June 16, 2004 -- You're planning a longer vacation and the amount of luggage is getting out of hand. In addition to a big suitcase and a carry-on for each person in your group, you may have golf clubs, tennis racquets, possibly a baby stroller. Maybe you enjoy the physical exercise and mental discipline required to carry all this stuff and keep track of it, but most likely you're tired of the hassle. For some extra bucks, you could save all the trouble, and waltz onto the airplane with just a carry-on item.
We checked out four services, one the most obvious courier, FedEx, the other three lesser-known companies specializing in transporting your luggage and other personal effects. Frommer's was surprised by the results.
To test the services, we inquired about shipping suitcase a weighing 54 pounds from midtown Manhattan in New York City to Seattle WA, clear across the country. We asked Fedex, Luggage Express, Virtual Bellhop and Luggage Free.
The winner was FedEx, especially if you are willing to ship in advance, by ground. Their quoted price for that five day service was $33.80, or less than 63 cents per pound. Comparable prices from the others were all out of the bargain range. Luggage Express wanted $100 for "3 to 5 days" ($1.85 per pound); Virtual Bellhop said $123.40, also for "3 to 5 days" ($2.28 per pound). Luggage Free, which says it is a "luxury baggage-handling specialist", doesn't have a slow service, their ritzy clients apparently not being interested in anything less than a two-day deal.
For second day delivery, FedEx quoted $119.36, but was bested by Luggage Free, which said they would charge only $108. Luggage Express wanted $126, and Virtual Bellhop $136.90. For faster, next-day delivery, Fedex was again cheapest, but only slightly, charging $153.17. Luggage Express asked $155, Virtual Bellhop $177.50 and Luggage Free $216. Note that all prices were either obtained from websites or by phone inquiry.
For shorter distances, we asked for a FedEx quote on a three-day ground delivery from New York to Winter Park FL (near Orlando) of the same 54 lb. suitcase and were told the price would be $19.71 (36.5 cents per pound).
As to the question of locking or leaving unlocked a suitcase when shipping in this manner, we received contradictory information from questioning the companies and from what delivery persons told us. In any case, the official word is to leave the suitcase unlocked
Contact for these companies as follows:
- Fedex at www.fedex.com or phone 800/GO FEDEX (same as 800/463-3339)
- Luggage Express at www.usxpluggageexpress.com or 866/744-7224
- Luggage Free at www.luggagefree.com or phone 800/361-6871 or 212/453-1579
- Virtual Bellhop at www.virtualbellhop.com or phone 877/235-5467