Showing up to the airport with several bulky bags and the kids in tow is almost never easy. Just trying to navigate a busy airport with the whole family and all your luggage can be a challenge. Add in a few oversize or overweight bags that need to be checked and you’ve got a nightmare on your hands.
Now you can skip the long baggage lines and the hassle of running to catch your flight while dragging four suitcases and a screaming toddler with Luggage Free.
The smart service specializes in luggage shipping worldwide. You sign up on their website, tell them where you’re traveling to and from and choose what items you want them to ship for you. They show up right at your front door to collect the items and then you’re reunited with your belongings once you reach your final destination.
I put Luggage Free to the test myself on a recent trip to Curtain Bluff in Antigua to see if it was worth it.
The first thing to know is that using Luggage Free does take some planning. Sign up in advance to ensure you don’t run into any extra fees for rushed shipping. The cheapest option for domestic shipping requires a 5-day window between pick up and delivery. If you’re headed on an international trip you’ll need even more time depending on how remote your final destination is. If you do find yourself in a last-minute panic, they have options for next day delivery for domestic trips and rush delivery for international shipping, but the expedited process will cost you quite a bit extra.
This also means that you will need to pack for your trip several days in advance so your luggage is ready when they come to pick it up. As a heavy procrastinator who often packs the morning of my trip, this was a bit of a challenge for me. But in the end, having everything done early also eliminated my usual day-of travel stress.
When signing up, you choose a 4-hour window for when Luggage Free will come to your house or apartment to pick up your items. After printing and placing a special luggage tag on my bags, they arrived well within the window I had picked and came right to my apartment door. I handed over my bag and that was it.
The day of my trip, I took only a large purse that doubles as my beach bag. I packed an extra set of clothes and a bathing suit in it just in case there were any hiccups with getting my luggage on time. Navigating the airport with just my small bag was a breeze and I didn’t need to worry about overhead space filling up. It also meant I skipped the headache and extra time of waiting for any checked luggage and headed straight to my taxi.
When I arrived at my resort and checked in, my bags were already there waiting for me. It was that easy.
Admittedly, Luggage Free isn’t exactly cheap (shipping a carry-on domestically starts at $67 and if you’re traveling to a more remote location like Fiji with an oversized bag, it can range all the way up to $500+). But with checked baggage fees constantly on the rise, this hassle-free version is well worth the price tag for a domestic or easy-to-reach final spot.
As a bonus, they will also pick up and ship golf clubs, skis, bikes and other bulky items that aren’t ideal for travel. So if you’re headed on a family ski trip or off to teach the kids to golf, this is a great option that cuts out the need to rent all your equipment.
All you have to do is relax and enjoy your vacation. They’ll handle the rest.
By Hannah Freedman