Travelers today have several options when luggage is an issue. As part of ADTRAV’s commitment to providing our customers with the “Service Nonstop” guarantee that has become our hallmark in the travel industry, we are pleased to address the question, “What is the most efficient and economical way to ensure that my luggage arrives when and where I do?” A simple comparison of options on a sample flight from Atlanta, Georgia to Denver, Colorado (1208 air miles) revealed some startling facts and figures. For the purpose of comparison we used rates for two pieces of luggage, each weighing fifty pounds.

The first option is checked baggage. Most major airlines now charge for checked luggage, on average the fee is $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second. Using this formula, you can expect to pay $80 round-trip for having your baggage accompany you. Some airlines also offer discounts on checked luggage fees if they are paid online in advance.

One alternative to checked luggage is to have it shipped by a courier service. UPS and FedEx, two of the largest, have several shipment options for sending those same sized suitcases between the same two cities. Next day service can run as high as $294 per bag (one way) while three-day ground service for non-time-sensitive items is as little as $34. Convenient features, such as residential pick-up and weekend and holiday delivery, are also offered.

United Airlines has become the first U.S. airline to offer another shipping option. United’s recently inaugurated Door-to-Door Baggage service offers customers the convenience of shipping their suitcases, skis, golf clubs, or other travel items overnight from their home or office directly to their destination within the 48 contiguous states. Bags are picked up between noon and six p.m. and by 4:30 p.m. on the following day, the bags are delivered to the customer’s final destination. Fees for the service are $149 per bag (one way) for flights less than 1,000 miles and $179 per bag for longer flights.

A side by side comparison of baggage fees, using the above example results in the following:

New policies and fees may make travelers reconsider exactly how much convenience is worth. Keep in mind one point that this tale of the tape makes very evident – today more than ever before, it makes sense to travel as light as possible!