Many business travellers swear by hand luggage when they travel abroad, keen to bypass long check-in queues and waits at the baggage carousel upon arrival in the destination. This proves difficult, however, when it comes to multi-trip itineraries, long-haul hops or the need for various outfit changes and equipment – not to mention the ever-stricter size and weight regulations for cabin luggage.
To address this, there’s a growing number of companies who have partnered with airlines to streamline the process. Services include collecting passengers’ luggage from various locations and loading it onto their flight, allowing customers to skip the check-in queue and travel baggage-free to the airport.
AIRPORTR
What does it offer?
Airportr will collect bags up to 32kg from any home, hotel or office within its service area and check them in for your flight. Note that this does not include major train stations, but passengers can instead select a nearby address such as a café or hotel. The company can collect bags up to 36 hours before check-in. Airportr also offers an arrival service at select airports, delivering bags from the plane straight to an address, and a door-to-door option for those that want the full package.
Where is it active?
Airportr works with carriers such as American Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, easyJet, edelweiss, KLM, SWISS, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. Its departures package is on offer at London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), Vienna (VIE), Zurich (ZRH) and Geneva (GVA). The arrival option is only applicable at Geneva and Zurich airports, and the door-to-door option can only be used by those travelling between London and Geneva with BA or between Geneva and Zurich with SWISS.
How does it work?
Customers must book a collection slot online with an address that is located within the company’s service areas. Passengers must be checked in and have their boarding passes and passport ready for the driver to scan when they arrive. The bags will be sealed, secured and transported to the airport for check-in. Airportr notifies passengers by email and text when the bags are checked in, complete with digital airline bag receipts. Passengers simply collect their bags at the carousel upon landing.
How much does it cost?
The website has a pricing calculator, with the total cost depending on the pick-up location and time slot, number of bags and flight route. As an example, a BA flight from LHW to ZRH costs £30 for one bag. airportr.com
ALLTHEWAY
What does it offer?
French tech start-up Alltheway transports guests’ luggage from Paris hubs to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport, provided they are travelling with Air France. There is an additional service for check-in at a customer’s chosen private address, though this is more expensive.
Where is it active?
The service is only active in the French capital at the moment, but the website says that the “list of pick-up points is gradually expanding”. At the moment, there are baggage check-in kiosks at Accor properties such as Novotel Les Halles, Novotel Paris Centre Tour Eiffel, Mercure Centre Tour Eiffel, Mercure Paris Gare Montparnasse TGV, Pullman Paris Centre Bercy, Novotel Paris Est and Pullman Paris La Défense. During major international events, there are also pick-up points at Parc des Expositions Villepinte, Le Bourget, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and Palais des Congrès – which would be of particular use to business travellers attending meetings and events.
How does it work?
To book the service, passengers must visit the website at least four hours before the flight departure, enter flight details and choose a ten-minute slot plus the location for the luggage check-in. Note that you can book this service up to a year in advance of flight departure. Before meeting the Alltheway agent at the pick-up point, customers must have checked in for their flights and have a boarding pass and valid ID, along with the Alltheway booking confirmation email with a QR code. The agent will assist with weighing luggage, checking in and labelling the baggage, ensuring it is sealed. The seal is assigned a unique number, which is provided to passengers and allows the company to check for any signs of tampering when your luggage is loaded into the airport’s baggage handling system. The bags are then loaded into a secured and tracked van for transportation to the airport. Travellers will be able to track the progress of their bags throughout their journey using the website. The process is also validated by the French Civil Aviation Authority and all agents are vetted.
How much does it cost?
The service costs from €25 for the first bag, and €10 per additional bag. This increases to €65 for two bags from a private address for a four-hour delivery window (or €85 for a two-hour delivery window). Bookings can be cancelled or amended free of charge up to two hours before the drop-off slot. alltheway.io
LUGGAGE FREE
What does it offer?
This door-to-door shipping service transports luggage, including golf clubs, bikes, ski and snowboard gear, to customers’ hotels, cruise ships and private residences.
Where is it active?
Luggage Free picks up and delivers anywhere in the US, and ships to more than 150 countries around the world. Partners include private jet firms, hotel groups such as Accor, Aman and Four Seasons, and travel advisers such as Virtuoso.
How does it work?
Customers must enter details online including a pick-up location (which can be a home or office) to receive a quote and process an order. Once processed, customers will receive detailed instructions on how to package the luggage and affix their own label, and will also receive a link to track the luggage in real time. The company advises choosing a delivery date of one to two business days prior to arrival, and there is no restriction on bag size or weight. Luggage Free also completes all customs documents on guests’ behalf.
How much does it cost?
The price depends on the luggage and pick-up/drop-off locations. As an example, a checked bag from Aman New York to Aman Kyoto starts from £214. luggagefree.com
DUBZ
What does it offer?
This at-home luggage check-in service works with airlines including Saudia, Emirates, Kuwait Airways and Flydubai, picking up customers’ luggage up to seven hours before their flight from their home or office.
Where is it active?
The service is available for all non-transit passengers travelling from Dubai International airport or Abu Dhabi International airport. Note that home check-in is not available for passengers travelling to the US.
How does it work?
Customers must fill an order form on the company’s website/app and a DUBZ van and agent will arrive to weigh bags, check passengers’ into the flight and provide a boarding pass. Agents will then load the baggage onto the flight. Customers can track the luggage throughout the journey with SMS notifications informing them of its location. Same-day bookings are possible as long as it is done two hours before pick-up time. The provider also offers another service, delivering your luggage from the carousel to your home or hotel in Dubai within approximately two hours.
How much does it cost?
Rates for pick-up start from AED279 (£60) and cover up to four bags. You can also change/cancel your booking for free up to four hours before your scheduled pick-up. The delivery service starts from AED249 (£54). dubz.com
