01
Schedule
Book your luggage shipment online or by phone. Tell us when you want your bags delivered and we’ll give you several pickup date and pricing options.
Pack your luggage, gear, and bags for shipment. Read more about preparing your luggage .
DOORSTEP TO DESTINATION™
Can I Ship Luggage With UPS®?
THE SHORT ANSWER
Does UPS Ship Luggage?
Yes — UPS will ship a suitcase, but it travels as a parcel rather than as luggage. That means packing the bag inside a box for its contents to be covered, a rate calculated from weight, dimensions and distance, fuel and handling surcharges added on top, and customs forms you complete yourself on an international trip.
Luggage Forward has partnered with UPS since 2004 to take all of that off your hands. Your case ships exactly as you packed it, with no box, on one all-inclusive flat rate from $99 per bag — and our specialists prepare every customs document for you, door to door, to more than 200 countries and territories.
INTERNATIONAL LUGGAGE DELIVERY PARTNERS
UPS and Luggage Forward
Luggage Forward has worked in partnership with UPS since 2004 to make it easier, more reliable, and more affordable to ship luggage with UPS. We can ship your golf clubs, skis, bikes and more.
Travel Light
Breeze through the airport and avoid paying extra airline baggage fees . It’s like a travel agent for your bags, so you can carry less and travel light.
Track Your Bags
Once your bags are on their way, our proprietary system monitors key milestones in their journey to ensure everything stays on track. As soon as delivery is complete, we’ll notify you by email so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your luggage is ready and waiting for you.
On-Time Guarantee
Relax. When you send your luggage with us, it is guaranteed to arrive on time or we’ll refund you double what you paid to ship the bag.
Premium Service
From hassle-free pickups to on-time deliveries, our white glove service ensures your luggage arrives at your destination stress-free, allowing you to focus on your journey.
UPS + LUGGAGE FORWARD
International Luggage Delivery Partners
Luggage Forward has worked in partnership with UPS since 2004 to make it easier, more reliable, and more affordable to ship luggage with UPS. We can ship your golf clubs, skis, bikes and more. You get the best of both worlds – Luggage Forward’s customer service, advanced tracking, Customs management, and luggage shipping knowledge as well as the reliability of UPS’s vast transportation network. Together, Luggage Forward and UPS luggage shipping allows travelers to easily and affordably ship luggage to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
UPS Vs Luggage Forward
UPS
LUGGAGE FORWARD
Easy Online Booking
Flat Rates
No Box Required
Delayed Delivery Full Reimbursement
Multi-Network Carrier
Customs Preparation
WHAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY PAY
How Much Does It Cost to Ship Luggage With UPS?
A 50 lb checked suitcase on UPS Ground runs roughly $70 to $130 as a base rate within the United States, and closer to $200 for two-day service. International shipments generally start around $300. The catch is that a base rate is only part of the bill — pickup, fuel, residential delivery, additional handling, packaging and value protection are all charged separately.
| UPS estimate | Luggage Forward | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. domestic, ground | $70 – $130 base | From $99, all-in |
| U.S. domestic, two-day | About $200 base | Quoted up front, all-in |
| International | $300+ base | $354 – $679 by region |
| Fees on top | Fuel, pickup, residential, handling, packaging, value protection — up to 40% more | $0 — all fees included |
UPS figures are retail estimates and vary by route, weight, dimensions and service level; check ups.com for a live quote. Luggage Forward rates are all-inclusive, with no fuel, residential, handling or value-protection charges added at delivery. For a full breakdown of what luggage shipping really costs, see our guide to the cost to ship luggage.
Why Ship With Luggage Forward
Flat Rates
UPS charges a base rate based on weight, size, and distance. Then adds fees and fuel surcharges which can increase the base rate by 40% or more. Luggage Forward charges a flat rate whether you’re shipping suitcases, golf clubs, skis, or bikes.
Skip The Box
With Luggage Forward, luggage can be forwarded in a standard soft or hard sided travel case. We send you a custom-engineered luggage tag that attaches to the handle and is used to identify and track your bags during the shipping process.
Customs Preparation
Unless you get excited about filling out lengthy Customs forms, shipping luggage overseas with UPS may not the solution for you. We identify, complete, and submit all of the required country-specific Customs documentation on your behalf.
