Cat Travel Accessories: UPS Gives Airline Baggage Fees a Run for Their Money

UPS is now competing with greedy airlines for a cut of their baggage fee revenues. I don't know if this will be more economical than checked baggage, but, let's face it, UPS probably can't do a worse job of destroying, losing, or stealing your luggage than the airlines. And anything that sticks it to those baggage fees is okay with me. It's a great idea particularly for business travelers who have to schlep presentations and documents with them. I like the idea of just sticking my luggage in a box and having it delivered to me at the other end.
This is also great for people who are traveling with their pets. Why not ship your luggage so you don't have to lug it around with your pet carrier. You can focus on what's really important - your pet's welfare and comfort - while UPS worries about the other details.
From the article:

UPS' New Luggage Box Wants to Stick It to Airline Baggage Fees

June 30, 2010 at 9:19 AM | by JetSetCD | 1 Comment

Obviously this isn't it. It will be much larger than this.
Almost $800 million dollars. That's how much the airlines got from baggage fees during just the first quarter of this year. It's a huge number, sure, but if you think that most passengers nowadays must pay $25 per bag each way, then that adds up quite quickly. With dollar signs like these in the eyes of the airlines, don't expect baggage fees to be going anywhere but up anytime soon.
At least now there's another option to simply given in and paying the fee: Buy UPS' new Luggage Box. Instead of doing all of the schlepping and all of the paying, UPS will do the schlepping, but yes you've still got to pay. UPS says that rates are competitive with what the airlines charge for checked baggage, so we'd estimate that shipping your luggage box may cost $30, but there is the option to pay extra for return shipping in the same box, for your trip home. No need to visit a UPS store again for that.