Ditch the Baggage
Sick of lugging your luggage? Let someone else do it.
Checking your bags for a flight can feel like a crapshoot, especially now, with tighter restrictions on carry-ons. More travelers are checking bags than ever, increasing the odds for a luggage mishap and a longer wait at the carousel. That's why many business travelers are considering luggage delivery services for the first time.
There are some well-established players in this space, all of which provide door-to-door shipping of suitcases, sports equipment and trade show materials.
Luggage Forward offers four levels of forwarding options: five-day Basic service is the slowest and cheapest; guaranteed Express, Priority and Standard services provide next-day, second-day and third-day delivery, respectively. The website provides instant price quotes, online booking and real-time luggage tracking. If you have a web-enabled handheld device, you can monitor the status of your shipment as well. If you're traveling internationally, Luggage Forward oversees the customs clearance process on your behalf.
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Luggage Express also sends a courier to pick up your bag at your home, office or hotel and will send it anywhere you choose. You can get a price quote and submit your request on the website, but an actual order will be made by an agent over the phone.
The Luggage Club allows online or toll-free telephone reservations; it offers stored-value cards in amounts between $25 and $2,500 and offers a frequent-shipper program.
What price for convenience? Luggage Forward charges $94 to ship a 45-pound bag from Miami to Chicago with basic service, $209 for overnight. Luggage Express's economy service (three to four days) for the same bag and route is $100.
What happens if something you ship gets lost? All three firms will reimburse you for replacements or delayed items.
Julie Moline is a freelance writer, editor and editorial consultant in New York City.