Luggage Forward

[coljack]

Does Viking have an arrangement with any company that ships luggage from your home to the pier where it is then brought straight to your cabin?  For example, Regent works with "Luggage Forward."  Does anyone have experience on Viking using any company?

 

Thanks.

[CurlerRob]

11 minutes ago, coljack said:

Does Viking have an arrangement with any company that ships luggage from your home to the pier where it is then brought straight to your cabin?  For example, Regent works with "Luggage Forward."  Does anyone have experience on Viking using any company?

 

Thanks.

If you enter the phrase "luggage forward" (including the quotes) in the search field (top right of the page) and select searching in "this forum", you'll be rewarded with numerous observations on both Luggage Forward and others. 🍺🥌

[SantaFe1]

14 minutes ago, coljack said:

Does Viking have an arrangement with any company that ships luggage from your home to the pier where it is then brought straight to your cabin?  For example, Regent works with "Luggage Forward."  Does anyone have experience on Viking using any company?

 

Thanks.

Viking also uses LF and gives a 20% discount.  Once you have booked, go to MVJ, under the Before You Go tab and click on LF.  We have had nothing but excellent experiences with them on several cruises.

[Camden lady]

Is luggage forward expensive?  I have no experience with this service.  My trip would be Nashville to Bergen Norway.  How far in advance do you need to have it picked up?

[Let Me Travel!]

LOL!!!…I put in the data…$1,400+! Nope…not for us!

[MSEm]

Can you use Luggage Forward for shipping luggage to the ship and not shipping luggage home?  We will be on a 5 day pre-tour before boarding the ship in Feb 2023. It would be very nice not to have extra luggage on the pre-tour.

[SantaFe1]

24 minutes ago, MSEm said:

Can you use Luggage Forward for shipping luggage to the ship and not shipping luggage home?  We will be on a 5 day pre-tour before boarding the ship in Feb 2023. It would be very nice not to have extra luggage on the pre-tour.

Yes.  Just choose the one way option.  

[coljack]

22 hours ago, CurlerRob said:

If you enter the phrase "luggage forward" (including the quotes) in the search field (top right of the page) and select searching in "this forum", you'll be rewarded with numerous observations on both Luggage Forward and others. 🍺🥌

Many thanks, Rob.  Good info and I learned something.

[coljack]

22 hours ago, SantaFe1 said:

Viking also uses LF and gives a 20% discount.  Once you have booked, go to MVJ, under the Before You Go tab and click on LF.  We have had nothing but excellent experiences with them on several cruises.

Thanks, SantaFe!

[coljack]

19 hours ago, Camden lady said:

Is luggage forward expensive?  I have no experience with this service.  My trip would be Nashville to Bergen Norway.  How far in advance do you need to have it picked up?

Used it with Regent Seven Seas.  $240 for a 50# bag, one way, Colorado to ship in Barcelona.

[coljack]

Also, we send one bag using LF and check one bag on the airplane.  We pack half of essentials in each bag for safety.  Of course REAL essentials go in carry-ons.

[coljack]

21 minutes ago, coljack said:

Used it with Regent Seven Seas.  $240 for a 50# bag, one way, Colorado to ship in Barcelona.

I just checked again and prices have gone up substantially.  Latest is $399 for same bag (50#, Colorado to Barcelona.

[Camden lady]

5 minutes ago, coljack said:

I just checked again and prices have gone up substantially.  Latest is $399 for same bag (50#, Colorado to Barcelona.

Thank you so much coljack.  Think this may be out for me.  I will just deal with my own luggage.   Appreciate all the helpful responses to my questions.   

 

[SempreMare]

I'm packing and soon to ship to London via Luggage Forward.

 

Noticed that the Luggage Forward rules state "No Medications".  I certainly wouldn't include prescriptions given that, but I squinted at that and thought... "

Will my packed aspirin and Advil be a problem? 

I was assuming OTC common things like aspirin and anti-seasick meds  would not be a problem.  Wrong!...  

 

These rules are based on their experience with customs officials.

 

So I just made myself this handy reminder sheet.   

Anyone using Luggage Forward should read  it closely.

Luggage Forward - REMEMBER

 

No Medications, whether prescription or over the counter

Ex: No aspirin!  

'They would have to test it to make sure it’s actually aspirin, not meth.'

'UK customs is strict about this'.

'This could delay your luggage for days or it would have to be returned." 

 

 

NOTHING Consumable!  i.e. Nothing edible.  

Ex:   NO chewing gum, life savers, nuts, energy bars.

 

NO medical equipment

Ex: No Band-Aids.  No pulse oximeter.

 

NO metal knives.   Plastic eating utensils are OK

 

Nothing pressurized.

Ex:  No perfumes.  No hair spray.

 

NO Jewelry

 

NO Electronics 

Ex:   No iPad.

 

NO Batteries. 

Ex:  No power banks. 

[Jim Avery]

I appreciate your caution but we have shipped to the UK on LF with our consumables in a cardboard box along with clothing in a large suitcase.  We have shipped with no problem bug wipes, non alcohol mouthwash, toothpaste, bandaids, antibiotic cream, antacid tablets, a phillips and a flat screwdrivers, pain reliever cream, and on and on.  We went by the LF list as well as a couple of clarifying phone conversations and again had absolutely no issues with UK (or US) customs. But then there is always a first time. 

[SantaFe1]

We have done the same, many times.  I’ve even shipped hairspray, regular mouthwash, and a wooden bowl from Africa.  But, as Jim says, there is always a first time.

[SempreMare]

Yep.  It's the "There's always a first time" aspect of it. 

 

He gave as an example of something that held up luggage going through customs  before: 
Tea, either loose leaf or in bags.  

