Luggage: Schlepping versus Shipping

Traveling light on any trip is always a good idea, but sometimes it’s just not an option. Whether you’re going on an extended vacation, packing golf clubs, or visiting family for the holidays, you can avoid a considerable amount of heavy lifting—and extra fees—by shipping your luggage and bulky items 2-3 days ahead of time. There are a lot of good reasons to ship instead of schlep:

• As many airlines are now charging people for their first checked bags, shipping may be more cost-effective (depending on the weight of your luggage)

• There’s no waiting in long lines at check-in counters or at baggage claim

• Your luggage is generally safer with a delivery company than it is with an airline—unlike most airlines, FedEx and UPS will refund your shipping costs if they damage or lose your belongings

A rule of thumb is the heavier the bag or item, the more cost-effective it is to ship it. For a quick comparison of airline versus ground transportation prices, visit: www.airfarewatchdog.com/avoidingcheckedluggagefees/tabid/183/Default.aspx

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