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.

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.
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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?

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.
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.