Don’t Want to Check It? These 6 Luggage Services Will Forward Your Bags to Your Destination

Boston-based Luggage Forward offers its services in all U.S. states and more than 200 countries worldwide. You can book online or call the company and your bags will be picked up from your home or office—no special packing needed. Insurance of $500 per bag is included and you can buy further insurance of $25,000 per bag. From shipping your skis to the resort to transferring your luggage to your cruise cabin to moving your boxes to school, there are plenty of delivery options available and the company promises on-time delivery. 

You can check prices online before you book. Round-trip from New York to California for a small bag costs $99, while an international transfer to Tokyo starts at $199.

Air Canada has partnered with Luggage Forward, so airline passengers get a 15% discount on their shipping rates. Bags and sports equipment like golf clubs, skis, bicycles, and skateboards can be shipped worldwide.

Back in 2013, founder Brian Altomare pitched his company LugLess to Shark Tank but the sharks didn’t bite. The business continued to grow and it was acquired by Luggage Forward in 2014. It still offers cheap luggage forward services with pricing starting at $15 per bag. You can get them shipped to your hotels or golf courses, or have them hold pick-up for seven days. 

The company ships across the U.S., but international shipping isn’t available. It finds the cheapest shipping options through FedEx and UPS and the cost is calculated by size, weight, how quickly you want it, and the services you opt for (pick up, digital labels, and refunds cost more). 

For example, New York to Los Angeles for one carry-on is priced at $34.99. The minimal service is non-refundable with no guarantees, while the top-tier Extra service includes custom shipping kit (with labels), pick up and delivery by FedEx, $700 coverage, refunds, and full guarantee.

Founded in 2003, Luggage Free will pick up your luggage from major U.S. cities within six hours for domestic transfers and within two business days for international transfers. You can book the service up to nine months in advance. They take care of labeling and customs and ship to over 150 countries worldwide. Insurance of $500 is included with an option to get more coverage, and an on-time delivery is guaranteed.

French hospitality brand Accor Hotels also recommend Luggage Free services to their members who can avail discounts and get points for using it.

LuggageTo Ship works with DHL and FedEx to ship luggage to more than 220 countries. Boxes, golf clubs, skis, and skateboards can easily be transported. They will pick up your luggage at your doorstep or you can drop it off at one of the 50,000 locations around the world. The company sends you packing and labelling instructions when you book the services online. 

The company will hold your bags for five days for free, and you can get it delivered or pick it up from a nearby location. A major advantage of booking LuggageToShip is that they store your luggage for six months, which can be extended for $10 per month per bag or box.

Founded in 2011, ShipGo also transfers your sports equipment and luggage worldwide. You can schedule shipping online, pack and label your bags, get them picked up or drop them off at the nearest location, track them live, and arrive bag-free. 

The prices depend on size, weight, and location, but they start at $34.99 and include $500 of insurance on luggage and $1,000 on some sporting equipment. You can also buy $7,500 additional coverage.

U.K.-based Send My Bag is a great option if you’re taking a grand tour of Europe. The rates are reasonable if you consider how much low-cost airlines are charging for each piece of check-in luggage now. Comparatively, standard shipping by Send My Bag from the U.K. to France costs $44 for up to 24 kgs. You can send bags, skis, bicycles, and golf clubs, and the door-to-door service makes it hassle-free.

Standard shipping from the U.S. to the U.K. takes 4-5 days and starts at $162 for 30 kgs. Students get up to a 10% discount on regular pricing. In fact, some of its first customers were students when the company began operations in 2006, and student shipping was a problem the company’s founder was trying to solve.