Even with the cleverest carry-on hacks, it’s not always possible to fit everything you need into a bag you can bring on board with you. Sometimes, checking a bag for a flight is unavoidable — as are the ever-increasing fees and long waits at the carousel after you land. If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to travel with excess luggage, some airlines and shipping companies offer door-to-door baggage delivery service. Find out how it works.
The Pros and Cons of Baggage Delivery
When you choose a luggage forwarding service, you’ll provide the pickup and drop-off information for your bags. You can arrange to have your bags collected at a residence, hotel, office, or any other address where you’ll be present. The courier will take it from there, delivering it to your chosen address when you land.
This can save you significant time at both ends of your journey — you don’t have to check in bags at the airport or wait for them to arrive on the carousel after your flight.
Some airlines offer a service in which you drop off your bags at the airport check-in counter, and the airline delivers them to your final destination after you land. While this is less convenient than a home pickup, it still saves you the hassle and crowds of baggage claim; plus, these options are generally more affordable.
Either way, you’ll be able to travel light, so this can be a great option if you’re bringing heavy bags or bulky sports equipment on a trip. It’s also a stress-free start to your trip — instead of lugging bags to the rental car counter or aboard public transit, they’ll be waiting for you at your hotel when you arrive.
However, you’ll need to consider the added expense. For both pickup and drop-off, it can cost over $100 each way for a standard-sized checked bag, or more for oversized items. It will also take several business days for your bags to arrive, so you’ll need to plan accordingly and arrange pickup well in advance of your departure date if you’re expecting your bags to be waiting for you when you arrive at your destination. For services with airport bag check-in, the cost is typically lower and delivery is quicker.
Which Airlines Offer Baggage Delivery Service?
• American Airlines: American’s baggage delivery service lets you check your bags at the airport counter and bypass the baggage claim after you arrive. Your bags will be delivered to your destination address within six hours after your flight. As of early 2025, the fee starts at $39.95 for two bags, plus $10 for additional bags, for delivery within 40 miles of the airport. (Extra fees apply beyond that radius.)
Note that you will need to reserve this service at least two hours before your flight and pay any applicable checked bag fees on top of this price. The service is available at all U.S. destinations and a handful of international cities.
• United Airlines: United’s bag delivery service is similar to American’s program. Reserve at least one hour before your flight, check in your bags yourself at the airport, and pay any applicable checked bag fees — and your bags will be on your way to your final destination within four hours of your flight’s arrival. United’s service is available at around 250 U.S. airports with pricing similar to American’s.
• Air Canada: Air Canada’s Luggage Forward service offers door-to-door pickup and delivery, with prices that vary based on your origin and destination (though they’ll generally be higher than the airport check-in service offered by American and United). Expect delivery times of two to seven business days within Canada; there’s a money-back guarantee with an extra $500 if your bags don’t show up on time.
• Japan Airlines: Ready to hit the ground running on your trip to Japan? Japan Airlines offers a convenient service that lets you drop off your bag in the arrivals lobby after your flight, and they’ll deliver it straight to your hotel the same day.
The pricing depends on the bag size and distance from the airport, but it starts at around $30 USD from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to central Tokyo. However, it’s only available if you’re staying at a hotel. Pro tip: Japan Airlines is also offering free connecting flights within Japan for U.S. travelers.
Other Options
Many third-party providers also provide baggage delivery. Companies such as Airportr, LuggageToShip, and ShipGo will send someone to your designated baggage pickup address and take care of the rest. Pricing is variable based on the size of your luggage and the distance traveled, and some services are not available for international baggage shipments.
Going on a cruise instead? Holland America Line offers a service called Luggage Direct, which allows you to check in your luggage while still aboard your cruise ship. A representative will pick up your bag and take it to the airport for you at a cost of $19 per person, but the service is available only on select ships and at select ports.
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