shipping gear vs bringing on plane

I have read some threads here and elsewhere about this but wanted some current experience. I am traveling from the east coast to west coast in couple of months. I am bringing gear with me that can't be brought as carry on.

Ice tools, crampons, snow shoes, tent poles, etc etc. Think gear for ice climbing and mountaineering. Would it make more sense to ship in advance via UPS or USPS, or just check on the plane? Shipping seems quite expensive but I can do it in advance and ensure nothing gets lost and it is all there on time. I have never lost luggage on a plane but I know it happens and if it did it would greatly impact the trip. Just not sure I can justify the cost of shipping both ways, or at least one way and I'd have to bring a suitcase to get it all home.

Thoughts?

I would personally just check it. I've only have baggage delayed twice (once from Argentina). If it's a non-stop flight, it's even less likely that your baggage will get lost. Both times it was only delayed one or two days. Shipping will be super expensive.

Maybe as an alternative to shipping, get travel insurance? Then if your baggage is delayed rent/buy gear at your destination.

Goodhue wrote:I would personally just check it. I've only have baggage delayed twice (once from Argentina). If it's a non-stop flight, it's even less likely that your baggage will get lost. Both times it was only delayed one or two days. Shipping will be super expensive. Maybe as an alternative to shipping, get travel insurance? Then if your baggage is delayed rent/buy gear at your destination.

thanks - I do have travel insurance - I will double check with them on the policy if I do need to buy or rent anything. Good point.

What does your airline charge for checked bags, what are the size and weight limits for checked bags, and how does your gear stack up against these limits? Most airlines limit their liability with checked bags, and their liability limits won't come close to covering the cost of the gear you describe, unless you buy some kind of insurance. If your gear is packed in soft bags the airline might not accept liability for damage to the contents of the bags. What kind of stove are you bringing? I've had airline check-in people get very reluctant to accept liquid fuel stoves or fuel bottles (MSR Whisperlite, etc.) as checked baggage, but gas cartridge stoves don't seem to bother them.

Lost baggage is nearly a non-issue with nonstop flights, as long as you get to the airport reasonably punctually. On connecting flights, the odds of losing a bag are inversely proportional to the layover time.

Most airlines have a pretty detailed explanation of their baggage policies on their websites. I would check their websites before bringing the kind of load you describe on a flight.

My choice would be to check whatever I could without incurring excess baggage charges, and ship the rest. I would probably ship the stove and fuel containers, as well as the ice gear and snow shoes.

On the UPS on-line tool, 35 to 50 pounds from NY to LAX is $116. Last time I flew, the fee for an extra checked bag was $50. So you would save money bringing it with you.

You may be able to save some money shipping it via common carrier, but that would depend on how close you are on each end to a shipping center, and by the time you figure it all out, you are probably better off with the baggage fees.

Fly Southwest

Some good advice here. I need to weigh some things out literally and figuratively. Maybe I can get away with shipping a subset of gear for a reasonable price and managing to get everything else in a carry on. I'll see. Have a few things to size and price out to see if that is viable. If it is it's a good option.

The flight out has 1 stop. I get to my final destination (Reno) at noon and my first planned day is the following morning so there is little latitude for error. Thus my concern. Travel insurance will allow for $600 in rental fees if the bags are lost for 12 hours or more which is less than ideal. I'd lose a whole day. The trip wouldnt be lost but I'd prefer not of course.

I have traveled the US and international with climbing gear many times on a airplane.

The first time I checked my bags and the weighed to much, then they got lost in Denver and arrived in Reno a day late costing me 2 days of climbing.

Ever since that, Albeit rare occasion, I have carrried on. Even to the extent of wearing my mountaineering boots on the plane. If you aren't going to be hustling around airports with 3 layovers its not bad.

Whem I went to kalymnos I flew to Toronto, Athen, then Kalymnos. Walking around with a rope and my sport gear was a bit of a pain in the ass.

