You Don't Have to Check Baggage

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (MainStreet) -- In a travel era of increasing fees and hourlong airport lines for anyone checking bags, more travelers are opting to use baggage shipping services, once considered a luxury reserved for only the wealthiest of vacationers. Companies such as Luggage Forward, Luggage Free and Lugless are part of a growing group of white-glove shipping companies that specialize in keeping you far away from the delays of airport bag drops and baggage claim.

If you're a commuter flier who's created a mathematical formula for folding as much as possible into your carry-on to avoid having to check baggage, most likely you're not the ideal candidate for these specialty shipping companies. If you're a heavy packer, golfer who likes his own clubs or a skier that wouldn't think about slipping on a pair of someone else's boots, these companies offer a time-saving and sometimes cheaper alternative to schlepping your gear to the airport and the extra hour of waiting for check-in and pickup of your bulky items on return.

More travelers are opting to use baggage shipping services, once considered a luxury reserved for only the wealthiest of vacationers.

Many customers are surprised at the added benefit of packing well in advance, often freeing them up mentally before their travels and making for a more restful departure.

Considered one of the best in the breed, Luggage Forward offers door-to-door service to more than 200 countries for bags of virtually any size. Customers choose between an array of bag sizes including small bags up to 25 pounds, oversize bags up to 75 pounds and bulky items such as large golf bags or the occasional Louis Vuitton trunk. Customers are encouraged to pack as they would for airline travel, keeping in mind weight restrictions as well as items to avoid, such as aerosol cans.