Few moments are extra irritating throughout journey than when the luggage carousel stops and also you understand your bag didn’t make it. Whereas cellular monitoring helps airways guarantee your checked baggage arrives at your vacation spot safely and on time, it’s a far-from-perfect system. In 2023, 6.9 baggage have been mishandled per 1,000 passengers, in keeping with SITA, an IT supplier for the air transport trade. That’s about 7.6 out of each 1,000 passengers who’ve mishandled baggage (“mishandled” which means delayed, broken, misplaced, or stolen). And whereas some airways will compensate passengers with miles if their baggage are delayed (or reimburse them for journey necessities whereas they wait for his or her bag’s return), the determine is excessive sufficient that some vacationers would possibly surprise if there’s one other—and higher—choice.
Enter: baggage delivery companies.
In recent times, quite a lot of baggage delivery corporations have appeared. They provide a probably engaging various to checked baggage, particularly for many who don’t relish the effort of lugging baggage by way of busy airports. Some even price lower than baggage charges for checked baggage on airways, particularly in case you’re delivery a number of baggage. Whereas most U.S.-based airways cost between $30 and $45 to your first bag, the costs improve considerably with extra items of bags. For instance, on United, the primary bag per buyer is $35, then $45 for a second, $150 for a 3rd, and past. Particular objects, corresponding to bikes, skis, and golf golf equipment, are sometimes topic to oversize baggage surcharges. Transport corporations, nevertheless, provide the identical worth per bag, irrespective of what number of you ship.
Baggage delivery corporations additionally provide extra companies like at-home pickup and drop-off, along with delivery bulkier objects like golf golf equipment, ski gear, or bicycles. Listed here are 11 helpful baggage delivery companies, in alphabetical order.
1. Baggage Ahead: the corporate that focuses on cruise ships
Price: $99 for a 25 lb. bag; $134 for a 50 lb. bag; $154 for a 75 lb. bag. Additionally, $114 for traditional skis or snowboards; $124 for a small golf bag; $219 for a bicycle case for 5 enterprise days of delivery.
Boston-based Baggage Ahead ships baggage domestically and in additional than 200 international locations worldwide. Nevertheless it focuses on delivery to cruise ships—which means the bag might be within the passenger’s stateroom on embarkation. Baggage Ahead’s costs embody doorstep pickup and supply, 24-hour telephone help, insurance coverage that covers misplaced and broken objects, delivery labels which are mailed to purchasers, and an on-time supply assure that guarantees a full refund and as much as $500 in extra expense reimbursement if the baggage don’t make it by the quoted date.
2. Baggage Free: the white-glove firm that does all of it
Price: Costs fluctuate relying on the companies chosen. Some examples embody $95 for a 50 lb. bag shipped from New York Metropolis to Los Angeles, $265 for a bag shipped from the USA to Hong Kong, $564 for a bag shipped from the USA to South Africa.
If you happen to’re searching for white-glove service and are prepared to pay a premium for it, New York Metropolis–based mostly Baggage Free is an effective choice. All you do is pack your bag, and the service will care for pickup and drop-off, delivery labels, and customs kinds.
Baggage Free ships between 150 international locations and has assured on-time supply. If, for some motive, your bag doesn’t make it on the designated day, the corporate will waive the price (as much as $500). There’s additionally a complimentary insurance coverage coverage on each cargo, as much as $500 for loss or injury.
3. Baggage To Ship: the low-cost firm that additionally shops baggage
Price: Costs begin at roughly $30 and improve based mostly on how far your baggage might be touring and the general weight.
This New York Metropolis–based mostly, budget-friendly service ships world wide. The corporate is ready to ship all the pieces from suitcases to bins to sporting gear. What makes Baggage To Ship distinctive is that it presents free storage: It’s going to hold onto any merchandise for as much as six months. After six months, the fee is $10 per package deal, monthly. The service is handy for many who don’t have further house round their house for large objects like ski gear or who wish to settle into a brand new location earlier than all their belongings arrive.
4. LugLess: the corporate that scales price based mostly on timing
Price: Costs begin as little as $15 however improve based mostly on bag measurement and weight, distance traveled, and non-obligatory extras.
This baggage delivery service, based mostly in Boston, presents some charges which are akin to what the airways cost for checked baggage if vacationers are prepared to ship their suitcases off 5 or 6 days upfront of their departure and obtain them 5 or 6 days after their return.
