Smart seniors, boomers and others are now avoiding the additional charges for checked baggage on airlines by having regular shipping companies such as FedEx and UPS handle their bags on both ends of a business or vacation trip.
4 Steps to Hassle-Free Baggage
Here are steps that travelers can take to get baggage where you are going without a hassle.
First, check the airline’s Web site or toll-free number to find out what the price is for each piece of checked baggage. Do this at least a week in advance of any trip.
For example, for those flying on United Airlines after August 18, 2008 on an Economy ticket or Economy award ticket purchased on or after June 13, 2008, a $15 service fee will apply for the first checked bag each way and a $25 fee will apply for a second checked bag, provided the origin city or destination is within the 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands. United considers baggage “excessive” weight if it is over 50 pounds.
The rules are essential the same for American Airlines and US Airways and Northwest. On Delta and Jet Blue, the first checked bag is free but there is a charge for a second. A third checked bag is considered “excess” on most of the major carriers and costs an additional $75 or $125.
Second, see how much the bag that might be checked weighs. Because so many seniors use rolling bags, they don’t realize how heavy they may be.
Third, measure the length, width and height of a bag that would be checked.
Fourth, visit the Federal Express or UPS Web site and enter the information on your bags to see how much it might cost to have the freight company pick it up at a residence and deliver it to a hotel or elsewhere at the other end.
It might be worth it. As an example, FedEx will pick up a 26-inch suitcase weighing 45 pounds with contents worth $300 at a New York location and deliver it within four business days to a location in Los Angeles for roughly $39.
Luxury Firms Also Handle Luggage
A business or pleasure traveler saves the effort of lugging a big roller bag, waiting at an airport carrousel, or, as increasingly happens, having the airline lose it for a few days. UPS charges are somewhat higher.
For those taking bulky items such as golf clubs, skis, or child restraint seats it may be worth the extra few dollars. There are deluxe baggage shippers such as Luggage Club, Sports Express, Luggage Forward and others who offer faster service but who charge quite a bit more.
Grace Lichtenstein - I prefer "seasoned" to "senior" but whatever term you use, I have been an outdoor adventurer for most of my adult years. I am a cycling ...
