fedex a suitcase?
 

I know it's a little off topic (mod's move it if there's a better forum?) but all my good travel advice comes from UA FT'ers so I'm askin' ;-)

Has anyone experience with FedEx-ing or UPS-ing a suitcase cross-country? I'm doing a left coast two week trip, and need some sporting gear for a long weekend in the middle... given the fees and hassle and blah blah, I think the Fedex $35 to ship it from my house to my destination rather than checking it through the UA system might be well worth it.

Has anyone done this? I was thinking that all I'd really need to do is pack it securely, and then wrap it in a few layers of that saran-wrap like material and stick the shipping label to that. Seems far less hassle than finding a box, etc. I don't really care if they bang the suitcase a little bit (they can't be any harder on it than the airlines, can they?)

thoughts? I'm really interested in finding out if anyone has shipped just a suitcase by itself rather than boxing it up, etc.

As this Q could well apply to alternatives to checking bags on many airlines, I'll move this to our TravelBuzz forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, United forum.

It could make sense.

I use Fedex for a lot of my trips. For several years I carried 5-8 notebook computers on board. But it was a lot of hassle, and plane side check in is risky on RJs. Early this year I picked up a big Pelican case (model 1630) and just stick my equipment in there.

The equipment is better protected, it doesn't get scratched up, and it's a heck of a lot less hassle at the airport. Stuff is less likely to get stolen when I'm not looking, and if anything goes wrong, it's insured.

Most hotels handle Fedex with no problem, though when I leave, I usually just bring the beast to a Fedex Kinkos and drop it off there. That way I know it gets scanned into the Fedex system and I can track.

Shipping costs do add up, but then again, this beast is 75 pounds.

If this is something you will do on a regular basis, you may want to look for something optimized for shipping, rather than luggage.

I know a lot of freight carriers such as UPS/Fedex frown upon this practice (if not disallow it) because of the way they load the boxes onto pallets, etc...

As a former UPS employee, I can assure you, every piece of shipped packages are treated with the same respect (almost none). It doesn't matter how it feels or looks, it'll get stuffed in!

My parents love the raw cactus honey, as do their friends. So whenver mom and dad come down to AZ to visit, they buy a few dozen 3lbs jars of honey. That would be way overlimit on the plane, but its actually quite cheap to ship Fedex/UPS.

Your airport must really be a hassle to check bags at it you are willing to pay out hard cash to a shipping service (and not to mention the need to go to their drop off spot) for something you can do for free (as a 1K) with UA (and you have to go to the airport anyway).

I seldom check bags, but on a couple of occasions I have used the 3-bags free allowance. Generally when going diving or similar (or moving). If it were me, I would just check the bag; less hassle than shipping it.

At CDG yesterday, I saw a Fed Ex kiosk for just this purpose in the terminal. I assume it is best for things that are awkward to check.

FedExing your bags? Think twice about HazMat
 

If you are a passenger or crewmember you are allowed exceptions for certain hazardous articles such as small toiletries, aerosols, etc for personal or medicinal use. Those exceptions are found in 49 CFR 175.10

Those exceptions do not exist, for example, by ground transport so if you were sending your bags by a ground courier (if you had time on your hands) it probably wouldn't work.

Using FedEx by Air (or another certificated airline) you might get away with it because of the last paragraph of 49 CFR 175.10 which says:

(b) The exceptions provided in paragraph (a) of this section also apply to aircraft operators when transporting passenger or crewmember baggage that has been separated from the passenger or crewmember, including transfer to another carrier for transport to its final destination.
----------------------------------------------------------
This is/was intended to cover lost or misrouted luggage; I seriously doubt the FAA will allow luggage to contain any kind of hazmat -- even toiletries -- if there's no passenger going with it. Just my opinion.

Jim

You're absolutely right. Here's the link.
Frequent travelers haves seen this posted before in the airports.

If it's on the list, best to leave it out of your luggage if you ship it, because if FedEx/UPS/DHL catches it they won't transport your luggage.

I have Fedex'd suitcases to and from business destinations just to avoid the hassle of waiting for checked luggage to arrive at the baggage carousel. At Fedex/Kinko's locations, they have offered to box up the suitcase, but I have simply put the shipping labels right on the suitcase. Never had any problems with reliable delivery of the bag and its contents, in contrast to the airlines' sorry performance with lost luggage, not to mention the TSA love notes and theft problems.

I've never used the express services to ship luggage to/from my destination, but I've used FedEx and UPS to send extra clothes (or send dirty clothes home) many times. Pack the clothes in plastic "space-saver" travel bags, take them to UPS or FedEx, buy a cardboard box onsite, pack it and ship it. Contact your hotel afterwards to make sure it will receive the box, and for what price (some hotels charge to receive and ship such things). If you ship to your destination, save the box and use it to ship the extra clothes back in the space-saver bags.

The added cost of the weight of luggage makes shipping in a box much more affordable. As for toiletries, I've never shipped them...if they are not Ziplock-worthy, I put them in a checked bag.

I always ship my stuff to Asia when I travel for a few weeks. I pack all my stuff in a box or two and ship it there and then back. It saves me lots of time and headaches. I find the cost ($300 - $400 each way) to be well worth it.

What shipping service do you use?

Fedex luggage
 

I swear by Fedex for all my large luggage needs. Not for a short stay (1 week or less) or if you have multiple destinations, but if you are traveling to one location for an extended period of time or have the family in tow, it's well worth budgeting the extra $200. :cool:
I travel ORD-OGG for work at least twice a year, my stay lasting upwards of 2-3 weeks. Checked baggage always slows an already long travel day; I must arrive 2+ hours early for a 5 a.m. flight to check bags which now will cost me extra anyway! I always worry about theft/damage/lost bags, I end up with the max carry-on and then I have to wait, haul and load my luggage after a 12 hour travel day when all I want is a mojito!
Instead of the above, I pack everything, including my camera and tripod, into one (or two) of those large, Rubbermaid bins with snap-on lids, seal the bins with lots of duct tape and Fedex them to my hotel in Maui with serious insurance and package tracking. I only carry on a small bag with my Rx and usual carry-on gear. So, I can arrive at my departing airport a little later (no checked bags), I feel quite weightless as I fly through both airports with one compact carry-on, no anxiety about lost stuff and no waiting or hauling luggage when I arrive! Hello mojito! Upon checking out, I repack the bins as before and label with the pre-printed Fedex labels, call Fedex for a pick up and have the bellman drop the bins off at the loading dock. I usually arrange for a pick before I leave for the airport, but I've never had any problems.

I check luggage in the US only under dire circumstances, and so I shipped a very full garment bag via FedEx last winter when I was facing a 10-day business trip. I did not want to have to haul it, wait for it, or let the TSA thieves get their hands on my designer duds.

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.