No matter which airline you fly, you’ve probably been dismayed by charges that have cropped up, most noticeably for pre-arranged seats and luggage fees. I know plenty of people who would pay for a seat near the front of the plane due to claustrophobia – but don’t know anyone who would be able to justify paying to send their luggage along with them.
The majority of airlines charge between $15-20 for the first suitcase and even more than that for the second. Without knowing how you pack and the number of plastic bags with medicine or lotions you might need to present for inspection, I have a suggestion for you from my mother. Mail it instead.
Eight years ago, she decided she was tired of traveling with a suitcase. It was cumbersome to lug around the airport and just because it was checked on your flight didn’t mean it made the same journey along with you. So she decided to mail her clothes, makeup, shoes, books and magazines. That has now become a tradition in our family.
It’s definitely a cheaper option than paying to check your bag. If you already have a box to use your only expense is sending it. Over time we’ve begun sending our items via the UPS Store because of their tracking numbers.
Think about striding through the airport sans luggage. It’s a liberating feeling in an otherwise restricted situation. You will still have to remove your shoes, but you won’t have to wait for the machines to scan your luggage or wait for someone to sift through the contents on a routine inspection.
With the tracking number, you’re able to see where the shipment is during the route and the estimated arrival. Over the years we haven’t had any problems with sending packages, and they arrive before we do. Hotels will hold onto packages for their guests, so just be sure to notify them ahead of time.
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