SIX STEPS VERSUS ONE BOOKING
Shipping With UPS Yourself vs Luggage Forward
UPS runs one of the largest transportation networks in the world, and Luggage Forward ships on it. The difference is everything that surrounds the shipment.
| Direct with UPS | With Luggage Forward |
|---|---|
| Find a box big enough for your suitcase, or pay to have it packed. | Book online in about two minutes. No box needed. |
| Weigh and measure the box — you pay on dimensional weight. | Pick a bag size. No weighing, no per-pound pricing. |
| Add fuel, residential and handling surcharges to find the real total. | One all-inclusive price. What you’re quoted is what you pay. |
| Fill in the customs invoice and declaration yourself. | We prepare and file every customs document for you. |
| Drive the box to a UPS location, or pay a pickup fee. | Tag your bag and leave it at your door. |
| Track the parcel and handle any claim yourself. | Door-to-door tracking, $500 protection, on-time guarantee. |
WHAT YOU CAN SHIP WITH LUGGAGE FORWARD
Ship Luggage, Sports Gear, Bikes, Bags, and More
Shipping luggage with Luggage Forward is the easiest, most reliable, and most trusted way to send luggage to your destination. But we don’t stop there…we ship golf clubs, skis, snowboards, bikes, and more!
Ship Strollers & Car Seats
Your hands are already full traveling with kids. We’ll pick up and deliver everything you need.
Mobility Devices
Shipping wheel chairs and mobility devices makes travel accessible to all.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING
Luggage Shipping Reviews
We have the best clients in the world. Using an independent third-party review site, we gather feedback to see how we’re doing. Read what real users have to say about their experience shipping bags with Luggage Forward.
ABOUT LUGGAGE FORWARD
The Most Reliable Luggage Shipping Since 2004
Luggage Forward was born out of the simple idea that we should all be able to enjoy the journey as much as the destination and a great vacation does not begin at the baggage carousel. Or worse yet, with lost or late arriving luggage or sports equipment.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US:
- Streamlined Customs
- Double Money Back On-Time Guarantee
- Scheduled Doorstep Pickup
- Complimentary Value Protection
- Luggage Tags Delivered To You
- Excellent Customer Support
LEARN MORE
Shipping Luggage Is Easy
02
Ship
You tell us where and when you want your luggage picked up. We’ll pick up from your home, office, hotel, cruise ship, golf course and more.
We have many luggage pickup options to fit your busy schedule. Read more about luggage pickup .
03
Go
Head to the airport hands-free! Your luggage will be monitored closely by our team of shipping experts as well as by our predictive tracking technology to ensure on-time delivery. Learn more about how your luggage is transported .
Upon delivery, you’ll be notified via email, text or phone that your bags are awaiting your arrival. Read more about luggage delivery .
Shipping Luggage With UPS: Common Questions
Yes. UPS will carry a suitcase, but it moves through the network as a parcel rather than as luggage, so there are conditions. The bag needs to be packed inside a box or corrugated container for its contents to be covered, the price is calculated from weight, dimensions and distance, and for an international trip you complete the customs paperwork yourself.
Luggage Forward has worked in partnership with UPS since 2004 and removes those steps. Your suitcase ships as it is, with no box, on an all-inclusive flat rate starting at $99 per bag, and our specialists prepare every customs document on your behalf. Get an instant quote for your trip.
A 50 lb checked suitcase shipped on UPS Ground within the United States typically runs about $70 to $130 as a base rate, and a faster two-day service is closer to $200. International shipments generally start around $300. Those are base rates: pickup, fuel, residential delivery, additional handling, packaging and value protection are billed on top and can add 40% or more.
Luggage Forward publishes one all-inclusive rate instead. Domestic shipping starts at $99 per bag and there are no surcharges added later. See the full breakdown of what it really costs to ship luggage.
In practice, yes. UPS accepts an unboxed suitcase, but the bag and its contents are not covered for loss or damage unless they are packed in a box or corrugated container, and an unboxed bag attracts an additional handling charge. If you do not have a box large enough, The UPS Store will package the bag for a fee.
With Luggage Forward there is no box. Pack your soft or hard-sided case exactly as you would for a flight, attach the luggage tag we mail you, and leave it at your door. Every shipment includes $500 of value protection at no extra cost. See our packing guide.
Yes, UPS ships to most countries, but an international suitcase is a customs shipment. You are responsible for classifying the contents, completing the commercial invoice and declaration forms, and responding to any query the destination country raises. A form filled in incorrectly is the most common reason a bag is held.
Luggage Forward ships to more than 200 countries and territories and our international team identifies, completes and submits the required country-specific documentation for you. Your bag travels under the personal-effects classification, which is the correct designation for traveler-owned luggage. Read more about shipping luggage internationally.
Yes, though a travel bag alone is not enough. UPS treats a golf travel bag as an oversized parcel, so it needs to be boxed for coverage, and its dimensions usually trigger the additional handling charge on top of the base rate.
