From the US to UK (London)

Not looking at a container, as just not that much stuff... just thinnking a few boxes maybe?

Will be spending the semester in the UK to focus on studies and to see the countryside and friends there. Trying to figure out what to pack is daunting!

I have some books I would like to ship ahead as they are big, heavy and bulky schoolbooks and medical references. Also my medication as I take 2 shots each day and they are bulky (but light) and come in pre filled syringes in packaging and would probably fill my suitcases. They use a different heparin than we use in the US, although similar would rather stick to what I know and can get my insurance to cover. Maybe a big box of extra clothes and shoes if not too cost prohibitive, otherwise I will make do....

Is there a book rate like there is here in the US making it better to ship media seperately?

What would be the most economical way to get them there? I have a friend I ca ship all to, just looking at costs and how long it would take to get there.

Many thanks!

Where are you shipping to the UK from - the US?

Yes..... I thought it said so in post? Will edit to make it more clear, thank you...

If you're just spending a semester in the UK, then am I right in thinking that you want to avoid surface-mail which could take weeks/months to arrive?

It may be cheaper to see if you can rebuy the books second-hand from amazon.co.uk or similar. Or if you're going to a university, see if the uni library will cater to all your needs.

I've tried looking to see what the situation is with importing that quantity of medication (especially unaccompanied) but can't find any references online. You should check this, maybe even make an enquiry via a reputable shipper (FedEx???).

Also, make sure you don't get hit for import duties. My wife left her cell phone in Singapore. We had it sent back to London and the shipper was intent on charging us for various import duties (that were close to the value of the phone) even though we owned the thing in the first place. Again, agree the situation with the shipping company.

I've got a worse example than that.... I left an old pair of spectacles in the Channel Islands, and got a friend to post them on. Royal Mail decided to charge me �15 in import duty. (I got it back in the end - but it was a struggle. I gather the issue could have been avoided if my friend had stuck a customs label on the jiffy bag)

To get back to the OP, there is no duty payable on personal effects that one has owned for a minimum of six months, but you need to fill in the right paperwork. The shipping company should know what form to use.

Like a previous poster I'm not so sure about the medication. Wouldn't it be easier to obtain it here?

I'd check with each airline what their luggage allowances are. The cost of the ticket may not be the main driver for you if luggage allowance is no god and charges high for extra piece etc. It's going to be cheaper for you to carry it than pay to ship it.

If you're only here one term, I'd try and bring as little as possible. Clothes and essentials and then anything else can be bought once youre here.

Can your medical supplier ship to the UK for you so you only need to bring a small supply to keep you going in case of delay? They probably have shipping agreements in place already at much better rates than you may get as an individual.

Thanks for the info!! I think I will have to pack light, and if necessary pay for an extra bag or two if not insanely priced. Looking into that now...

As far as the meds go, I am pretty sure I can have them shipped directly to one of the docs there that will be monitoring me and if necessary treating me. The meds retail for approx $3,000-3,500 for a month's supply so needing to get before I go. Not sure how much the comparable is in UK but that would require cash paying visit to doc, etc.

I never realized the post was such a horrid experience with the taxes even though friends have said they could be! I hope my friend doesn't get taxed on his christmas gifts I just sent him!

You haven't seen my wife's cell phone. I'd guess your glasses would be worth more

Won't you have a separate medical insurance plan which would cover doctor visits while you are away? You may also want to look at whether your US plan would reimburse the purchase abroad - my Canadian plan will I believe.

I you need to be under a doctor in the UK, I'd check again what the difference is between UK and US Heparin. I'm no expert here but was surprised that there was indeed a difference. From my reading, it seems to be the concentration, so if you're going to be under a doctor anyway who will be monitoring the levels you would be fine using the UK stuff (which seems to be the standard worldwide and what they used in the US until 2 yrs ago when they alone adopted the WHO standard).

Again I have no idea of the set-up in this situation but in the UK even when a doctor prescribes medicine, you actually collect it from a pharmacy. I can't imagine a doctor's surgery sitting on great stocks of Heparin for you (in your own words, a suitcase full...)

This probably won't apply in the OP's case (as he is going to London), but it's not always the case that medicines have to be collected from a pharmacy. If patients live more than "n" miles from a pharmacy (and I can't remember what "n" is) they collect prescriptions from their doctor, and doctors in rural and semi-rural areas maintain on-site pharmacies for that purpose. (Mine does - but I'm not allowed to use it, except in emergencies, because I live too close to the pharmacy)

i would seriously consider carrying the whole mass on the plane. choose a plane to include the cost of additional luggage.

as to the heparan, my tubes are about half inch in diameter. the box they come in is huge. take them out of the box and pack them in a metal tin. i would carry some of them on, as lhr)if that is where you are going) has lost my luggage twice, and they were never in ahurry to get it back. your meds are light. check the current rates by usps. i have found them much cheaper than dhl, fed ex, or ups. they just do not advertise as much. they have agreements with the uk postal system, and the service is most amazing. i have never been charged duty when using usps service to lots of places.

I did the reverse of this trip, taking about 12 boxes from the UK to US. I used Virgin Atlantic Cargo, and just rented a van at each end. The process was extremely easy and a fraction of the cost of using UPS, etc. I just drove the van to the cargo office at LHR, they unloaded everything and put it onto a pallet, and I picked them up a couple of days later at EWR. The customs process in EWR took a few minutes and they gave me all the forms.

I think BA have a similar service - worth looking into.

Not qualified to comment on the medicine, but if you're flying over on British Airways their excess baggage rate is comparatively low.