Sending Bags via Airline When You're Not Flying: What to Know
Airport safety measures have tightened considerably over time. Carriers once sometimes bent the rules or granted special favors; now they stick to their policies in every situation. To get everyone to their destination safely, airlines have put numerous security rules in place about checked bags and traveling with luggage. Since each carrier may handle luggage procedures a little differently, it's wise to confirm the details with a representative of the specific airline you're asking about.
By Harper Young
Consider using a luggage shipping service to send your bag.
Over the years, security at airports has grown much stricter. In the past, airlines might now and then bend the rules or offer special accommodations, but today they follow their policies strictly in every case. To help ensure that every traveler reaches their destination safely, carriers have established numerous security rules covering checked bags and flying with luggage. Because individual airlines may have somewhat different approaches to luggage procedures, it's a good idea to verify the specifics with a representative of the particular carrier you're dealing with.
Space for Bags Is Limited
Aircraft have only so much room for bags and luggage. Even people who are actually flying on the plane face limits on how many bags they may check, along with restrictions on each bag's size and weight. On top of that, many airlines have cut back on the number of flights they operate, which tends to mean planes are usually quite full. As a result, it's unlikely that an aircraft would be willing or able to take on additional luggage from someone who isn't a passenger on that flight.
Expense and Other Options
With most airlines, checking any luggage onto a plane requires a purchased ticket. If you have no intention of traveling to the final destination, this can be an extremely expensive way to send a piece of luggage. You would also need someone at the destination airport to collect your bag. A number of other package-shipping options tend to be far more economical and efficient, including the Postal Service or FedEX.
Taking Bags Off the Plane
Before a plane departs, airport policy calls for confirming that every passenger's bag is loaded on the correct aircraft. If you haven't checked in or boarded your flight, your luggage will likely be taken off the plane. That can lead to major delays for other travelers, and it also creates hassles and problems for you and the airport crew. If it turns out you deliberately tried to ship your luggage this way, you could also face tough questioning and potentially even fines.
Baggage Security at the Airport
Every airline treats baggage security as a very serious matter. Bags undergo thorough screening and inspection before they are loaded onto an aircraft. Having a passenger send luggage without flying on the plane is viewed as a serious security risk. This is probably the main reason you would be turned down if you tried to ship a piece of luggage without also traveling on the same aircraft. Whatever your intentions may be, airlines cannot take on the risk of shipping a bag from a person they don't know.
