Luggage shipping services.

[randomness]

Partly because contrariety asked, partly because I want to leave a note for myself, and partly because I know others will be interested in the information: two articles on shipping your luggage when travelling, so you don't end up paying the airlines to lose your bags.

From http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/travel/12qna.html:
"[S]hipping luggage can be a cost-effective way to avoid punitive excess baggage charges, not just within Europe but between Europe and the United States , and indeed throughout the world. The solution is to use a baggage shipping service. For shipping to and from or within the United States, it makes sense to use a domestic company; but for shipping back to the United States, or between countries, you may benefit from a local company."

From http://www.gonomad.com/traveldesk/0601/shipping-luggage.html:
"[A] a travel trend has emerged to solve this problem: luggage shipping. Companies such as First Luggage, Luggage Free, Universal Express and Carry My Luggage offer door-to-door service without the hassle of lost, stolen, or damaged luggage, or having to drag bags along on your travels."

Both articles include links to various providers.

Comments

[sea-bound.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Thanks for the articles. I looked into shipping companies while I was in Jordan (for obvious reasons) and they all seemed to be in the $500-600+ range, which seemed exorbitant to me. Of course, this is so because I managed to find several people to lug my bags for me (the key to traveling this much? become loved by lots and lots of people). By the end of the year my bags will be in Dublin, Detroit, Japan, and Berlin. I'm really looking forward to picking them all up! *grin*

I'm in India. Headed to Japan in a few days--you can see the itinerary on facebook, which will be updated in a couple of weeks to include the summer and beyond. There is a potential job offer on the table that will bring me back to Jordan for 5-6 months and then to Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, and Lebanon, possibly also Sudan and Somalia over the succeeding 4-5 months. My mother groaned when I told her in a phone conversation. Haha. Anyway, I don't want to jinx it so i will not say more. Suffice it to say that if the offer comes through and is doable, I'm going to take it. I'll keep you updated. :) Belated happy birthday to E and my love to both of you!