Guest Author - Aaron Kirley

Luggage Woes
The once trivial act of traveling with luggage is becoming ever more complex as the lost luggage problem effecting airlines continues to impact more people each year. In 2005 the US Department of Transportation (DOT) recorded a staggering 2.9 million complaints for lost or delayed baggage. Then in 2006 they recorded 4.08 million complaints. That is an average of one lost bag every 8 seconds in 2006 and numbers this big are hard to ignore. The thought of showing up for a cruise without your luggage is unthinkable but it happens to unsuspecting cruise passengers every day.

Most cruise passengers require at least one checked bag to transport the wide array of clothes required for a 7 night cruise featuring formal dinners, balls, theatrical performances, island hopping, casinos, bars, and poolside relaxing. Savvy packers taking shorter cruises used to travel with one strategically packed carryon bag, but Transportation Security Administration (TSA) carryon restrictions make it very difficult to travel without checking at least one bag.

In August 2006, the TSA responded to terrorist plots by implementing a widespread ban which prevented airline passengers from carrying normal amounts of liquid and gels in their carryon luggage. As a result, passengers that once packed light to avoid the hassle and uncertainty associated with checking luggage began to pack heavy and check their luggage. The already weak baggage handling systems simply couldn’t handle the increase in checked luggage and as a result lost luggage complaints increased significantly.

This increase in checked baggage means that the airlines burn more fuel transporting heavier plans and this has a significant impact on their bottom line. In response to this problem, airlines have tightened their checked baggage policies and in February 2007 British Airways announced that they would begin charging economy passengers up to US$253 for their second checked bag. British Airways is a leader in the airline industry and other airlines are sure to follow their lead by charging excessive prices for checked baggage in the near future.

Luggage Wows
These unfortunate turn of events have significantly changed the travel landscape but it seems like there may actually be a better way. The luggage forwarding industry has been providing high end luxury travelers door-to-door luggage delivery since the early 1990’s.

These forwarding services are great for sending bulky items such as golf clubs and skis ahead to your destination. These services can also guarantee on time delivery to most destinations and some companies can even have your luggage delivered directly to your stateroom. In the past two years some companies such as Luggage Forward have added lower cost services to provide options for a wider range of budgets. You can get real time quotes on their web site and book a direct flight for you luggage so you know it won’t be left behind.