Save travel dollars by shipping extra luggage

The bottom line is clear – whether it's by charging a fee per bag or shrinking the maximum weight allowance, airlines are reducing the amount of stuff you can take with you from point A to point B.

It's the airline industry's way of coping with high fuel prices, and unfortunately there's not much you can do to change their regulations. However, there is a measure you can take to save travel costs while hanging on to all your belongings (don't worry, it doesn't involve buying plane tickets for your bags!) 

Next time you have more than one bag to take with you, consider shipping it instead of bringing it to the airport. You could save a good sum of money:

I priced out an example: shipping a 50lb suitcase-sized package from Edmonton to Toronto through UPS (a three-day delivery) is $45 dollars cheaper than Air Canada's excess luggage fee (savings increase with a smaller package weight and shorter shipping distance).

Shipping is especially useful for situations like these:

• You're leaving for an extended amount of time and require more luggage than the average traveler

• You're returning from holidays and there's no way you can bring your souvenirs home without filling an extra suitcase

• You're relocating for work or school and have to bring household items

• You pack way too many clothes (not a good habit!)

There are also some scenarios where shipping isn't the best option:

• If you're only traveling with one suitcase, it's not worth shipping; the savings will be negligible.

• If you're traveling internationally (/outside of Canada and the US). Shipping internationally can get very expensive very quickly, and there's a higher chance of your package getting lost or damaged along the way.

• If you need your things right away. It's likely that your items will arrive after you do, so don't ship a package with your toothbrush and PJs in it!

• If you don't have planning time. When you ship items, they need to be packed and sent on a date so that their arrival will coincide with yours. If taking the time to pack and send luggage properly is too much of an inconvenience prior to your departure, it's not the best option for you.

But do consider this tip next time you travel! If you can't pack any lighter, you might as well pack smarter!

Larissa

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