Good luck with whatever you choose. Atleast weigh your bags, amd maybe carry on essentials so your trip isn't ruined.

1 50lb bag on united is $25 each way - so $50 if I do that - I weighed it out and can fit all my gear in a bag and it weighs about 45 lbs.

To ship a box of the same weight and size it will be about $95 one way - but then I still need to get the gear home - which I would probably bring on the plane at that point - so the $50 for the suitcase still applies.

Boils down to...is it worth $100 to ship the gear UPS or USPS a week or two weeks in advance to ensure it gets there. I suppose it could get lost or damaged shipping. Am I really gaining anything by shipping? Hmm....

You should do everything you can to trip to get a direct flight. If you're worried about your bag not making it there that's the safest way to do it

BenRobert wrote:Fly Southwest

unfortunately the cost of southwest was very high in comparison - more than exceeds the shipping or baggage costs

Mike Byrnes wrote:You should do everything you can to trip to get a direct flight. If you're worried about your bag not making it there that's the safest way to do it

I am flying in to Reno and about 10 days later flying out of Vegas. I flew into Reno as it was a much shorter drive to Lee Vining/Bishop. I didn't really consider this at the time. There are no non-stop flights to Reno

However, I need to rent a vehicle and the cost of renting and returning to the same location is cheaper and may off set the cost of making a flight change to go non-stop to Vegas both ways. The drive will be longer but it would eliminate a lot of the worry and logistics.

I hope this thread doesn't seem self indulgent. Hopefully others doing similar things will read it and make some considerations I overlooked.

National Car Rental does not have 1 way drop off fees. I don't know about others.

I've never exceeded the airline baggage limits on any of my trips (in the lower 48 states). I'm usually traveling with one or two other people, and we meet ahead of time to split up the climbing gear equally (by weight).

When packing I weigh my checked bag with a handheld electronic weight scale (made for fishing), so I know for sure there will be no surprises when I get to the airline check-in counter. I carry the weight scale with me on the trip, to use when packing for the return. The fishing scale is small and lightweight, and costs less than the fee for an over weight bag.

My carry-on bag is my climbing pack. In it I have my boots, clothes, and some soft gear (harness, slings).

My third piece of luggage (the airlines call it a "personal item") is a bag about the size of a briefcase, with clothes, gloves, camera, etc. This one gets stuffed under the seat.

I carry my belay parka separately. A coat does not count as a piece of luggage.

All the metal (ice axes, crampons, ice screws, cams, nuts, biners, etc.) goes in the checked bag. I know people have had success carrying some metal gear in their carry-on, but for me it's not worth the possible hassles.

I say checked "bag", but what I actually use is a plastic trunk. It meets the airline dimension requirements, and it protects gear from baggage handlers much better than a soft bag. Inside the trunk I put gear in lightweight stuffsacks, just in case a hole gets punched in the trunk, but that has never happened. I put a strap or two around the trunk, in case the latches fail, but that has never happened either. The trunk has a lot of miles on it, and it's still going strong.

Matt Himmelstein wrote:National Car Rental does not have 1 way drop off fees. I don't know about others.

yeah unfortunately they are very expensive as compared to a few others for the lenght of time I need a vehicle. Dollar seems to be the most reasonable - they are owned by Hertz and I have used them in the past with no issues. Some the car rental prices are absolutely outrageous.

