Paula Vogel, a corporate communications manager, attends large meetings and conventions several times a year. Her responsibilities include making presentations requiring electronic gear, handouts and giveaways. Sometimes she attends galas calling for formal dress, and occasionally she lends a hand at customer dinners and documents them with photographs. “You get the idea,” she says, “lots of bulky stuff.” She usually has enough lead time to use her company’s shipping service to get those big-but-necessary items to her destinations without carrying them herself, but that’s not always possible for a last-minute trip.

It’s not hard to imagine scenarios when having your luggage picked up at home or the office prior to a trip, delivered to your destination and returned home again would be a wonderful convenience. Many frequent and experienced travelers pack efficiently and lightly, making do with a carry-on and avoiding all the fuss, anxiety and muscle strain associated with checked luggage. But when a unique business or vacation trip requires packing more than one can squeeze into that single bag, one solution lies with an assortment of luggage delivery services.

All of these companies offer the same basic service: door-to-door pick up and delivery of luggage, packages and/or sports equipment (round trip or one way). Most use carriers such as Fed Ex, DHL and UPS, though a few contract with a whole network of couriers. Nearly all include insurance ranging from $500 to $1,500 per item (with the option to purchase more based on assessed value), guarantees of on-time delivery, and tracking and notification services. Customers may book either domestic or international deliveries ranging from overnight to five or more days, and some services can handle a request made as little as two to four hours prior to pick-up. Those which must mail air bills, shipping labels and other documents (such as customs forms for international deliveries) may require up to five days’ advance notice prior to a pick-up. After scheduling online or over the phone, one pays via credit card after identifying the number and type of items to be transported, their dimensions and/or weight, and timeframe for the service. Generally, only Monday through Friday service is available, though a few locations may allow for Saturday deliveries.

Because every situation presents unique requirements and challenges, it’s best to compare services and rates offered by several companies. Most websites offer rate calculators or fare charts, and toll-free numbers and email addresses allow access to information not covered by the FAQs. Some services might not be able to ship to certain locations, while a few offer more economical seven-day services. Make a note of the pick-up window: companies which contract with delivery services such as DHL may only be able to give you a four- to six-hour time frame, while LuggageFree, which uses couriers (and charges a $50 pick-up fee), allows customers to designate a time-specific retrieval. Some services offer limited-time specials (and some only via phone) such as 2-for-1 deals on golf or ski vacations and spring break trips.

Ultimately, deciding to use a luggage delivery service comes down to balancing the cost against the convenience. For those able to schedule an “economy” rate and who might otherwise have to pay high excess-baggage or weight-allowance fees, that cost may not be so dear. And for others, the convenience may be priceless. As Paula Vogel discovered on a family Danube River cruise which included two elderly travelers, “what with wheelchairs, luggage, passports, metal hips . . . we should have used the service!”

Luggage Delivery Services
Carry My Luggage
Direct Baggage
First Luggage
Luggage Forward
Luggage Free