Five Questions You Should Ask Before Shipping Your Luggage

The increasing prevalence of baggage checking, with consequent steep rises in the fees charged, have prompted many people to explore options available for forward shipping their luggage. Figures for 2009 show that American-based airlines collected almost USD 3billion in fees for baggage checking in the year. Yet a separate Transportation Department report also revealed that more than 2.1 million bags were misplaced by handlers.

In the face of these potential risks, it comes as no surprise that many travellers are reported to be considering alternative luggage forwarding methods. So what are the major aspects to consider when choosing the ideal luggage forwarding company?

Is the price quoted up-front what I'll actually pay? A base rate might look attractive on the face of it, but quite often extra charges are added for the likes of same-day collections, and add on fuel surcharges, in a similar manner to airlines when you buy a plane ticket.

How do I know that the service will be reliable? Evidence of a company which has been in business for some time, its working relationships with major partners in the forwarding and shipping businesses, and positive press coverage are all good indicators of the kind of service a company is likely to offer. These companies offer great deals.

What guarantee do I get that my package will arrive at the promised time? If a company is sufficiently confident that it can deliver on its promises, then it should be prepared to offer some form of recompense if it doesn't. Such a guarantee should be available in writing.

Will the company provide all the necessary packing materials, or at least tell me what exactly is needed? For insurance purposes, many companies insist on customers packing their consignments in a particular type of box. If this is the case, the company should at least make this clear.

If I am sending an international consignment will all documentation and clearance be taken care of? When you're sending valuable and possibly irreplaceable possessions around the world, you want a company which makes the process as simple as possible. Pointing out exactly what will happen to your package when you entrust it to them will greatly help to smooth the process and reduce stress.

As the demands on its services have grown, the baggage forwarding business has become far more sophisticated. So companies which offer a quality service, backed by solid guarantees will always lead the competition.