Schlepping vs. shipping
To check or to ship is the question many passengers find themselves asking before flying nowadays, with baggage fees and other charges stacking up for the summer and beyond.
The typical checked bag can be up to 62 linear inches (length+width+height) and weigh up to 50 pounds. A carry-on is usually 45 linear inches.
Which baggage fees apply to what tickets can pose some confusion because of the different dates on which the various airline fees go into effect. United Airlines, for example, has baggage fees for tickets purchased on or after June 13 for travel on or after Aug. 18, but not before.
Major airlines including United, US Airways and American Airlines, are charging $15 to check the first bag and $25 to check a second. Delta isn’t charging for a first bag but charges $50 for a second checked bag.
Oversized baggage usually measures 62 to 115 linear inches and weighs 50 to 100 pounds. Cost: $100 or $125 per bag. A third checked bag usually counts as excess baggage. Cost: $100 or $125 per bag.
To pack or to ship?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimates that the average distance flown per passenger in March was 880 miles, roughly the air-mile distance between Denver and Chicago.
If someone were to fly from Denver International Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, when does it become cheaper to ship baggage beforehand?
Using different services, a large piece of luggage (31x24x12) weighing 50 pounds would cost:
FedEx: $27.73 on ground (three business days), $128.53 second day, $232.94 standard overnight.
UPS: $32.62 on ground (three business days), $128.53 second-day air, $232.94 next-day air.
DHL: $26.77 on ground (three business days), $125.89 second day, $228.18 next day.
Sports Express: $125.92 on three-business-days air, $158.15 two days, $301.46 overnight.
