Demand for Greater Flexibility and Cost-Effective Holidays Puts Luggage Shipping Services Top of the Agenda, Says Send My Bag

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Dec 03, 2013, 08:35 ET

LONDON, Dec. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Value for money is essential when choosing a holiday, according to 70 per cent of people polled for the ABTA Travel Trends Report 2013, and with the gradual introduction and increase of charges to take luggage on board a flight, this is an area in which consumers must be savvy, advises global baggage shipping company Send My Bag.

At the start of this summer, a number of airlines increased their fees for checked baggage, including a £10 increase from Ryanair. Thomson's fee grew £7 on the previous year and easyJet's £3.50, whilst customers had to pay an extra £20 for overweight hand baggage on Monarch and £10 on Flybe. If flying with excess or heavy baggage, costs soar dramatically; Ryanair charges £20 per kg and Thomas Cook's fee for sports equipment, such as skiis, can be as expensive as £70 per item. In comparison, if shipping to or from UK destinations, Send My Bag's European rate is as low as £25 for 20kg and £26 for 30kg.

With approximately 50 per cent of passengers travelling from the UK on budget airlines* and almost 40 per cent of holidaymakers booking 'DIY' holidays, both offering added flexibility to a trip, ensuring the transportation of luggage is as cost-effective as the rest of the holiday is becoming more difficult.

Adam Ewart, founder of Send My Bag, commented: "Some airlines have recently increased their baggage allowances, such as Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines, but sadly for consumers these companies represent the exception rather than the rule. It's clear people want to, and are continuing to, go on holiday despite the slow economic recovery, but in order to do that they have to shop around to get the best value for money.

"I started Send My Bag in 2011 focussing on the student shipping and removals market, but rapidly enquiries arrived from people who wanted to beat the cost of sending a wide variety of belongings to all over the world. Luggage is not something that is always considered when researching or booking a holiday, but increasingly savvy shoppers are adding such costs to their agendas."

For more information on door-to-door shipping, including the safe transportation of Christmas gifts to UK and international destinations, please visit www.sendmybag.com. Join the conversation on Twitter and learn more about offers @sendmybag or search 'sendmybag.com' on Facebook.

*Travel industry technology company Amadeus reported that 52 per cent of the 93 million passengers who travelled from the UK in 2012 used budget airlines.

** ABTA Travel Trends Report 2013

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