Hi,
The situation has changed. With the Big-D now charging $50 one way for the 2nd checked bag, and other airlines will follow the leader and charge the same, the use of common carrier freight companies has become cost effective.

USA Today reports that the Big-D and other carriers are making windfall revenues from their new excess baggage charges.

Why haven't the common carriers (UPS, Fedex, DHL, Airborne, Emory, Flying Tiger, etc) stepped up to the plate to provide airport convenient drop off and pick up points for luggage? Do they prefer the revenue go to the Big D and United? Will the Flyertalk Forum staff inform the common carriers that there's lots of revenue in doing this?

At airports with centralized rental-car facilities, (ie. LAS, BWI), why can't the common carriers establish luggage drop off shipping points at these places, or nearby?

Don't come back with "Well the hotel provides it." Sure they do, for an extra $25 per piece minimum handling charge (ie. LAS Marriott Convention Center). We're supposed to believe that it's "labor intensive" for the hotel staff or their contracted conceriege office to handle freight. So cross that off the list as an option.

Then there's Kinkos and the UPS Store, maybe there's one on the way to the airport, maybe not. Maybe you can find a parking place, maybe not.

Looks to me like the CEOs of freight companies are oblivious to a lot of cash staring them right in the face. Or, maybe they're afraid they'll offend the Big-D.

Have a nice flight.
Adonsa

You can assume the execs have done the math and it doesn't pay off yet. Two thoughts come to mind -

1) I would assume it costs quite a bit of money to rent a large space in an airport that could receive all the luggage, sort it, and hand it out. You have the costs of renting the space, plus the capital costs of renovating it to sort your needs.

2) In order for the service to be of interest, they need to price it at a point where it's profitable and perhaps the market isn't there yet. For example, United airlines charges $15 to move a 50 pound bag and have it going around on a carousel at the airport exit. What would FedEx have to charge to have me choose them instead? I've got to drop the bag off somewhere, then go check in, then go find their office at a giant airport and pick my bag up again? They've probably got to save me at least $10 to make that worth my effort, which means they have to charge five dollars. Not gonna happen.

Finally, most of the major air couriers *do* have offices at airports for courier drop off and pick up. They're not in the passenger terminal - Often they're in the general aviation area. So likely not much of a stretch to have your cab stop there to/from the airport.

Cheers,
Geoff in Vancouver, Canada

Because depending on the weight of what is being shipped, the $50/bag might still be cheaper than sending via overnight Fedex, DHL, etc. For example, I had to send a 22-lb package overnight via Fedex - cost was $67.68 total.

However, when I shipped Randy Petersen's 10th Anniverary gifts of FT via FedexGround (42lbs), it was only $17.44.

So if someone has the time to ship ground it's probably cost-efficient, but if it has to be there quickly then the airlines would probably be less expensive.

OVMV. Cheers.

Jim is correct. This was/is intented for airlines to move 'lost' bags. If you tender your luggage with a cargo carrier it's treated as cargo. It's up to the shipper to remove all hazardous materials. If the shipper fails to do so, you can rest assured that FedEx will notify FAA Security if toiletries like aerosols, perfume, colognes, are found in your luggage. Gawd forbid you pack a gun or lighter!

Keep in mind that FedEx & the rest don't have time to open your bags to inspect them, we usually find problems due to spills, odors, smoke, etc. If you read the T&C, you give the carrier the right to open your luggage once it's offered. When a problem has been identified, the package/luggage is opened. It matters none that you have locked it and we don't carry TSA keys (are you following me here)?

Fines can be steep, however most cases are closed out with a warning letter from the FAA, it depends on where in the country the infraction is found...it's not fair, it just is.

Like most things involving travel, a little forethought & planning will save you alot of time & frustration.

Mike

I always pack my suits in with my trade show booth. I've got a tall narrow box that they hang in (shoes at the bottom). I wedge that onto the pallet upright so when I get to my destination they're as neat and tidy as the moment I pulled them out of my closet.

I've sent stuff directly to hotels as well, which works fine, but you frequently (always for me it seems) will get hotel handling charges tacked on.

It's probably a bit more expensive to ship than lug it along on the plane, but it's REALLY nice to not have to lug stuff around airports. I also, like to time the shipment to arrive the day before I do, so I can track it before I leave and know in advance if my luggage is lost.

Also, FWIW, I believe UPS adds a surcharge for anything not in a carton. I would assume the same applies to FedEx. I would recommend dropping your suitcase in a box, if at all possible. The treatment it gets from UPS/FedEx will make airport baggage handling look like TLC.

So can I just stroll into a FedEx Office with my suitcase and drop it off? I was looking at the price for shipping my large piece of luggage across the country via FedEx Ground and it was only about $35 which I thought was worth it for several reasons, though just want to make sure there is nothing else I need to do to prepare luggage.

As someone who uses fedex a ton for business I can say that you will save decent money by signing up for a free fedex account. Fedex has done about 3000 packages for me and never lost one. I have stopped paying for insurance because the risk of loss is so low.

I think fedex and UPS don't have airport counters because many people want their bag when they arrive so they would have to ship it overnight. Most people trying to save a few bucks over the airlines will plan in advance and ship before they leave. It will be more cost effective to have a pickup scheduled at your home if you don't want to drop it off. Though I guess whne returning home you would want to use the airport location.

The Citi AA card used to have a feature that gave the holder the right to ship two or three packages a year, and I used this feature each year around Christmas to send a Goodwill suitcase full of stuff to whichever relative's place we would spend the holiday, or else to receive their cases when we hosted.

Around the Christmas season, the freedom from baggage in all the crowds of travellers was a very strong value.

Sadly, I don't think Citi offers this feature any longer.

I wanted to bump/re-fresh this topic to see if anything has changed since the OP.

So is it still a good option to ship larger luggage from FedEX/Kinko's point to point? Good option meaning that 2-day shipping or longer is acceptable and the cost is competitive.

Thanks

Baggage prices continue to rise! Alternatives better!
 

Good morning, Old Hickory.
According to the news, yes. The Big-A and others are now $25 and up for the first bag. Travelers who have the luxury of prior planning for a trip, can beat that price using UPS ground and have the bag waiting at their destination hotel. Returning is just as good if they don't need the bag immediately upon return home.

A reporter stated that charges for carry-on bags are being considered by the airlines. And, she said that lost luggage and pilferage out of bags remains just as much a problem. Use of UPS,Fedex, DHL, Airborne, etc, can reduce or eliminate that.

The construction of UPS-stores in a lot of places makes drop off much easier than when this message thread was first posted.

I doubt if it will be cost-effective to install UPS/Fedex baggage counters in airport lobbies for the same reason that many US airport authorities are running rental car companies off the property with high fees.

UPS, Fedex, DHL, Airborne should probably promote the efficiencies and economies of their services for baggage, now that they have a significant price advantage (except for WN) over most US airlines. Receipt of a bag at the hotel desk vs. waiting at the baggage claim has obvious advantages.

When I moved from France back to the US I shipped four big suitcases. I didn't have any time demands on the luggage and wasn't going to take them on a plane. It was a perfect alternative as I didn't need a cargo container.

Any time I travel someplace and the things I need can be shipped ground, I go that route. It offers some freedom for a reasonable price; still more than a checked bag, but at least I don't have to wait at a luggage carousel.

Also, I always ship my bicycle.