Baggage checking question (rental car, rental, insurance)

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

I had to ticket my trip from Denver to Kona separately with two airlines. United from Denver to LA, then Delta from LA to Kona. Due to United's process for accepting a travel certificate, the two segments were ticketted separtely with the two airlines.

My question now is trying to check my bags from Denver to Kona. United is telling me that I have to pick up my bags in LA and then re-check them with Delta. I don't think I'll have time to go through this whole process in my lay-over time. And I really don't want to!

Anyone else done this? I'm thinking of going out to the airport just to ask the ticket agents there if they will check my bags the whole way through. Obviously the people on the phone in India could care less. My other thought is to just mail my stuff to myself and not check bags at all!

[PacificFlights]

If this was booked as a single trip, all at once, using two airlines, the baggage will be transfered to the final destination of the ticket. If you booked two seperate tickets on two seperate airlines, independent of each other, your baggage only goes to the final destination of the individual leg of each ticket. So if they were book together at the same time or was a Denver to Kona trip your baggage goes to Kona. If booked as a Denver to LA trip, and another booking LA to Kona, your baggage follows each individual leg.

[whynot?]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

. . . My other thought is to just mail my stuff to myself and not check bags at all!

You can also Google "baggage shipping" or "luggage shipping" and get lots of options for companies that specialize in shipping baggage. Some offer door-to-door service and insurance. I'm a big fan of the USPS for shipping, too, though.

[hotzcatz]

It's probably cheaper to mail it to yourself. You get one carry on and don't you have to pay for a checked bag these days? We haven't flown for a year or two, but they've gotten all greedy about charging for baggage.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Because we have to check our bags individually with each airline, we will have to pay United $15 per bag, then Delta $15 per bag, each way, that's $120 round trip for two people. We can mail 50 pounds through the USPS for about $90 round trip. I checked out other baggage shipping places on line, and they were way expensive. Especially to Hawaii.

Based on the fact that we can always have the standard carry-ons, I've pretty much talked myself into shipping rathering than checking our bags.

[mdand3boys]

IF an extra $30 for the trip concerns you, you should not be going on the trip.
With that in mind, and because of the very real chance of your bags not making the flights, I still would ship them. Be aware though, that USPS isn't exactly the most reliable method as to timeframe. You will HAVE TO ship earlier than what the USPS says is required or risk not having the baggage there when you need it.

[whynot?]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

IF an extra $30 for the trip concerns you, you should not be going on the trip.
With that in mind, and because of the very real chance of your bags not making the flights, I still would ship them. Be aware though, that USPS isn't exactly the most reliable method as to timeframe. You will HAVE TO ship earlier than what the USPS says is required or risk not having the baggage there when you need it.

There is also the issue of getting your bags once you arrive. You'll have to have a rental car or take a taxi to the right PO to pick your bags up. If/when they've arrived. And their tracking system -- while it is better than it used to be -- is nothing compared to FedEx or UPS. (The PO offers package tracking, but it is not real-time and often is not updated for over 24 hours.) And if your package is lost, the PO's insurance is not 100% replacement cost or an immediate payment.

Don't get me wrong -- I love the Post Office. I just wouldn't use them for anything that was time-critical or that you absolutely had to have.

So the luggage shippers charge more because they pick your bags up, package them, ship them, insure them, and deliver them to your destination. On your schedule. It's a great service, just not always "worth it," I agree. We used to use them all the time for multi-week location photography when we just couldn't manage all the equipment and clothing, too.

Best of luck.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

mdand3boys. I never said that the $30 was what the problem is. The extra $120 IS a major aggravation. However, the bigger aggravation is having to get our bags from baggage claim in LA, then go to another terminal and check in again. AND do that all over again on the way back to Colorado.

I priced the Post Office versus Fed Ex and the price difference was major. So if we decide to ship it will be through USPS. We'll leave plenty of time for delivery to our house in Hawaii.

[whynot?]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

mdand3boys. . . . However, the bigger aggravation is having to get our bags from baggage claim in LA, then go to another terminal and check in again. AND do that all over again on the way back to Colorado.\

I agree. Not to mention that LAX is one of the least efficient/longest-line TSA entry points in the country. We have done the same thing in Rio de Janeiro faster than you will be able to do it in LA. I promise.

[kixette]

dreaming are you MOVING to hawaii or just visiting? all you really need for a visit is a few bikinis some flip flops (slippers right?) and if you wear your jeans and stuff (ya know layer!) then you can get by with a carry-on.