Luggage Forward ships clubs in your own travel bag on a flat rate, straight to the clubhouse or resort, timed to arrive before you tee off. See shipping golf clubs with UPS or our full guide to golf club shipping.
UPS runs one of the largest transportation networks in the world, and Luggage Forward uses it. The difference is everything around the shipment. Booking directly means sourcing a box, weighing and measuring the bag, buying the label, filling in customs forms, dropping the parcel off or arranging a collection, and managing any claim yourself.
With Luggage Forward you book in about two minutes and we handle the rest: doorstep collection, no box, flat all-inclusive pricing, customs preparation, door-to-door tracking, $500 of value protection and an on-time guarantee. You get UPS reliability without the parcel-shipping homework.
Our pricing starts at $99/bag. Pricing is available online or by calling +1 617-482-1100.
Luggage Forward uses baggage categories similar to what you would find with airlines; combining both weight and size to create simple categories, making it easy to generate pricing on our website without the exact weight or dimensions of your luggage.
Our all-inclusive pricing is more predictable and typically less expensive than a per-pound rate because we do not have any additional fees or surcharges.
Pricing is determined based on the following three factors:
- Origin and destination
- Luggage category
- Delivery speed
You can get instant pricing for your specific trip online.
No, your luggage does not have to be boxed. You can pack your luggage as you normally would for airline travel, no additional packaging is necessary.
One of the advantages of using Luggage Forward is that your soft and hard sided luggage can be shipped as is. However, sporting equipment should have adequate padding around any fragile or precision parts to ensure that they are protected during transit.
For more on preparing and packing your order, see our guide to what you can and cannot ship.
Our complimentary value protection covers your luggage for up to $500 in the rare event that there is damage beyond normal wear and tear. You may increase your value protection up until midnight the day of your pick up.
After your booking is placed, Luggage Forward will mail you a Forwarding Packet up to one week prior to your pickup. The Forwarding Packet contains your itinerary, luggage tags, and relevant instructions for packing and preparing your luggage for shipment with Luggage Forward. If you placed a last-minute booking then the Forwarding Packet can either be emailed to you or it can be printed at luggageforward.com by logging into your account.
For more on preparing and packing your order, see our packing guide.
You can pack your luggage as you normally would for airline travel, no additional packaging is necessary.
One of the advantages of using Luggage Forward is that your soft and hard sided luggage can be shipped as is. However, sporting equipment and other non-luggage should have adequate padding around any fragile or precision parts to ensure that they are protected during transit.
After your booking is placed, Luggage Forward will mail you a forwarding packet up to one week prior to your pickup. The forwarding packet contains your itinerary, luggage tags, and relevant instructions for packing and preparing your luggage for shipment with Luggage Forward. If you placed a last-minute booking then the forwarding packet can either be emailed to you or it can be printed at luggageforward.com by logging into your account.
For more on preparing and packing your order, see our packing guide.
Any hazardous or dangerous commodities are prohibited from all Luggage Forward shipments.
For shipments traveling between two countries, there are additional items restricted by customs.
You can not ship:
- Medication, OTC, prescription, or vitamins
- Food (Includes coffee beans and spices)
- Alcohol (including perfume and hand sanitizer)
- Tobacco
- Pressurized containers (includes sunscreen)
- Valuables or currency
- Electronics (excludes cables and converters)
- Lithium based, or Alkaline batteries (includes tracking devices and range finders)
Upon booking, you will be provided with a list of common items that are disallowed. If you have specific questions, please contact one of our forwarding specialists or see our Terms of Service.
For additional items that cannot be shipped, please visit https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/.
Violators of the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR parts 100—185) may be subject to civil penalties of up to $75,000 for each violation ($175,000 if the violation results in severe injury or substantial destruction to property).
We offer same day bookings in many areas and if it is available on our website, we can do it.
If you like to plan ahead, we accept bookings up to 180 days prior to pickup.
Last minute booking?
We will ship customized luggage tags to your pickup location when time allows. Should you make a last minute booking, please bear in mind you will most likely need to print out the labels and documents to maintain the scheduled collection.
Domestic Shipments
Bags traveling within a single country must be locked. Failure to lock items will void your right to file a claim for lost or missing contents.
International Shipments
Bags shipped between two countries must be unlocked as they may have to be opened as a normal part of the customs screening process. If bags are locked, including TSA approved locks, and customs cannot open an item then the lock or seal may have to be broken.
Locking any item traveling internationally can cause extended delays and will void Luggage Forward's industry leading on-time guarantee.
Compare Other Carriers
Still comparing options? See how the same trip works with FedEx luggage shipping or DHL luggage shipping, or read our guide to the cost to ship luggage.
Let’s Get Started
Get instant, all-inclusive rates to ship luggage on your next trip.