United Airlines launched a service today that will let passengers pay to have checked luggage delivered to their final destinations.
The service, BagsVIP, will enable passengers to skip baggage claim upon arrival and find their bags waiting on their doorsteps, offices or hotels. It is available within 100 miles of a passenger's arrival airport, the company said.
Initially BagsVIP will be available for customers departing from any domestic airport and arriving in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles and Orlando, Fla., United said in a statement today. United said it plans to expand the service to more than 190 domestic airports in the coming months.
"Our customers have told us this type of option adds value to their travel experience," a United executive said in the statement.
The standard fees for delivery within a 40-mile radius are $29.95 for one bag, $39.95 for two bags and $49.95 for three to eight bags. There is a varying additional charge for longer distances, and the delivery fee is in addition to any other charges for checked luggage, United said.
Interesting offering, I would be a bit concerned about the reliability until there is some history on this
"and this is one we hope to make a bundle of money on."
I am just excited UA is now "listening to out concerns"
In all honesty, I am not sure if I would ever use this benefit... but if you have kids, 5 bags, 49.95 isnt all too bad to have your things brought to you...
United Airlines launched a service today that will let passengers pay to have checked luggage delivered to their final destinations.
The service, BagsVIP, will enable passengers to skip baggage claim upon arrival and find their bags waiting on their doorsteps, offices or hotels.
Bolding= mine
Provided they offer some guarantee, I would do this for leisure travel. This statement implies the bags will be at your house/ hotel before you get there. I would ask the following:
1. Does the COC contiue to your delivery, or is there alternate insurance/ assurance?
2. What happens if they are not delivered in xx time?
I think they offered baggage shipping from door to door, not picking it up at the airport and delivering it.
If I remember right, this was one of the surveys a year or so ago, asking if you would use it for this price or that price.
For just me I don't see it as much of a benefit, plus I live further than the set price from the airport and it would probably cost a fortune. But we have taken advantage of the deliver bags to the hotel in London several times, it was nice not to worry about them all day on the Tube, and for a family with kids, etc, this could be a huge benefit.
American has been doing it for a while and expanding, so it must be working for them.
I think I might actually use this on the return leg of business trips when (if) they expand it to Denver - and I'd certainly think about it for leisure trips.
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I would definitely use this if I'm wrestling with more baggage than I can comfortably handle on my own... not sure the value is there at $30 for one bag unless I'm in a definite rush to a meeting and it can just show up at my hotel later.
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This actually is a good idea. I'm sure they're just using the same delivery firms that deliver misconnected baggage, so there's an infrastructure in place for them and a track record for customers.
Baggage claim is especially slow and miserable here at SEA. I've had more than one trip in the last year where the baggage was the reason I had to take a $70 cab ride instead of public transit to my house, or where the time at baggage claim was the difference between seeing the kids before bed and not. And when traveling with little kids, that extra half hour in the airport can be miserable!
Now, if only they could offer it as a benefit for 1Ks....
Interesting. I believe they are the same company that handles Disney's airport bags as well at MCO. I've used Disney's bags service a few times but have never received my bags in my room before I checked in.
