Are luggage forward services worth it for air travellers? | Canada Voices

If you’ve ever picked up damaged and dinged luggage off the airport carousel, sighed, and thought, “there must be a better way,” then I have news for you. There is. But it may not be for every trip or every traveller.

A number of companies offer what is essentially a bespoke courier service. Instead of checking luggage or skis or golf clubs with the airline and leaving it to the baggage-handling gods, these items are picked up from your home and sent separately to your destination unscathed.

When I was given a chance to test drive the service, I jumped at the chance – I’d had one too many rolling bags taken out of commission lately.

Luggage Forward, a Colorado-based company, sent me the details of how it all worked for an upcoming trip from Toronto to Portugal. While setting up the service, I was given a laundry list of items that could not be in the bag and there were more restrictions than an airline ever asks: snacks, vitamins, over-the-counter drugs and even clothes with price tags attached were verboten. But the bigger problem was that I had to have my luggage ready for pickup seven to 12 days before my flight!

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For travellers sending ahead a set of golf clubs, a road bike, a stroller or favourite powder skis – this is an easier ask. But there was no way I would be packed a week in advance. I opted to try the service only on my return, not minding if a bag full of dirty laundry and souvenirs arrived home later than I did.

Luggage Forward also noted that someone needs to be able to sign for the delivery. A hotel concierge will do the trick – you’ve just got to make sure they will take on this task before booking.

When it came time to fly home from Lisbon, I stuffed my bag, closed it, but (counter to instructions) did not lock it, in case customs might need to get inside. I affixed the large address labels that Luggage Forward had provided and rolled it to the front desk. The courier would collect my bag after I’d left for the airport, so I was glad the company provided a letter in Portuguese allowing hotel staff to fully understand when the courier was coming and what this luggage pickup service was all about.

My airport commute was lighter than usual and, upon arrival in Toronto, I dutifully noted on my customs declaration form that I was not travelling with all my luggage. This flagged me for extra screening. I was redirected to the secondary inspection room, where I explained luggage forwarding to the perplexed agent. When he asked me the value of my luggage, I laughed and reassured him my dirty clothes and cheap souvenirs did not exceed my personal duty exemption.

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But this was a hiccup I had not thought of when I signed up for the service. Luggage Forward and DHL, its chosen courier service, kept me updated on my bag’s trip home. But once it got snarled in customs, both were powerless to move it out. I waited. I filled out several forms covering the same information I’d explained to the airport agent. I waited some more. The Luggage Forward customer support team was sympathetic and as helpful as they could be. I began to feel sorry for the person who had to rifle through what by now would be a rank-smelling bag.

A full week after I arrived home, my bag was delivered to my front door – repacked by a customs agent, but no worse for wear.

The customs holdup was the only frustrating part of the Luggage Forward experience for me, though it would not be a concern on domestic flights. But travellers who need to move pricey sports equipment or luxury luggage they don’t want scratched will likely appreciate the convenience and not blink at the prices.

Domestic transfers start at US$139 for a small, 11-kilogram bag; US$249 for a large one (international luggage shipping starts at US$429 for a small bag). Sending skis and golf bags within Canada is around US$200 and up. International rates are almost double. Baggage insurance is offered for a small fee. Visit the Luggage Forward website for exact pricing, as it varies between countries.