 

He said they try to intervene with customs  to not have the luggage returned or to instruct to discard and not spend time "testing" the tea.  However, no guarantees there wouldn't be a delay if I risk it by including my favorite Genmaicha tea I was considering to bring in case of quarantine. 

 

Had I realized the implications of the "no medications" meaning "no aspirin" problem with customs, I might have risked it by shipping several days or even a week earlier to my hotel.   I planned for the luggage to arrive on time including a 1 day delay, but not more.  I didn't think the hotel wants a bunch of extra luggage sitting around for long.

[SempreMare]

Another FYI / lessons learned:

Am using Luggage Forward for the first time. 

 

I purchased my usual trip insurance policy a while back from the wonderfully informative Steve Dasseos at the Trip Insurance Store @iamtrustworthy

 

I later decided to use Luggage Forward to ship my luggage instead of checking it in

I did not buy additional insurance beyond the $500 included through Luggage Forward when I signed up because I knew I already had purchased a trip insurance policy that covers lost luggage during travel. 

 

Then, I suddenly realize, Uh-oh... This is probably not considered "during travel" since I'm shipping the luggage in advance.

 

A quick call to Deanna at Trip Insurance Store confirmed:  travel insurance does not cover shipped luggage.

 

Gah!  

 

Plan B:  I tried to phone Luggage Forward to add on coverage. 

 

Only received a voicemail "our offices are now closed"

Wonder why they have closed offices all day on a Tuesday? 

 

In any event, FYI on a lessons learned.

Edited August 30, 2022 by SempreMare

[Twitchly]

Maybe your credit card will cover it? Some apparently do.

[SempreMare]

Yea  I was wondering the same thing since I have a chase sapphire reserve.

 

If they are consistent with what travel insurance plans do, then probably not. I hope I don’t need to find out

 

Luggage forward has not return my call re purchasing insurance  post payment 

 

[Babr]

21 hours ago, Twitchly said:

Maybe your credit card will cover it? Some apparently do.

 

 

8 minutes ago, SempreMare said:

Yea  I was wondering the same thing since I have a chase sapphire reserve.

 

If they are consistent with what travel insurance plans do, then probably not. I hope I don’t need to find out

 

Luggage forward has not return my call re purchasing insurance  post payment 

 

 

Chase Sapphire Reserve covers loss or damage to luggage/personal effects that occurs during a covered Common Carrier trip - not shipping.

[UWDawg]

22 hours ago, SempreMare said:

Another FYI / lessons learned:

Am using Luggage Forward for the first time. 

 

I purchased my usual trip insurance policy a while back from the wonderfully informative Steve Dasseos at the Trip Insurance Store @iamtrustworthy

 

I later decided to use Luggage Forward to ship my luggage instead of checking it in

I did not buy additional insurance beyond the $500 included through Luggage Forward when I signed up because I knew I already had purchased a trip insurance policy that covers lost luggage during travel. 

 

Then, I suddenly realize, Uh-oh... This is probably not considered "during travel" since I'm shipping the luggage in advance.

 

A quick call to Deanna at Trip Insurance Store confirmed:  travel insurance does not cover shipped luggage.

 

Gah!  

 

Plan B:  I tried to phone Luggage Forward to add on coverage. 

 

Only received a voicemail "our offices are now closed"

Wonder why they have closed offices all day on a Tuesday? 

 

In any event, FYI on a lessons learned.

For what it’s worth.  There are some informational “articles” or FAQ’s in the Support section on the Luggage Forward web site that provide additional information covering various topics:
•    My Account
•    How It Works
•    What can I ship?
•    Rates & Booking
•    Preparing & Packing
•    Pickup
•    Delivery
•    Guarantee & Coverage 
•    International Shipments
https://support.luggageforward.com/ 

 

The Guarantee & Coverage section has a response to the question: Can I increase my value protection?
https://support.luggageforward.com/article/50-can-i-increase-my-value-protection 
You may increase your Value Protection at any time before your luggage is collected by the driver. Please call to speak with one of our forwarding specialists if you would like to increase your Value Protection.
Best Practice: Luggage Forward recommends that you purchase enough Value Protection for at least 75% of the replacement cost of your luggage and all its contents. Get pricing now:
http://www.luggageforward.com/book
 

And of course you already mentioned that they already provide up to $500 per bag coverage by default with their service.

https://support.luggageforward.com/article/238-value-protection 
Our Value Protection coverage allows you to be reimbursed for up to the full replacement cost of lost or damaged items. Each piece we send receives complimentary value protection of $500 USD to start. This may be increased should that not be sufficient. 
Increasing value protection: You can increase your Value Protection at any time before your luggage is collected by the driver.  Please call to speak with one of our forwarding specialists if you would like to increase your Value Protection.
 

[Iloveketo]

On 7/30/2022 at 6:38 AM, Let Me Travel! said:

LOL!!!…I put in the data…$1,400+! Nope…not for us!

Too expensive for us, also!

[Peregrina651]

On 8/31/2022 at 4:18 PM, UWDawg said:

Each piece we send receives complimentary value protection of $500 USD to start.

 

Okay, for that amount of coverage, you can replace 10 articles of clothing, if they cost $50 each. That isn't anywhere near a full suitcase of clothing.

[SempreMare]

2 post trip FYIs related to Luggage Forward: 

 

1) Viking provided no luggage porterage between the bus and airport terminal on our last day. 

Is this typical? 

This was extra difficult on people since it was raining in Oslo the morning of our transfer.

I would have really struggled with luggage given my injured shoulder.  

 

2) I definitely would have missed my connection in Chicago using the the Viking Air-created itinerary connection  if I had checked my bags instead of shipped them. 

 

But yea, the cost is huge.