aerogurl87 Posted August 26, 2010 Posted August 26, 2010 I'm going to see my SO again in October and I was considering shipping my luggage to him beforehand using Fedex. It'd be internationally since he's in Canada and I'm in the States but by using Fedex ground I found out it would only be 10 bucks cheaper than checking it at the airport. Plus I wouldn't have to really worry about the baggage handlers losing it or something on the 3 connection flights I have to make. So I was wondering if anyone had done this before and if so, with what results?
TMichaels Posted August 26, 2010 Posted August 26, 2010 aerogurl87, People do it all the time -- domestically and internationally. FedEx will handle the Customs forms/requirements but there is a surcharge for this. Make sure you factor that in so you're comparing apples to apples when comparing costs. Look here for more information -- or just call FedEx or go to a major FedEx drop-off location and they should be able to tell you and answer any/all questions you have. Good luck, and have a great trip! Best, TMichaels
electricity Posted August 26, 2010 Posted August 26, 2010 I've never done it internationally, but when I moved across the country after college, I shipped all my textbooks and whatever belongings I couldn't fit onto my checked luggage to my new address via FedEx and had no trouble.
skydiveaddict Posted August 26, 2010 Posted August 26, 2010 You shouldn't have any trouble. For my job (wind turbines) we have to ship tools and other equipment all the time, Stuff you obviously couldn't put on a plane, I work all over the U.S and have never had a problem with fed ex or ups. You should be fine.
Author aerogurl87 Posted August 26, 2010 Author Posted August 26, 2010 Thanks everyone and I meant 10 bucks more than checking it, lol. TMichaels I went to fedex.com and looked up the prices for shipping internationally to Canada with ground service and it said it'd be 30 bucks each way including customs, etc. which sounds about right since it cost about the same to ship my boyfriend his present. And since checking my luggage would be 25 dollars each way I figured I'd go with something that would give me more piece of mind that was only 10 dollars more.
LisaLee Posted August 26, 2010 Posted August 26, 2010 The places that I fly Southwest airlines goes to, so I usually don't have to pay any baggage fees. When I was dropping off my boyfriend at the airport this last time the girl in front of us had 3 huge, huge, HUGE pieces of luggage. Apparently she wasn't up to date on SW's policy that bags only fly free if they are under 50 lbs. She went back and forth with the guy checking her in for several minutes before she decided to start going through her bags and putting as much stuff as she could into her carry on (which was also ginormous). The clerk explained to her that her bags were still going to be quite overweight, so she had to pull out credit cards and cash to pay the fee. I felt bad for her, but it was kind of annoying for those of us waiting to check in.
carhill Posted August 26, 2010 Posted August 26, 2010 Unless that luggage is real light, I doubt it will be cost-effective. I looked at this option a few times when going on cruises with stbx, and I just couldn't get the price points to pencil out, based on the allowable weight for flying. We usually traveled with a couple hundred pounds of luggage in total. The cost to ship was usually 200-300 each way. This was back in 2005-2006.
2sure Posted August 26, 2010 Posted August 26, 2010 WHOA!!!! I would NOT recommend this. I am in the US and often ship packages to Canada via FEDEX and UPS. It doesnt matter if I pay huge sums for expedited shipping ...I have waited 3 WEEKS for a large envelope to be delivered that should have been a 2 day thing tops. They sit in customs with no one available to jump up and down to get them delivered. If you were shipping it to europe I would have more confidence. Take your luggage with you on the plane. Since you have so many connections...my experience is that YES...it could get lost. I fly very frequently and have only had a problem 3 times in 20plus years of travel. Even if it does get lost ...it will catch up to you quick.
TMichaels Posted August 26, 2010 Posted August 26, 2010 Thanks everyone and I meant 10 bucks more than checking it, lol. TMichaels I went to fedex.com and looked up the prices for shipping internationally to Canada with ground service and it said it'd be 30 bucks each way including customs, etc. which sounds about right since it cost about the same to ship my boyfriend his present. And since checking my luggage would be 25 dollars each way I figured I'd go with something that would give me more piece of mind that was only 10 dollars more. Here's another link for you to check out aerogurl87. I would also *talk to someone in person* at FedEx to be sure you're calculating the costs correctly AND that your luggage will arrive in a timely manner. If all the requisite Customs paperwork is complete and in order it shouldn't cause a delay in delivery -- but if that can't be guaranteed, there's no reason to bother going that route. You might as well check your luggage with the airline. Best, TMichaels
Rollercoasterr Posted August 27, 2010 Posted August 27, 2010 We overnighted a package to Mathew's mother in Canada and it arrived 3 weeks later. We knew it wouldn't be there overnight, but it NEEDED to be there ASAP. I would seriously reconsider shipping luggage, especially if it's things that you'll need while you're there. What happens if it gets held up and you have no clothes or anything for your entire visit? You don't wanna be hiding in the house all day or wearing your boyfriends clothes until yours get there. I'm not saying this WILL happen, but I just really don't trust the mailing system in Canada(they've screwed us multiple times, including losing Mathew's visa). It's still fedex, but I'm weird about it. True, during the last visit I spent in Canada before Mathew moved down Delta lost my bags twice, but they also got them to me the same night, or next morning. I like the satisfaction of knowing that my bags are traveling right behind me and not in the back of some van.
