Should Hawaii Travelers Ship Their Luggage?

I've been coming across a lot of travel articles on shipping luggage instead of paying the airline fee, which made me wonder – is it worth it for Hawai‘i travelers?

Probably not.

Most experts compare prices for short distances of travel, such as Chicago to Orlando. In that case, it would make sense to send luggage four or five days in advance. Instead of paying $115 one-way for a checked-in bag, travelers would pay about $40 each way via FedEx.

Shipping from Hawai‘i to the continental U.S., however, would cost much more. For instance, sending two 50-plus-pound suitcases via FedEx would leave you with a $200 to $300 bill. That's even if you used a luggage box from the shipping company, meant to cut down costs like a flat-rate box does.

So if you plan to do a lot of shopping on your Hawai‘i vacation, then be prepared to pay a little extra in the end. Otherwise, plan ahead to avoid going over the luggage weight limit. 

I usually pack an extra duffle bag when leaving for a trip. It fits snugly at the bottom of my checked-in suitcase. When returning, however, the duffle becomes my carry-on to bring back stuff I purchased while on vacation. Most times, they're souvenirs for friends and family or the end result of a spontaneous shopping spree in Urban Outfitters. This duffle bag tactic is what saves me in the end. You, too, can save yourself some money by learning to be a smarter traveler.

Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87

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Published by Bruce Fisher

Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.

Entry Filed under: How to Hawaii

March 20th, 2013