Nick Parker wrote:I've never exceeded the airline baggage limits on any of my trips (in the lower 48 states). I'm usually traveling with one or two other people, and we meet ahead of time to split up the climbing gear equally (by weight). When packing I weigh my checked bag with a handheld electronic weight scale (made for fishing), so I know for sure there will be no surprises when I get to the airline check-in counter. I carry the weight scale with me on the trip, to use when packing for the return. The fishing scale is small and lightweight, and costs less than the fee for an over weight bag. My carry-on bag is my climbing pack. In it I have my boots, clothes, and some soft gear (harness, slings). My third piece of luggage (the airlines call it a "personal item") is a bag about the size of a briefcase, with clothes, gloves, camera, etc. This one gets stuffed under the seat. I carry my belay parka separately. A coat does not count as a piece of luggage. All the metal (ice axes, crampons, ice screws, cams, nuts, biners, etc.) goes in the checked bag. I know people have had success carrying some metal gear in their carry-on, but for me it's not worth the possible hassles. I say checked "bag", but what I actually use is a plastic trunk. It meets the airline dimension requirements, and it protects gear from baggage handlers much better than a soft bag. Inside the trunk I put gear in lightweight stuffsacks, just in case a hole gets punched in the trunk, but that has never happened. I put a strap or two around the trunk, in case the latches fail, but that has never happened either. The trunk has a lot of miles on it, and it's still going strong.

thanks for the thoughtful reply - this is the same strategy I was going with if I check my stuff, minus the trunk - I don't own one and will be using a normal suitcase. But my main concern was not overweight bags - I am good in that area - its just the possibility of the airline losing my bag or it being delayed and the impact to the trip. Is it worth an extra $100 to ship in advance taking into consideration it could get lost that way too although unlikely...and it is unlikely it would get lost on the plane as well...but that could happen.

For the amount of time and money spent leading up to this trip it seems an extra $100 is not a huge deal I suppose. As usual I am overthinking it I guess.

Keep in mind that shipped packages can also get lost or damaged, so there is no guarantee that shipping is a better option.

Me and my partners have always opted to fly with our gear as baggage. Nothing has ever been damaged, and I can remember only one instance where we had a delay (of one day) in getting a piece of checked baggage.

Nick Parker wrote:Keep in mind that shipped packages can also get lost or damaged, so there is no guarantee that shipping is a better option. Me and my partners have always opted to fly with our gear as baggage. Nothing has ever been damaged, and I can remember only one instance where we had a delay (of one day) in getting a piece of checked baggage.

I agree - its not like shipping is foolproof either. And there is the added cost and logistics. Also, the first two days of my trip are "crag based" so to speak. Its not until the third morning I am there that I am heading out on a multi day trip. I would expect barring something bizarre I would have my bag within the 2 days, as you said. The only gear I would need if delayed for those first two days are ice tools and crampons which I could rent pretty cheaply - assuming I carry all other essentials on the plane (boots, clothing, harness, etc)

Thanks for sharing your experience.

I travel a lot. I mean, WAY more than the average person.
The only time I have shipped gear is from a foreign country back to the States because I was sick of carrying it around.
In 20 years of frequent international travel I have only had baggage lost two or three times and never for more than 24 hours.
Carry on as much as you possibly can, check the rest, take a Valium and enjoy the peanuts.

simplyput wrote:I travel a lot. I mean, WAY more than the average person. The only time I have shipped gear is from a foreign country back to the States because I was sick of carrying it around. In 20 years of frequent international travel I have only had baggage lost two or three times and never for more than 24 hours. Carry on as much as you possibly can, check the rest, take a Valium and enjoy the peanuts.

:) thank you!!!

neils wrote: I am flying in to Reno and about 10 days later flying out of Vegas. I flew into Reno as it was a much shorter drive to Lee Vining/Bishop. I didn't really consider this at the time. There are no non-stop flights to Reno However, I need to rent a vehicle and the cost of renting and returning to the same location is cheaper and may off set the cost of making a flight change to go non-stop to Vegas both ways. The drive will be longer but it would eliminate a lot of the worry and logistics. I hope this thread doesn't seem self indulgent. Hopefully others doing similar things will read it and make some considerations I overlooked.

Um, you realize that the drive from Reno to Bishop goes over a pass at nearly 8000'. If the weather is bad, there will be a chain check-point in CA, and they will turn you around if you don't have chains. I know of no rental agency that allows chains on their cars.