By This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | Corridor Inc. Staff Writer

Originally published April 2007

Norm Rubenstein returns from a trip to New York last month. Luggage Forward used FedEx to get his luggage home.

     Rubenstein began traveling lighter six months ago with the help of Luggage Forward.

     “The value of our service far exceeds time spent waiting in line,” said Zeke Adkins, co-founder of the Boston-based company. “People that have a more disposable income and enjoy convenience are big users and certainly the more airports continue losing luggage we’ll see an increase.”

     Adkins estimates the service saves travelers up to two hours roundtrip.

     “This is a behavior we want people to think of when traveling just like booking a flight, hotel or rent-a-car,” he said. “This is a first-class ticket for the price of coach.”

     Dr. Terri Teplitz, of Chevy Chase, used Luggage Forward for the first time last summer when he and his family vacationed in Italy.

     “For a trip more than five days it’s worth it,” he said. “Not having to handle bags makes for better travel.”

     Teplitz will use the service again this summer to travel to Switzerland.

     “Your luggage just disappears and comes back,” he said.

     Bags are packed as they would be for standard airline travel. At booking, clients choose a pick-up time for an agent to collect the luggage, which is then transported to the traveler’s destination through a local currier or service like FedEx or UPS. The system determines the best carrier based on the trip and distance, Adkins said. 

     Luggage Forward’s cheapest delivery is its domestic service which starts at $40 a piece. The pricing is based on travel distance, type of luggage and service level. Each piece of luggage is individually weighed and measured and items are monitored in transit by a forwarding specialist.

     Adkins said his company reported booking increases of more than 500 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005.

     The luggage delivery trend has been spurred by carry-on restrictions and driven by business travel, said David Field, U.S. editor of Airline Business Magazine.

     “It’s a relatively expensive service which limits it because families going on vacation aren’t going to be willing to spend that kind of money,” he said. “High-end business travelers are the kind of people who will use this; the same person that would spend $100 for a cab ride.”

     But the people using a luggage delivery service run the gamut.

     “When we first started this business we thought it would be senior citizens and of course, the wealthy that would make up the bulk but we were surprised by families, vacationers and business travelers leading the market,” said Richard Altomare, CEO of Universal Express, parent company of luggage delivery division Luggage Express.

     Luggage Express handles anywhere from 300 to 1,000 orders per week, bringing in $20,000 to $40,000 in business each week, Altomare said. Prices start at $45 per piece of luggage.

     “We’ve delivered 31 million suitcases and never lost one in contrast to the current system which loses 57 a minute,” Altomare said.

     He added that travelers today value time.

     “Why should you have to wait behind the pillow-holding person, the oversize teddy bear and the woman with 40 lace boots to untie?” he said. “This service saves a minimum of an hour and a half plus chiropractor visits years later.” ::