Author aerogurl87 Posted August 28, 2010 Author Posted August 28, 2010 We overnighted a package to Mathew's mother in Canada and it arrived 3 weeks later. We knew it wouldn't be there overnight, but it NEEDED to be there ASAP. I would seriously reconsider shipping luggage, especially if it's things that you'll need while you're there. What happens if it gets held up and you have no clothes or anything for your entire visit? You don't wanna be hiding in the house all day or wearing your boyfriends clothes until yours get there. I'm not saying this WILL happen, but I just really don't trust the mailing system in Canada(they've screwed us multiple times, including losing Mathew's visa). It's still fedex, but I'm weird about it. True, during the last visit I spent in Canada before Mathew moved down Delta lost my bags twice, but they also got them to me the same night, or next morning. I like the satisfaction of knowing that my bags are traveling right behind me and not in the back of some van. Hmm you might be right about that RC. I talked to my boyfriend though and he said he would rather me check the bag at the airport and told me not to worry about them losing it. So I guess I'll check it, plus the times when my flights connect will actually give me enough time to check them at the airport (2 hours waiting time, argh!) since I had to book two separate flights for getting into Canada and finally getting to the airport near to him.
carhill Posted August 29, 2010 Posted August 29, 2010 Generally, with very few exceptions, most airlines have interline agreements to share baggage, even when a passenger is flying on two PNR's (different reservations/tickets). When checking in for the first ticket coupon with that operating carrier, merely show the onward connection and they can, in nearly all cases, tag the luggage to its final destination, and will collect a fee appropriate to their baggage fee rules (the airline of departure). A marked exception can be if/when such a carrier break occurs during international travel where luggage must clear customs before re-checking. If with a different airline on a different ticket, a fee *may* be required when re-checking after customs, consistent with the onward operating airlines fee structure. Also, if the itinerary involves a stopover where luggage is collected en-route, and later re-checked, an onward fee will be collected by that operating carrier according to their fee structure. Clear as mud?
Author aerogurl87 Posted August 29, 2010 Author Posted August 29, 2010 Well I'll be flying with Air Canada again for my second leg of the trip and it looks like I can check up to two bags free. Luckily I only need to check one bag, but this is good cause I'll only have to pay for my bags to get checked here in the States and on my way back.
carhill Posted August 29, 2010 Posted August 29, 2010 If departing from CONUS to Canada on AC (Air Canada), then AC's baggage rules control. See here for more info: http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/checked.html If departing CONUS to Canada on a non-AC flight, or an AC codeshare flight operated by another carrier, then the operating carrier's baggage rules apply. In such an instance, if the bags are interlined and tagged through to the final destination in Canada, any baggage fee paid at departure will cover the entire trip. Returning, pax and luggage are pre-cleared in Canada, if the departure airport participates in the immigration/customs pre-clearance protocol (most do), and the pax returns to the US as a 'domestic' pax and no collection and re-checking of luggage is required. Bags continue to the pax CONUS destination for retrieval, as long as they are able to be checked through (interlined or same carrier) at the point of departure. As with departing CONUS, the operating carrier's baggage rules and fees at the point of departure in Canada control.
madjac74 Posted August 31, 2010 Posted August 31, 2010 If you decide to ship them then I would suggest just packing your clothes in a standard box. Size and weight are a big factor in shipping costs and the luggage itself would be excess weight that you don't need. And then just carry your personals in a carry on bag.
laRubiaBonita Posted August 31, 2010 Posted August 31, 2010 i have shipped mine. the result of being on standby and them only allowing me a carry on..... so i went to the fedex place in the airport (atlanta) and they wrapped my big duffle bag in plastic and shipped it to my house. i think it cost $10, as opposed to an extra $100 (it was heavy too). the bag got there about 5-7 days later.
Author aerogurl87 Posted August 31, 2010 Author Posted August 31, 2010 If departing from CONUS to Canada on AC (Air Canada), then AC's baggage rules control. See here for more info: http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/checked.html If departing CONUS to Canada on a non-AC flight, or an AC codeshare flight operated by another carrier, then the operating carrier's baggage rules apply. In such an instance, if the bags are interlined and tagged through to the final destination in Canada, any baggage fee paid at departure will cover the entire trip. Returning, pax and luggage are pre-cleared in Canada, if the departure airport participates in the immigration/customs pre-clearance protocol (most do), and the pax returns to the US as a 'domestic' pax and no collection and re-checking of luggage is required. Bags continue to the pax CONUS destination for retrieval, as long as they are able to be checked through (interlined or same carrier) at the point of departure. As with departing CONUS, the operating carrier's baggage rules and fees at the point of departure in Canada control. Well Carhill the flight that I'll be taking will be a domestic flight in Canada as it'll be a flight from the flight I'm taking that takes me into Canada to an airport closer to my boyfriend's town. And I checked online and it said that I can bring up to 2 free checked bags if it's a domestic Canadian flight (although I'll only need one) but thanks for that info.
Recommended Posts