Sending a suitcase from UK to Ireland

Orange Bubblegum

I want to send an electronic drumkit from the UK to Ireland. I have it all disassembled and packed into a large suitcase. My plan was to bring it on the plane but it's extremely heavy and way over the weight limit of any airline. Does anyone know if I can send this with a company like FedEx/UPS? I'm worried that these companies only like things packed into specific boxes. Do they allow me to send a suitcase?

Strumms

Hi, yes you will be able to send a suitcase with FedEx/UPS but if this equipment is delicate make sure it is packed properly to withstand manual handling and going through their sort facilities. Also price both up as well as excess baggage with your airline as sometimes paying more with the airline for luggage is cheaper then using express freight carriers.

ProudDUB

I agree. If the item is that heavy, I'd be very surprised if it was cheaper to ship it via UPS/FedEx, instead of taking it with you on the plane. Freight companies charge based on the weight so I imagine would be shockingly expensive. Ryanair charge 20 euro for each kilo you are over the 20 kilos allowed, but Aer Lingus charge less than a tenner, and its even cheaper if you do it on line.

Orange Bubblegum

ProudDUB wrote: »

I agree. If the item is that heavy, I'd be very surprised if it was cheaper to ship it via UPS/FedEx, instead of taking it with you on the plane. Freight companies charge based on the weight so I imagine would be shockingly expensive. Ryanair charge 20 euro for each kilo you are over the 20 kilos allowed, but Aer Lingus charge less than a tenner, and its even cheaper if you do it on line.

The suitcase is about 30kg. That's 10 extra kg than Aer Lingus' weight limit which, at 9 euro per kg, will cost me 90 euro. UPS will do it for around 120 euro which seems like it might be worth it for the less hassle.

Gary ITR

Orange Bubblegum wrote: »

The suitcase is about 30kg. That's 10 extra kg than Aer Lingus' weight limit which, at 9 euro per kg, will cost me 90 euro. UPS will do it for around 120 euro which seems like it might be worth it for the less hassle.

Try Deliver-it.ie, they specialise in car parts but could help you out. I use them quite a bit and Barry is a gem to deal with

ProudDUB

Orange Bubblegum wrote: »

The suitcase is about 30kg. That's 10 extra kg than Aer Lingus' weight limit which, at 9 euro per kg, will cost me 90 euro. UPS will do it for around 120 euro which seems like it might be worth it for the less hassle.

Well, if you bring it with you on the plane and check it, it will go directly onto a conveyor belt, then onto one of those little baggage vans on the tarmac, then onto the plane, then onto another baggage van at the other end, then onto another conveyor belt & then you pick it up in baggage claim. There is some chance of it getting knocked about or damaged, but its not huge.

If you use a shipping company, who knows how much or how badly it will get tossed about between warehouses and depots and trucks and vans and boats and planes and what not. If the item is at all fragile, I know which one I'd choose, especially as it is 30 quid cheaper.

spurious

Are there not men with vans going regularly to the UK, like there are independent couriers going to places like Poland and Latvia? They wait til they have a full van and then off they go.
The Latvian guys I know charge €1-1.50 euro a kilo for Ireland to Latvia.

Yamanoto

Take a look at these folks, who specialise in this kinda thing.

http://www.followyourbag.com/

https://www.sendmybag.com/

I know Aer Lingus have a combined total allowance of 20kg, regardless of how many bags you're travelling with - anything over that is charged ay €9 per KG if booked online or €15 if you roll up at the airport.

Running Balance

Try Shipley.com got my golf clubs from Liverpool to Dublin for £40. Only took a day from collection to delivery. Great service.

miezekatze

A friend of mine once sent a suitcase to another country via Lufthansa Cargo, he wasn't actually flying himself. It worked out cheaper at the time than paying for excess baggage on his actual flight. Might be worth looking into, but I don't really have any more details than that.