A reader mentioned her positive experience with using a luggage forwarding service when flying. This prompted me to investigate how readily available these type of services are, and what they offer.

What Is Luggage Forwarding
The concept of luggage forwarding is a godsend not only to the business traveler, but to any traveler who has bulky luggage. Luggage Free boasts a slogan that says it all. “Pack heavy. Travel light.” As someone who always packs too much… just in case, I was keen to find out more.

How It Works
If you have to (or want to) take your skis, bulky baggage, cot carrier, golf clubs or even your bicycle with you, now you can. Technically speaking, it won’t actually be with you on the flight. The luggage forwarding service collects it from your house or hotel a day or two before, and delivers it door to door. It will be waiting for you at your hotel, cabin or wherever you are staying when you arrive.

Imagine not having to juggle bulky luggage in and out of cars and terminals. If you’re going on vacation or a business trip and you are planning a few days hiking or skiing, imagine not having to worry about meeting a business colleague or client at the airport while trying to juggle your skiis. The snow may be great on the mountain, but it may be a different matter if the road conditions are bad. Are you looking for a way to check bulky items amid snow storm chaos at the airport check in counter? This may be it.

Airlines Like It Too
Another luggage forwarding company Luggage Express, claims that airlines want to work with them . They explain that when luggage is sent ahead, there are benefits to both the passengers and the airlines. It minimises passenger queue times, baggage check in and volume, as well as departure delays. Of course, there’s the added benefit of not having to wait at the baggage carousel at the other end too.

Reader Recommendation
I have not used the service myself, but the reader who tipped us off to this service was certainly impressed.

She shares - “A lot of business travelers are using a new service called Luggage Forward.They provide a door to door luggage forwarding service so that you don't need to carry all your luggage with you when you travel. It's really a godsend for older people that want to travel and can't carry luggage or even business travelers that don't have the time to wait for luggage at the destination airport. Also, when you can't carry bulky items like golf clubs or skis.”

“Next time you travel I recommend that you check them out. I used Luggage Forward when I went on a family vacation and they picked up my child's car seat at my house a day before I left and then it was at my hotel when I arrived. It's really cool and I wanted to spread the word!”

Different Travel Needs
That is high praise indeed. This service certainly looks like it will lighten the load (literally and figuratively), whether you use it for convenience or necessity. For a business traveler with bulky materials for a trade show or presentation, the advantages are obvious. For the older person, disabled traveler or anyone who can’t lift heavy weights, it also promises to make life easier. Whether on business, adding a break onto the end of your business trip, or a mother traveling with young kids, a luggage forwarding service may be worth considering;

Prices are listed in the related links for each of the 3 companies mentioned, at the top right of this page.