narvik

Not so sure about that. Shipping rates have increased dramatically over the last decade or so.
I reckon paying the airline surcharges is still the cheapest, safest, and fastest way to transport your belongings.

COSPILOT

Not sure if this helps, but my family long ago stopped traveling on major trips with extra room in our luggage, instead we find cheap throwaway luggage if by chance we need the extra room on the way home. Finding something cheap at just about any store hear in the states should be easy, and will hold up much better than a box. Just a Gold now, but even in my 1K days I was never comfortable exceeding the dimension by much. That said, I see suitcases in Baggage Claim that look like they could carry a full sized body.

rawilliam

I have a bag that is at the limit. They have pulled out the tape measure on occasion.

On weight: about 1 pound leeway. However, Heathrow and some airports have a strict 32KG limit.

Expect to be measured.

StuckinITH

Welcome to Flyertalk and especially to the United threads!

But, now, I will suggest that you fly BA. I seem to remember that they allow bigger sized luggage. Premium Economy allows 2 pieces.

therossinator

I have a pelican air 1637 which is 62.14 inches linear. It seems like almost every bag that comes off the conveyer belt it bigger than mine or significantly smaller (jumbo carry on). I've never been challenged and I've never seen anyone else challenged (in my limited experience). YMMV but if it's in something that looks like luggage with some spinny wheels on it and isn't obviously huge, I'd think that it would be fine.

Bottom line is that you know the rules but you're asking a people whether doing something against the published rules is ok. You're going to get answers based upon their own ideas of right and wrong/their own personal risk assessment, but I think what you should really focus on is what others have seen/experienced in the past and listen to the objective data.

Often1

You already know the answer because you are asking. If the agent measures, you will be required to pay.

It is down to what one particular agent at one particular counter does on one particular day. The answer is that there is no way to predict what will happen in your situation and you must be prepared to pay the oversize fee if asked (or toss the box).

I would find a piece of dirt cheap, but size-compliant standard luggage. Use that and if you don't need it once in the UK, toss it or give it to somebody. You can find compliant nylon bags for <$20 on Amazon.

3Cforme

One really ought to check that. UA's 3rd bag fee USA-Europe is $200. Add $200 if it's more than 50 pounds. Add $200 if it's oversized. FedEx starts to look good.

lincolnjkc

Data point: Had to get some documents to Scotland in advance of our wedding there last year.

It was cheaper to fly myself in Polaris (the day after we discovered the need) and rent a car to drop them off personally than it would have been to get them there fast with UPS, FedEx, or USPS global Express mail. It was also several days faster (UPS was the fastest of the three and could only guarantee by 5pm on the last possible day)

Now, I used miles for the flight so only wound up paying g taxes/fees/APDuty, but still...made me rethink actually shipping anything with time urgency, at least to Europe.

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jsloan

Ground transportation will be markedly cheaper. Ocean shipping rates from Texas to Asia are around $100 for a larger box than United would accept. It's hard to believe that it'd be twice as expensive to go half as far.

dysentrieb

Hi Guys,

thank you for your many oppinions!

My plan was to use moving boxes (cardboard) and wrap them with stretch foil.
Yes the ticket is booked already. It was booked by my employer and it is a 'seamen's ticket'. That means I have a better weight allowance (70 lbs instead of 50), but the size limit is the same.
I will have a look into very cheap suitcases that can be thrown away after use, allthough this really goes against my beliefs.

I will let you know how it ended up and if I got through with the extra inches.


Happy flights, safe travels!!!
Daniel

cfischer

weight is more likely to be enforced than dimensions in my experience.

jsloan

There's no reason that they have to be thrown away; if they're still in good shape, I'm sure you can find a use for them in the UK, either for your family or a local charity.

That said, I think I'd probably try weighing a full 20x20x20 box first and see whether or not a suitcase is even needed. Keep in mind, the suitcase weighs quite a bit more than the box. If you can get 60-65 pounds of items into the cardboard box, I'd just go with that approach. If it's full after 35 pounds, then, yeah, a suitcase that stretches the limits a bit may help.

sabbasolo

I recently checked in at IAH for Polaris international in C, and the agent measured my cardboard box (camping tent). It was 4 cm over (which I knew), and the agent requested $200. (Value of tent was $160). I asked her if she could waive it for 1K revenue ticket in C (my other two bags were well within limits). She refused. So I politely asked her to let me speak to someone who had authority to waive it for me, if possible.
With no grace, she said wait, vanished for 5 or 6 minutes, and came back and without saying anything typed something in the reservation, printed the label and took the box (with a limited release - fair enough).

So be prepared to pay, abandon or ask nicely.

Of course TSA unpacked it, couldn't repack it properly, and it arrived without the box, but no serious damage.

tomst

One time I checked in a cardboard-wrapped office chair which was clearly over the size limit (the chair was in one piece, not disassembled). I printed the tags at the self check-in counter where I selected overweight but forgot to also pick oversize. They took it without charging anything extra and it arrived just fine. Premier Platinum. I'm planning to check my full-size keyboard on my next flight.

txaggiemiles

Actually for about the last year more than 2/3s of the flights to/from CRP have been planes with first class - usually E175s but even a mainline has been sprinkled in here or there!

A welcomed change