees of your airline to determine if checking it on the plane is more cost-efficient than shipping it.
Some airlines, like United, offer shipping services as well. Check to see if your airline will ship the bag for you.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit luggage in hotel room image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
