For many travellers, the most stressful parts of a trip are packing, getting through security, and the fear that your suitcase won’t be at your destination to greet you at the baggage carousel. So a service that allows you to avoid the hassle of taking any baggage with you at all is intriguing, right?

Regular readers may recall my recent post recounting Steve’s saga of his lost checked-but-not-tagged suitcase when flying from the UK to Canada. Shortly after that post, the folks at New York-based Luggage Free contacted me to offer a complementary trial of their service for our review.

How it works

Luggage Free picks up and ships your luggage to virtually any destination worldwide so you don’t have to worry about carrying, checking, and claiming bags. They guarantee on-time, safe delivery. They ship golf bags, ski equipment, and bikes as well.

Boston Trip with Luggage Free

Steve decided to try the service on a recent business trip to Boston. Because we live in Canada, we had to ship the bag internationally. This meant that Steve had to have his suitcase packed for pick up a week in advance of his flight. Luckily, Steve has multiples of critical items (e.g., shoes (multiples of multiples), running gear, toiletries). Luggage Free explained that the 7 days is required for international trips because time required to clear customs is unpredictable. In Steve’s case, we were surprised to discover that the bag arrived in Boston the following day! The hotel was good enough to hold it until he got there.

Steve arrived in Boston to find his bag waiting and intact. On his return home Steve simply advised Luggage Free that his bag was ready for pick up and departed for the airport. The bag arrived at our home a few days later no worse for wear.

Cost

International luggage delivery from Canada to anywhere in the U.S. costs $4.51/lb.(one way). From the U.S. to Canada it is $3.71/lb.

Steve’s bag came in at 10 pounds so the cost to ship both ways totalled $82.20 USD.

Luggage Free lists all pricing on its site.

Is it worth it?

For lighter weight baggage, the cost of this service is within reach for luxury travellers and business travellers with generous expense accounts. As weights get heavier, however, it can get pricey. So is it worth the cost?

Maybe for families

What if you were taking a big family trip and had to pay airline fees for initial and additional bags? These fees range in price from $25 – $100 depending on the airline and weight of the bag. If you’re also weighing the hassle of carting around a few kids and their luggage and a potentially long wait at the carousel, this service could be an attractive option.

Maybe on certain kinds of trips

A few years ago, Steve and I took a cycling trip in Italy followed by stays in Berlin and Prague, which involved more urban activities. By the time we got to Prague I was quite sick of packing and re-packing my bike helmet and sports gear, which were of no use to me at that point in our travels. Packing these items in a separate bag and shipping them back to Winnipeg after the Italy portion of our trip would have been quite nice.

Other Considerations

The good

Great service

The service was executed flawlessly. The pick up was on time and the luggage was in tact. Luggage Free also sent emails documenting every point of the journey from pick up, transit, and delivery.

No wait time. No luggage worries.

After a long flight, waiting for your luggage at the carrousel is a huge time suck. Steve has waited up to 30 minutes on occasion and a few times the wait has put a connecting flight in jeopardy. This is the core value of the Luggage Free service. You have no worries about collecting your luggage and it’s waiting for you in your hotel room when you arrive.

The not so good

Packing/shipping in advance

The required 7-day advanced shipping internationally could be a challenge. You really need to have your act together in order to do this. You will also have to live without those items in your bag for an entire week before your trip. The Luggage Free domestic service within the U.S. offers faster turn around and you can pay a premium amount for one-day delivery.

Customs

Because Steve was coming back into Canada with unaccompanied goods, he had to declare this at customs instead of whisking through with his NEXUS card as he usually does. In fairness, the customs officer he was dealing with had to consult with a colleague about this procedure, so that added a few extra minutes. It was still much faster than waiting at a carousel for luggage.

So, what do you think? Could you see yourself using this service in certain situations? 

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