Those who are used to travelling frequently for work or leisure know how difficult it often is not to exceed the luggage weight limits imposed by the airlines, or how inconvenient it can be to carry a very large suitcase by train, or by walking. To travel with peace of mind without having to worry about the weight and size of one's luggage, the best option is to send it directly to its destination, so that we can travel light and worry-free, finding our suitcases waiting for us directly at our destination.
In this article we will talk about just that, listing the advantages of the send their luggage before departure choosing the right courier, so that you can make a convenient and cost-effective choice, both for national shipments and for foreign shipments.
The advantages of shipping luggage
In addition to the not inconsiderable advantage of not having to lug around heavy and bulky suitcases, choosing to send one's luggage before a trip has several other advantages, and in the next few lines we will see what these are.
When travelling by air, for example, this choice allows you to avoiding long queues at the airport, and also paying very expensive surcharges if the weight of the baggage or its dimensions exceed the limits imposed by the airline. The same happens when you want to carry sports equipment, such as a bicycle, skis or climbing equipment, which to be transported by plane requires an additional charge, while for journeys by train or car it can be problematic due to bulk.
Another advantage concerns the reducing the risks of damaged and lost luggage, two things that frighten air travellers a lot, and by entrusting our luggage to a courier we will also be able to choose the day and time that suits us best for collection, both on the outward and the return journey.
The choice of courier
When deciding to ship your luggage, the first thing to do is to choose the courier most suited to your needs, and in doing so, you need to consider several elements. First of all, we need to check the shipping times of the various carriers to find the one that comes closest to the timeframe we need for our trip, and then also compare the costs according to our budget.
The destination, whether in Italy or abroad, or in a place that is more or less complicated to reach, such as an island or a large city. Clearly, the number and quality of connections between the point of departure and the point of arrival will affect the price and timing of the convenient shipping service. Other things to consider may be the means of transport used by the courier, the mode of delivery, the service of tracking and the’insurance offer, so as to further protect the shipment against damage.
There are many different couriers offering this type of service, and it is therefore necessary to compare them in order to carefully choose the one we consider most suitable for our needs.
How to Ship Suitcases
Once we have chosen the courier to whom we entrust our luggage, we can book the shipment and then proceed to pack the suitcase securely, to ensure that it is not damaged in any way. there are two ways to pack luggage: either wrap it in the film, or use one box. When choosing the method of packing, the structure of the luggage itself must be taken into account: for example, for backpacks, duffel bags or hard suitcases, which are more prone to scratches and other damage, it is advisable to further protect them by packing them in a box.
It should also be remembered that if you choose to pack your suitcase in foil, it will not be enough to pack it in kitchen foil, but you will have to have a special packaging film, which is thicker and more resistant, which should be wrapped around the suitcase in a vertical position, taking care not to leave any point uncovered and to make several turns, and then secure it with packing tape. Once this is done, the shipping label provided by the courier should be applied, but remember that this type of packaging cannot be covered by insurance, and in some countries it is not accepted, so you should think carefully about its convenience.
By packing your suitcase using a box, on the other hand, you can apply for insurance and be sure that this type of packaging is accepted in all countries. To do this, you will need to obtain a appropriately sized box, in which to insert the suitcase and possibly fill in the blanks with bubble wrap, polystyrene or newspaper. Again, everything must be closed and secured with packing tape and then the label provided by the shipping company applied.
What can you pack?
Another element that must be taken into account when shipping suitcases with a express courier is to find out what items they may contain, depending on the country of destination or the means of transport used. For example, there are specific regulations that impose certain restrictions on certain objects, such as easily inflammable perfumes and alcoholic beverages, perishable or valuable goods. In any case, each courier will be able to provide a list of prohibited items that may not be sent, so as to dispel any doubts.
Sending suitcases abroad
Many couriers offer both national and international shipments, thus giving the possibility to send one's luggage directly to one's destination even if one is travelling abroad, with the possibility of home collection, delivery to a hotel or pick-up point, and tracking of the shipment.
As far as packaging is concerned, as we have already said, it is preferable not to use film only, and another element to be careful about is the documentation required to ship items to the destination country. In fact, if you are shipping within the European Union you do not need any kind of documentation apart from the waybill provided by the shipping company, whereas for shipping outside Europe you need documentation to ensure that our parcel passes the customs controls, then the pro forma invoice and the declaration of free export, according to the regulations in force in the country of destination.
