=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2008/05/25/TR2V10QHMM= .DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, May 25, 2008 (SF Chronicle) Is it worth shipping luggage? For most folks, probably not Ed Perkins The recent decision of American Airlines to slap a $15 charge on fliers checking even one bag raises the question of whether you'd be better off using one of the outfits that ship your baggage for you. The short answer: Not if your sole aim is to save money. Advance shipping can ease the hassles of flying with baggage, and the ability to travel without schlepping is appealing. For most of you, the biggest drawback is cost: Those services may be big on convenience, but they're also expensive - far more than American's modest $15 charge. The basic "we ship your baggage" formula is simple. A representative (or subcontractor) picks up your bags at your home or office and the company ships them to your next destination - hotel, resort, office, cruise pier, private residence or whatever. If you want, you can arrange shipment in reverse for your return home. These companies accept suitcases without any additional wrapping or preparation; they also take bicycles, golf clubs, skis, and just about any other sort of sports equipment, parcel or case you might need on your travels. I currently know of six outfits that provide shipping service specifical= ly geared to travelers' baggage: Luggage Concierge ((800) 288-9818, www.luggageconcierge.com), Luggage Forward ((866) 416-7447, www.luggageforward.com), Luggage Free ((800) 361-6871, www.luggagefree.com), Sports Express ((800) 357-4174, www.sportsexpress.com), the Luggage Club ((877) 231-5131, www.theluggageclub.com) and Virtual Bellhop ((877) 235-5467, www.virtualbellhop.com). Each company picks up your baggage wherever you designate, does all the paperwork necessary for shipment, arranges for delivery to a designated address at your destination, and tracks the shipment's progress. They all give you options depending on how far ahead you can get your bags ready - delivery from overnight to a week. Although the actual shipment is usually by UPS, FedEx or DHL, the baggage company makes all the arrangements. The cost depends on the number of pieces, their weight and how quickly y= ou need them. I checked costs for a test shipment: a 40-pound suitcase from a Boston office to a hotel near the main gate at Disney World. The least expensive quotes I found were from Luggage Free: $120 for second-day delivery, $66 for five-day ground. The other companies generally charged $158-$269 for overnight delivery; $81-$104 for four- or five-day ground shipment. Rates would undoubtedly vary depending on the specific mix of your shipment. All six companies have Web sites where you can enter trip and bag data for an immediate cost quote. I'd guess that most leisure travelers can pack their stuff early enough = to use the slower four- or five-day ground services; the high-cost overnight services seem to target business travelers. And time usually doesn't matter shipping baggage from your final destination back to your home, where you presumably you have enough of whatever you need. You can cut the cost if you're willing to do more of the shipping work yourself. You can ship a 40-pound box from Boston to Orlando by UPS ground for $28 from a commercial location or $47 from a residence, but it could easily take a week or even more. And you have to package it yourself. Clearly, advance baggage shipment isn't for everyone: Even the slowest services are much more expensive than checking your bags, even with a fee. To comment, visit sfgate.com/travel and follow the links. Ed Perkins' new book for small business and independent professionals, "Business Travel When It's Your Money," is now available through www.mybusinesstravel.com or www.amazon.com. --------------------------------------------------------= -------------- Copyright 2008 SF Chronicle <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".