Costs for LugLess are calculated based mostly on the dimensions of the bag, how far it’s going, and how briskly you need it. With that in thoughts, sending one 50 lb. bag utilizing the corporate’s slowest service prices between $15 and $50 (inside the continental United States). The faster you need the baggage despatched and the extra service you need with these baggage—corresponding to non-obligatory doorstep pickup and drop-off (versus dropping the bags off at a UPS location), insurance coverage, buyer help, and refundability—the extra the value rises. Be aware that LugLess doesn’t provide worldwide delivery.
5. My Baggage: the corporate that focuses on customs
Price: Costs begin at £30 for suitcases as much as 20 kg (44 lb.) and improve based mostly on extra weight, distance touring, and the way rapidly you want packages to reach.
If you happen to’re transferring overseas, My Baggage, a U.Okay.-based firm, makes delivery your bins and suitcases straightforward. When you begin your order, you’ll be prompted to reply a handful of questions concerning the objects you’re sending, and My Baggage will direct you to the suitable customs kinds for that nation. After you’ve stuffed out the kinds, My Baggage will submit them in your behalf.
6. SendMyBag: the corporate that focuses on journey in Europe
Price: Costs are the most affordable inside Europe, beginning at $43, for luggage as much as 30 kg (66 lb.). From the US to Europe, anticipate costs to start at $173, relying on the vacation spot.
SendMyBag, a U.Okay.-based delivery service, is a strong selection for these touring inside Europe. In lots of instances, its charges are cheaper than airways. (Transport from the UK to Spain, for instance, is US$43, for a 20 kg—or 44 lb.—bag).
The corporate can also be a superb choice for these transferring to a brand new nation, both long-term or to work overseas, as SendMyBag supplies customers with all the data and kinds they want for the baggage to breeze by way of customs. Past suitcases, SendMyBag may also ship bins, bicycles, ski baggage, and golf baggage.
Vacationers simply have to print their labels and schedule a day for pickup, both from their house, dorm, or workplace. From there, SendMyBag collects the baggage and will get them to the opposite handle. Most baggage are delivered inside 4 or 5 enterprise days, and for a further price you should utilize “Categorical” delivery, with baggage arriving in two to 3 working days.
7. Ship&Play: the corporate that may ship most something
Price: Costs begin at $60 and fluctuate from there based mostly on the burden and measurement of your cargo, how far it is going to be touring, and the way rapidly you want it to be delivered.
Ship&Play, a Florida-based firm, makes it straightforward to ship a big selection of bins and baggage, together with suitcases, duffles, golf baggage, ski or snowboarding baggage (together with boot baggage), bins, trunks, and bikes. It’s going to ship you your delivery label in an e mail, which you’ll simply have to affix your cargo. Then, on the scheduled day, drivers will choose up the objects at your resort, home, or cruise ship and whisk them to your subsequent cease. The corporate companies 180 international locations and territories, and in case your bag doesn’t arrive on time, you’ll get your a refund.
8. ShipGo: the corporate that delivers to distant areas
Price: Begins at $35 and should improve based mostly on how far your baggage might be touring and the general weight.
ShipGo, headquartered in West Palm Seaside, Florida, will choose up baggage from your own home, enterprise, or resort and have them delivered to a vacation spot of your selecting in additional than 180 international locations, together with some pretty distant locales, like Fiji, Bangladesh, and Seychelles. Vacationers can schedule the cargo date on-line after which connect the offered delivery labels. ShipGo presents an on-time supply assure, free insurance coverage that covers loss or injury on each cargo, and real-time monitoring.
9–11. UPS, FedEx, and DHL: the same old suspects—and for good motive
Price: $50–$75 for suitcases below 50 kilos; $100 for a 70 lb. bag, all with four-day floor delivery.
In fact, conventional delivery corporations, like UPS, FedEx, and DHL, can get your bag to your vacation spot, too. Simply don’t anticipate the identical facilities as boutique operators focusing on sending baggage. You’ll nonetheless must drop your suitcase (both as is or boxed) at one of many corporations’ delivery facilities or schedule a one-time pickup a number of days earlier than you permit. At the least you’ll obtain a monitoring quantity so you may comply with your objects alongside of their journey.
This text was initially printed on August 8, 2023, and was up to date on December 16, 2024.