A recent survey* has found the 'sky-high' cost of flying abroad with family luggage is one of the biggest problems facing UK travellers, with 44% of respondents claiming to be most annoyed with the extortionate prices charged by airlines for checking-in luggage. With many families travelling abroad over the next few months and to help passengers avoid expensive excess baggage charges, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has put together a comprehensive guide comparing the luggage transfer companies which allow passengers to transport their luggage directly to their holiday destination. The research is available in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website, at www.aph.com/luggagetransfer. 

The research compares nine luggage transfer companies in the UK including Luggage Mule, Student Luggage and Excess Baggage Company, highlighting the destinations covered by each company, the cost of transporting luggage, excess weight charges and transit times. 

Most destinations were found to be covered by all companies, apart from Luggage Delivery Company which only covers countries in Europe. The services offered include transporting sports equipment such as golf clubs, ski and snowboard equipment, and bikes, as well as suitcases, pushchairs and boxes ranging from 15kg to 35kg. 

When transporting luggage within the UK, the costs were found to vary between companies with a 10kg bag costing £12.99 with Luggage Mule, 20kg costing £14.21 with Send My Bag, from £17.00 with First Luggage VIP and from £16.99 to £19.99 with Uni Baggage. For skiers looking to ship equipment to resorts in Europe, prices were also found to vary ranging from £20.83 - £39.41 with Luggage Delivery Company, from £39.99 with Luggage Mule and from £52.00 - £79.00 with Carry My Luggage.  

Other notable differences include the time needed to pre-book transferring luggage, with Carry My Bag, Fetch My Luggage, Uni Bag and Send My Bag all allowing 24 hours for transfers within the UK but some companies requiring a minimum of two working days. For destinations outside of the UK however, customers will need to pre-book transfers up to 14 days in advance with Carry My Luggage and Fetch My Luggage. Customers should also be aware of the transit times required to transfer luggage, which can vary between next day deliveries in the UK up to 28 days, dependent on the destination. 

 Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is the UK's award winning long stay airport parking operator and booking agency, after winning the Best Airport Parking Company for a fourth year running at the British Travel Awards 2013. This year APH also celebrates its 34th year as a retailer and operator of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. APH offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels packaged with parking and airport lounges. APH is also a carbon balanced company and has, through support of the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of endangered rainforest.

For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH),

visit www.aph.com or call 01342 859515.

Notes to Editors

*The “Baggage Rage” survey was carried out by One Poll, and commissioned by Discover Ferries, among a statistically representative sample of 2,000 adults, between 10 - 12 February 2014.

Media Enquiries

Sarah Salord / Jessica Meins / McCluskey International / 020 8747 2170 / aph@mccluskey.co.uk