Save A Buck (and Stick It to the Airlines): Ship Your Luggage

Let's say you're headed from Boston to New York with a bag thatweighs 35 pounds. If it's too big to carry on the plane -- and at35 pounds it probably will be -- you'll shell out $15 for theprivilege of checking it in. Box up your stuff and haul it to your local post office and you'll pay $18.98 to ship it via two-day Priority Mail. UPS will charge you $20 to get it there in seven days -- so plan ahead-- and FedEx two-day will run you $20.88.

So far, snail mailing your luggage doesn't seem like a bargain.

But the math changes when you throw a second suitcase into the mix.Check two bags and you're out $40. That's what you'll pay to haveFedEx throw your luggage around, but you'll pay $35 using UPS and$34 to let the post office deal with it. The savings really kick inif you're a clothes' horse or you bought every souvenir you laideyes on. Airlines will nail you for up to $140 if you've got threepieces of luggage, but the post office will charge you $55. FedExwill get it there (or back) for $60.

U.S. mail is an even bigger bargain if your bags weigh a ton -- a65-pounder costs $24 to ship parcel post, but the airlines willcharge $50 and $100 to throw it in the cargo hold. The bottom line?The more stuff you're packing, the more it makes sense to considershipping it.

Of course, this won't work for everyone. If you're a businesstraveler going directly from flight to meeting, there's a goodchance you'll need the stuff in your bag right away. Some peopleare too disorganized to pack, wrap and ship their stuff three days(or more) before the departure date. And not everyone feels likespending 45 minutes in line to have a surly post office employeeyell at them for taping up a box incorrectly.

If you want to see if you're better off checking or shipping, usethe USPS postage calculator , FedEx shipping manager or UPS calculator and compare the results to the Airfarewatchdog baggage check fee chart .

Photo by Flickr user conallab .