New take on Airline bag fees-- ship it instead!

[Gromit]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34943460/ns/travel-tips/

[PA Girl]

I love this idea.

Wonder if Connections has room for 9 people's luggage?

[jimg20]

The travel editior who was on the Today show advocated this solution a long time ago. He said he didn't check bags when it was free. He wondered why anyone would pay airlines to lose their bags.

JIM

[mbw1024]

I know Peter Greenberg has written about this and he never checks a bag.
Point me to where I can ship the contents of 2 pieces of luggage for less than paying for 2 checked bags? I've never seen it. The cost of shipping is way more than that.
I don't carry on. Period. That's my choice and I have to pay the fee and take my chances. If I can ship it for equal or less great but I doubt it.

[PA Girl]

I know Peter Greenberg has written about this and he never checks a bag.
Point me to where I can ship the contents of 2 pieces of luggage for less than paying for 2 checked bags? I've never seen it. The cost of shipping is way more than that.
I don't carry on. Period. That's my choice and I have to pay the fee and take my chances. If I can ship it for equal or less great but I doubt it.

That was my first thought. On a lark, I checked what it would cost for our 2008 trip to STJ and it was significantly more than our tickets. $750 or more sticks in my mind. This was for a luggage shipping service.

I am curious was a 50 bag would cost via UPS or FedEx.

[mbw1024]

the article Gromit posted speaks to mainland shipping. I think once we get to shipping a bag to STT or STJ it doesn't make any sense at all.

I also don't get the return handling. I'm not packing up early to get my stuff shipped home so basically I'm back to checking a bag.

[Cid]

I honestly don't get it. How much crap are you people taking on vacation? I do carry on only. I hear about extra fees for bags that weigh over 50lbs. How much stuff could one possibly need for a week or two of vacation in the Caribbean? 50lbs of shorts, t-shirts,suntan lotion and bug spray would keep you going for more than a month!

All kidding aside, shipping ahead is a great idea. Make sure you tell your daughter NOT to send it Parcel Post when you send her to the Post Office. Use at least Priority Mail and give them extra time to be safe. Our box arrived about 2 weeks after we left. We had the villa agency send it back because it had extra meds in it. Other than that we just shipped dry goods, some cd's, non-TSA compliant shampoo, bug spray, sunscreen, coffee, a couple of paperbacks etc....nothing we couldn't live without or replace on the island. Much of it was stuff we had bought cheaply here and figured might be expensive or unavailable on the island.

[NCSue]

We have shipped stuff down before - it was nice but I don't think I'll do it again! For this summer's upcoming two week trip we have a new plan. Pack like I normally would for two weeks. Then take half out!! Then the night before - take half out again. I ALWAYS take outfits that I never wear. I think the fact that I call them OUTFITS for St. John means I should leave them at home! So I'm hoping for 5 people we can only use 2 - 3 bags total.

[PA Girl]

I honestly don't get it. How much crap are you people taking on vacation?

A lot

The book I want to take for my beach reading is 1.8 pounds, in the paperback version.

While he would deny it until the cows come home, my husband is the biggest hauler of crap on vacation. Can't take a travel size tube of toothpaste, gotta take a brand new regular size tube. Because, you know, one can't be too careful, might not be able to buy toothpaste on STJ. Same goes for shaving cream. And soap and so on......

He hauls what I call The Book. It is a print out of phone numbers and other work stuff that he puts inside a leather folio. It weighs at least 2 pounds, maybe 3.

Don't get me started on the newspapers and V-8! (I posted about this on another thread)

I tease him about this all the time, he just can't stop himself.

[pipanale]

I'm not looking forward to checking 2 bags for the 3 of us this summer. But, one's the cooler and the other will hold all of our clothes. I keep trying to reduce the quantity of crap I bring because I always end up buying shirts while there. We'll also have 3 backpacks and a small wheelie bag with the 1st night essentials...and the snorkel gear. I don't check that...ever.

I'd better have Under the Dome done by then because that's one hell of a book to be lugging around!

[mbw1024]

I honestly don't get it. How much crap are you people taking on vacation?

Don't get me started on the newspapers and V-8! (I posted about this on another thread)

I tease him about this all the time, he just can't stop himself.

V-8??? hahahahaha I missed that one!

my reason to not carry on has little to do with what I pack or don't pack. but I am short and I can't reach that thing for the life of me. not to mention I have bad back and don't wish to ruin my trip my hauling luggage over my head. if it doesn't fit by my feet then I'm not bringing it on. that's me - like I said it's a choice.

[PA Girl]

The V-8?

http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ht=#178460

[mbw1024]

The V-8?

http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ht=#178460

I think yours and mine were separated at birth! No newspapers but the magazines!!!!!! O M G
he might flip one open once - other than that he's dead asleep with his Bose headphones on

[PA Girl]

The V-8?

http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ht=#178460

I think yours and mine were separated at birth! No newspapers but the magazines!!!!!! O M G
he might flip one open once - other than that he's dead asleep with his Bose headphones on

Seriously! We really need to get on-island at the same time.

[ClevelandDave]

I can EASILY do carry-on only...my wife leans to the other extreme (4 pairs of sandles, etc).

She's actually down to one carry-on and one medium suitcase for 10 days in the islands. You should have seen the first trip.