My H, DD and I are traveling on Monday morning to school across the country and are taking several suitcases and, hopefully, boxes. In this forum, months ago, someone suggested using U-Haul boxes in place of a suitcase and checking them on. Anyone have success with this? Do we risk getting them rejected by the airline? I am following the L+H+W dimensions and hoping to use boxes that weigh less than suitcases to maximize the 50 lb limit.
Can anyone reassure me that boxes work on American / US Airways?
Contact the airlines and find out whether or not this will be a problem. You need to know what their current policy is. This is the kind of thing that can change at any time.
Rather than boxes, depending on the contents you may be able to pick up some inexpensive, lightweight duffle bag style pieces at Target or Walmart. Check the sports section of the store in addition to the luggage section. Duffles collapse to almost nothing and can be packed inside a more solid piece of luggage for longer-term storage.
You can check boxes, but definitely make sure they are in the limits of the size and weight restrictions or the fees escalate quickly. Also, note that after the first 2 bags per person on AA, the fees ratchet up significantly, so if you will have more than 6 checked items, you may want to UPS/Fedex the boxes.
Or check the thrift stores. Today there were a lot of soft sided bags, and a few backpacks with frames that are really rugged.
However, pack less! One of my kids had 6 or more duffles and TOO much stuff at school. Way too much clothing. Way too many blankets and sheets. Shoes shoes and more shoes. This year she’s got 2 bags of clothing packed, and will have some bedding but not as much as last year, probably the same two towels. Other daughter had 3 rubbermaid tubs of things left at school, and went off with 2 dufflebags and a backpack with her clothing and computers. She does live in florida so doesn’t need much cold weather gear but still, she is a minimalist. Much of the stuff left at school was arts and crafts made by her sorority sister and she doesn’t think she can toss it, or she’d only have one tub of junk.
@happymomof1 - I’ll call today to double check. I asked months ago and they are kind of non-committal about it.
@Cameron121 - Thank you! We will have 5 bags for 3 people. So, no one will have more than 2.
@twoinanddone - We’ve really tried the “pack less” method. It’s just so expensive to ship later so I really don’t want to ship much later. We have to plan for summer and winter weather. We do have friends in the area, so if it’s too much, we could store a box at their house.
I’d worry a bit about boxes not holding up to the abuse. I like the duffle bag idea, especially since most of it is likely clothes and bedding. My daughter flew back after xmas with a large down comforter in a backpacking compression sack which fit inside her one carry-on suitcase along with all her vacation items. You should keep in mind she will likely be moving twice a year and have to haul around/store all that stuff.
We’ve travelled with boxes multiple times without any problem and will again this Wednesday when we take D3 back to school. Just make sure it’s taped really well (so it doesn’t open) and, as mentioned above, is within the size and weight limits. Also, think about how large a box you can easily carry. One time I bought 20x20x20 boxes and my very tall husband grumbled…we now use 18x18x18 and they’re easier to move. Best of luck dropping your D off!
Thank you @collage1 . Glad to hear from someone successful with boxes. We have 2 ready to go, taped, labeled, etc. Not sure the size is going to prove too difficult. We’ll see.
I travel with huge boxes for my work - often internationally. I suggest you use colored duct tape so it’s super easy to spot your boxes from afar. Also make sure you know where your scissors are so you can easily open the boxes at the other end.
Rolling duffle bags from Ross - they have short handles, an extender roller handle and a loop handle on one end. They are relatively inexpensive and much easier to maneuver than boxes.
Since it’s Sunday night and you are leaving tomorrow…it’s a little late for suggestions!
We did the cross country move. Only two of us flew and we had four suitcases (Southwest so no fees). Three of the suitcases were first class junk that we either got from friends who were going to throw them away or at Goodwill. Those suitcases made a one way trip. The fourth bag was one of our larger suitcases, and I actually brought that one home with me.
We bought all the bulky items at the college end of the trip…,didn’t ship…didn’t schlep.
We are doing something similar soon, flying with mainly boxes. Your posting made me nervous so I called our airline, United, to doublecheck that as long as we stayed within the weight and linear inch limitations that boxes would be fine, and they are! So in case anyone is worried about doing this type of thing with United, apparently it is a-ok with that airline too!
Right! We learned that lesson the hard way. Our rental car trunk was a fine size…but the opening to get things IN to the trunk was not. It was way too small, so we had to,upgrade at the rental,car place…and that was a headache!
We made it to Virginia with a change of planes in Charlotte. 2 boxes made it safely - they were a bit worse for the wear, but they are ok. I’m hoping everything is safe inside. We’ll see when we open on Wednesday.
