Unless you are flying Southwest, you have noticed that there are luggage fees for everything you do not carry on and strict weight and size limits for what you do carry on (as well as what you check). The fees add up quickly, and if you are traveling for more than a week, and therefore have several bags, the charges add up even faster. It is not uncommon to pay one hundred fifty dollars or more in addition to your plane ticket just for luggage. An easy solution to prevent these exorbitant fees is to ship luggage ahead to your final destination, near the time that you will be traveling.

Some people are still uncomfortable with the idea that they can ship luggage ahead. They wonder, where will the luggage will end up? Who will claim it? Is it really safe? The answer to each question varies, but to each one, the same solution applies. While an airline can add up charges: overweight, oversize, first-bag fees and other fees depending on your luggage, all winding up in a cost that is well over the one hundred dollar mark, UPS or FedEx could handle the luggage for as little as thirty dollars.

If you choose to ship luggage, you, of course, will claim it. All you have to do is set up a pickup destination, usually a UPS Store or FedEx Office. It may mean making a stop in a town you are not familiar with, but for the savings, the stop is well worth the inconvenience. In addition to cost savings, FedEx and UPS both have higher ratings for handling packages, keeping their freight safe. You do not have to worry that your bag will not arrive on time, and you do not have to worry about it being mishandled.

When you are breezing through airport security and relaxing before your flight, you will be happy you shipped your luggage. When you see the savings, you will smile. After you recognize the simplicity of stopping to pick up your bag, you will never return to bag check. No one wants to wait for a conveyor belt to vend their bag after they have landed; they want to be on their way to their new destination.